Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Multicultural Engagement) Share this | Hansard source

From my perspective, when the Greens—and I'll speak generally—put forward resolutions like this, they are actually providing an insight into their radical, ideological philosophy. Far from impugning anyone's motives, in many respects what is proposed in this second reading amendment is entirely consistent with their philosophical perspective. The motivation aligns with the political disposition of the Greens party. It's radical, it's extreme and it seeks to attack some of the fundamental principles underpinning our justice system. Far from impugning anyone's motives, I'm making the observation that this amendment is entirely consistent with their radical, ideological, philosophical disposition, which I fiercely contend with. It baffles me somewhat to hear people being particularly sensitive about that. However, let's move on.

I believe that our justice system, which treats everyone equally before the law, has served us extremely well and that, every time an Australian enters into our court system, justice should be blind as to their individual attributes: their income, their religion, their ethnicity or their connections with people of power. It shouldn't matter if I, as a senator, or someone who is a constituent of mine enter into a court subject to our justice system; we should be treated equally. We should be treated the same. There should be no distinction made based on our personal attributes, and that is the fundamental philosophical point at stake in terms of this amendment.

There are those—the Greens, with their radical, extreme ideology—who would like us to be judged in our legal system based on our personal attributes, disconnected from the offence which has been committed or is alleged to have been committed. I would hope that the vast majority of senators in this place agree with the current system—that we are all equal before the law and that Lady Justice is blindfolded as to the personal attributes of those entering into our courts. It doesn't matter if you're a senator or if you're someone sitting in the public gallery today; we are all treated equally before the law. That is a fundamental principle which must be fiercely defended. On that basis, I beseech all the senators in this chamber to vote against this ill-considered, radical, extreme amendment put forward by the Greens.