Human Rights Amendment Bill

Members have always liked to think that their contributions in this House will be lucid and coherent, but I have to say, Mr Assistant Speaker, that the first time that I was about to take the call on this bill, the Human Rights Amendment Bill, you very kindly and charitably adjourned the House just as I was about to take it. On the second occasion I took the call, at exactly the same time on an evening, you had me a little discombobulated, I must say, by the fact that you bounced in your chair at one stage and I thought you were standing to adjourn the House. So I am not sure that my contribution on this third attempt will necessarily go down in the annals as one of my finest contributions in the House.

But I would like to clarify that when I took the call the other day I failed to make it clear that one of the most—

💬 Hon Member: I think this is his best speech ever.

Thank you.

💬 Andrew Little: Why don’t you talk about something in the bill?

I do appreciate Mr Little’s praise. All praise is gratefully received, particularly from that member, who is not known for dispensing it very often.

The Human Rights Amendment Bill amends the Human Rights Act 1993, and I failed to make clear the other night, when I took the call at exactly this time of night, that its major purpose is to enable the establishment of a full-time commissioner with responsibility for leadership in disability rights within the Human Rights Commission. That is a serious issue. It arises from the fact that, as I mentioned last time, the previous Labour Government in its dying days ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. That was in late September 2008. Article 33 of the convention requires States—there are all sorts of long words here—to effectively ensure that we will recognise and uphold the important rights and interests of people with disabilities. So this bill is an important measure and I have no hesitation in supporting it.

The creation of this role requires an amendment of the Act, as it currently enables the commissioners to have formalised leadership in only two areas, and those are the areas of race relations and equal employment. In fact, tonight when I attended the function to farewell the Retirement Commissioner I had a quick chat with Joris de Bres, the outgoing Race Relations Commissioner, and he commented on the fact that he had enjoyed my outstanding contribution in this debate last week, and I made it clear to him that I would give him even greater pleasure tonight, if he tuned in at the same time.

💬 Hon Chester Borrows: Tune in next week!

So I hope he has, and at this rate he will be tuning in not only next week, my good friend Chester Borrows, but probably next year. I have been known occasionally to take time—

Sorry to interrupt the honourable member. [Interruption] Order! Sorry to interrupt the honourable member. The time has come for to me to leave the Chair.

Debate interrupted.

Sitting suspended from 10 p.m. to 9.00 a.m. (Wednesday)