So what can we make of Election 2010?  It has been suggested by some that this is another “Seinfeld election” — an election about nothing in particular.

Already we’ve been bombarded with the slogans, the lines and the key messages that are an unavoidable part of campaigning in the 21st century.

Whether we are “moving forward” or “standing up” remains to be seen but really shouldn’t there be more to it than this?
So what is the election really about?

For me, it is about some fairly stark economic and social policy choices that will determine what sort of country we will be.

Prime Minister Gillard was spot on when she said the economic challenges of the future are ‘not a simplistic choice between the market and the state, but the more sophisticated challenges of market design so that we bring public and private resources together to deliver better services and increased productivity.’

Education is critical to this economic agenda because of the role it plays in developing the skills that lead to rewarding and satisfying employment and a high-productivity,
high-participation economy.

It is difficult to think of any investment that will generate returns as enduring as our investment in education.  
What Government invests today to expand opportunity for Australian children, will be paying dividends for most of the century ahead through higher participation, stronger productivity and increased economic growth.

That is why we can’t afford to lose momentum on Labor’s education reform agenda.  In my view, better schools and better educational opportunities for all Australians is something worth fighting for. This election offers a clear choice on education.

In social policy, the Prime Minister has spoken of  ‘speaking frankly… and seeking common ground consistent with the values that Australians share — values of fairness, respect for the rule of law, tolerance, compassion and responsibility.’

This means that everyone should be entitled to participate fully in society and receive the support and protection of the law, whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity.

In recent years, the ACT Labor Government and Federal Labor Government have reformed more than 150 Territory and Federal laws to achieve equality for gay and lesbian Canberrans. These changes are important and provide further evidence of the social policy choice we face at this election.  Does anybody seriously think that a Tony Abbott led Liberal Government would have delivered these reforms or will advance this agenda in the future?      

So what can we expect in the future?  Will there be further progress on social equality in the next Parliament?

Speaking frankly myself now, the Prime Minister’s recent comments on gay marriage demonstrate that social change does not come easily and full legal equality for gay and lesbian Australians will take time to achieve.

Marriage is a social institution, not just a law. Achieving equality will take more than convincing Julia Gillard — it requires a proper public debate about why it is wrong to exclude gays and lesbians from marriage.

Convincing a Federal Government to change the marriage act requires a rock solid and loud support base.

We don’t have that yet.

However, I remain convinced that with ongoing community support, the campaign for full equality will succeed.  I will continue to advocate for change in Federal Labor’s policy on marriage.

In the words of Mike Skinner:  ‘We’re on a mission, support the cause, sign a petition, summon all your wisdom.’

By Andrew Barr MLA
ACT Minister for Education and Training

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