Page 2667 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 26 September 2007
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existing and new laws interpreted in line with this statement of rights and freedoms. The Bill of Rights will encourage a recognition in the community of the balance which must be struck between the rights of the individual and the interests of society as a whole.
Apparently there was an issues paper tabled in the Legislative Assembly and subjected to intensive consultation through December 1993 onwards. It is interesting to note that the ACT was the first jurisdiction in Australia to have a Bill of Rights, but if Terry had had his way we would have had one an awful lot earlier and it would have been perhaps rather different—or a little different.
He keenly followed up his interest in this area with his speech “Lawyers as Activists”, which I think Mr Mulcahy referred to. One sees that when Terry was a politician, he tried to change society for the better and, when he was a lawyer, he saw that as his principal role as well. He kept a very keen watching brief on the Human Rights Act. He also cautioned that the act should not see the creation of Canberra judges as social activists, but should provide a useful forum for citizens, individually and collectively, to lobby and influence government policy and decision makers.
I guess it is that interest in the Human Rights Act and the charter that makes me realise what a wonderful relationship Helen and Terry had. It is not for me to judge, of course, but two people sharing a passion is a most wonderful basis for a relationship. I can only imagine how much his loss will be felt, but I am also aware that, because of that relationship, Terry’s work will go on. But that is not the only reason for the Human Rights Act to continue. It is very important legislation that must inform all our debates. It is the way that we actually embody Terry’s work in the work of government and all who work with it and for it.
The Greens extend their deepest condolences to the family, and within those condolences is the deepest admission that we have benefited hugely from the way Terry directed the energies in his life towards his community.
MS PORTER (Ginninderra): I want to add my condolences to those expressed earlier in this place to Helen, her children Lara and Maddy, and to your whole family. This year, Mr Speaker, we have had other reminders of how brief our sojourn on this earth can be. Again we stand to farewell another valued friend and colleague in Justice Terry Connolly—a friend who I have known for many years, a friend who has gone from us far too early.
Our loss, however, is minuscule compared with yours, Helen, and your family and that being experienced by his colleagues who are here with us today who worked with him on a daily basis in the courts. Unless we have experienced a direct loss of this nature ourselves, we cannot begin to imagine how it feels and how it can be endured.
I thank Terry for his friendship and for his wonderful contribution to this community, particularly in the area of human rights and restorative justice. I feel very fortunate to have known him. I know I am not alone in saying that it is, yet again, a signal for us to make every day count. My condolences, Helen.
Question resolved in the affirmative, members standing in their places.
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