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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2016-11-02 Daily Xml
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Relationships Register Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading (resumed on motion).

The Hon. T.R. KENYON (Newland) (17:41): As members would know, it is intended that the Relationships Register Bill we are discussing at the moment be split into two, which means that there will be two bills. The first bill will cover the fairly straightforward task of setting up a relationships register so that anyone who is in a relationship may seek to have that relationship registered. Of course, there are a number of definitions and requirements around that and everything else.

I must say that I am not particularly fussed by the first part of the bill. There are many states that already have a register. If people seek to have their relationship registered for the purpose of recognition by the state, I am not necessarily opposed to that; in fact, I am not really opposed at all. This part of the bill is formalising a number of arrangements without going as far as marriage in some cases and provides a formalisation not otherwise offered for other relationships.

Hopefully, the house will agree to go into committee and, if we do, I have a few questions. Having listened to the member for Schubert today, I think that it is unlikely my questions will differ much from his questions. In fact, I will probably just listen to him and, if anything else comes up that he has not asked, I will then ask my questions along with his. However, as it stands now, it is unlikely that I will be opposing that part of the bill and more likely that I will support it.

When the bill is split into two, what will become the second bill is, from my point of view, a little more difficult. I am actually quite grateful that the bill has been split into two, and I thank the member for Reynell for that because it allows the house to progress very quickly with that bit of those arrangements that are uncontroversial and it allows us to have a more fulsome discussion on those bits that, for my part, are more controversial.

This is probably the first of a number of bills that will come up in the next few weeks, and I will be applying the same principles to all of them. The principle I will be applying is basically this: from my point of view, no-one has a right to a child. Children are not accessories, nor are they commodities, and the rights of children, who are unable to speak for themselves, should come first in the consideration of the parliament, which is now charged with the responsibility of protecting them, either children who are already alive or children people may seek to create.

I understand that a child is not always born into or grows up in the best possible relationship, and this is for a number of reasons. This is through no fault of the child's nor is it through any fault of the parents in many cases, as they find themselves in circumstances that are not the ideal, but I think there is a body of evidence that shows that the ideal environment for children to be brought up in is where there is a mother and a father, a male and female role model, who are married and love each other—that is the ideal environment for the child.

Of course, this is not always possible, but where the state is involved in placing children into an environment, then that should be the ideal that the state is striving to meet, in my view. That will be the principle that I will be using to make determinations about how I will vote on this second bill, when the bill is split, and also future bills that we are going to be discussing in the next week or so. With those few comments, I look forward to the committee stage and answers to questions we might have, which I think will be fairly routine on the first bill. I look forward to debate on the second bill and urge all members to give both bills earnest consideration.

Ms HILDYARD (Reynell) (17:46): I wish to place on record my thanks to all of the members who have contributed to this important debate. However, in doing so, I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

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