Capitalising on wall to wall Labor

National character and values should not be set by minority subterfuge. We need to have well-considered and consistent national decisions on these issues, rather than allowing a single territory government to be used to set legislative precedents that stand to radically re-design our society nationally.

The Federal Labor party has already committed itself to a system of nationally consistent state-based relationship registers, rather than seeing marriage diluted and potentially undermined through supporting gay marriage or civil unions. This is another important test for federal, state, and territory co-operation, particularly as the Stanhope Government recently re-activated its civil partnerships bill.

X-rated pornography provides another example of an issue where national consistency is needed. Pornography exploits women, has been shown to be a strong factor in the sexual abuse of children in Indigenous communities, and is also linked with other sex offences. Why should the ACT and non-Indigenous parts of the Northern Territory be permitted to produce and distribute this damaging material when its sale is rightly banned elsewhere?

Poker machines, which have ruined families and proven to be addictive not only for problem gamblers but also for most state governments, are rightly drawing the attention of members of the new parliament. Welcome proposals for action to limit their affects are being discussed but only a national plan with federal-state co-operation will really address the issue.

In his acceptance speech, upon being elected Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd said: “Australia’s long-term challenges demand a new consensus across our country.”

This is an exciting vision, but it needs to go beyond only the economy and even the obvious social infrastructure of health and education. It must benefit the full range of social, moral and infrastructure challenges before us, and build not only a consistent legislative framework for the nation, but reinforce our essential common values and character.