Page 3181 - Week 11 - Wednesday, 12 September 1990
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States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of forming his or her own views the right to express those views freely in all matters affecting the child ...
Clearly, the convention recognises that the child's right to express an opinion is paralleled with that of the child who is capable of forming his or her own views. The convention also goes on to recognise the right of the child to freedom of association and freedom of peaceful assembly. No restrictions should be placed on the exercise of these rights.
The convention continues:
States Parties shall take all appropriate legislative, administrative, social and educational measures to protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect ... maltreatment or exploitation ...
Mr Speaker, the convention states in article 29 that the aims of education include:
... the preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes, and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin ...
There needs to be an appropriate balance in the use, as I might call it, of children in matters in public issue that do involve the exercise of the right of peaceful opinion and the getting together of children, particularly on political issues. I point out to the house that it is inimical to aspects of the convention, particularly article 29, for children to be taken to effigy burning parties and to any other gatherings which do not further peace, tolerance and understanding between people. It is clearly incumbent upon us, as Mr Moore says, to involve children in their right to express an opinion, provided they are capable of forming their own views.
Statement by Speaker
MR SPEAKER: As a matter of courtesy, I wish to formally advise the Assembly that on 31 July 1990 I was accepted as a member of the Liberal Party of Australia, ACT division.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Assembly adjourned at 4.54 pm
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