Wells is deeply opposed to discrimination, as evidenced by the Anti-Discrimination Act which he introduced into the Parliament in 1991. The last words of his second reading speech reflect the pragmatic idealism that is the hallmark of the Utilitarian school of thought to which he belongs.
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The Government does not believe that the passage of anti-discrimination legislation will by itself create a society in which human rights are universally respected. Discrimination is far too deeply entrenched. What this legislation does, however, is to provide legal protection against the most obvious sources of discrimination and, beyond that, establish a standard. It is the legislative announcement by this Government that gratuitous discrimination is inappropriate. It is a signal which establishes a new, normative standard of civilized behaviour in this State. That, as much as the specific rights established under the Bill, is the purpose of this legislation.
Queensland Parliamentary Debates 1991 |
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