Paul Scarr (Queensland, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Minister, with respect I understand your political position and your legislative argument with respect to this legislation. The fact of the matter is there are those who have concerns with respect to the fact that this bill doesn't contain any safeguards whatsoever. It simply, as you put it, restores the rights of the territories to implement legislation. There are those of us who have a concern that that does represent a blank cheque, albeit it's got to go through the Northern Territory legislative process. Again, I seek your view with respect to: what processes does the government have in place generally with respect to ensuring that legislation in this space actually complies with Australia's obligations regarding the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? I would expect that the government has some sort of mechanism in place in terms of ensuring that legislation, be it by states or territories, in fact complies with our international obligations and that is something which is fairly and squarely within the domain of this parliament under the foreign affairs power.