Dean Smith (WA, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It is indeed a great honour to be elected as a senator and to participate in our parliamentary debates; there is no doubt about that. What makes the institution of the Senate so important is that those 76 senators that find themselves here come from diverse backgrounds, work tirelessly to get here and work tirelessly to stay here so they can contribute in our national debates. Sometimes, I do not mind saying, it is tiresome to come into this chamber, to witness the relentless politicking, to be part of the relentless point-scoring and partisanship.

In preparing my remarks for this afternoon, I thought that is what I was going to hear from opposition senators, so I am pleasantly surprised by Senator Moore's contribution today, because I do not think we are all that far away from an agreed position in terms of how to move the debate forward. I acknowledge and congratulate Senator Moore's first contribution on this debate this afternoon and hope other senators will contribute in the same vein.

Senator Moore is saying a number of things. Senator Moore is agreeing that there is a debate in the community. I argue there is a debate in the community about this important issue. Senator Moore is suggesting that the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Australian Law Reform Commission have strong views on this. So am I, and in the next few minutes available to me let me explain to you why the Human Rights Commission and the Australian Law Reform Commission agree that review and possibly reform of this law is necessary.

Senator Moore is quite right. I accept that over 20 years ago there would have been some compelling reasons in our community for this law to have been created. What I am arguing is that 20 or so years later it is time to review the suitability of that law, and I argue reform. Others might argue review and no reform, but to move this debate forward we need to step outside of the petty partisanship, step aside from the petty point-scoring and move to a position—

Senator McKim interjecting—

Senator Kim, hear me out.