And justice for all

IT WAS a courthouse of years gone by that poet Henry Lawson so vividly described. “And opposite the bench, the dock, divided by a partition, with the women to the left and the men to the right, as it is on the stairs or the block in polite society.” Here was a glimpse of what it was to be part of “polite society” in Australia in Lawson’s era, where the division of people by gender (or race, religion, creed) could pass as expected.

Significant obstacles remain to the goal of equality in our society, but we can also look back at a century of significant achievements. In Susan Kiefel, after 113 years there is finally a female chief justice to sit on the bench of the High Court. This is an appointment to be celebrated.

Whether it is universal suffrage, equal pay, Indigenous rights, or the present campaign for marriage equality, no social advance towards equity has come without struggle, argument and often polarising disputes. There are principles to rally around – decency, equity, opportunity and compassion primary among them.

It is clear Australians are feeling apathetic about the political leadership and overall direction of the country. A plunge in Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s approval rating in the Fairfax-Ipsos poll indicates voter discontent. His standing is down to 45 per cent. But all is relative; Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s approval rating is 37 per cent.

The challenge for the major parties is to engage the public, not pander to the lowest common denominator ordecry so-called “political correctness”. The future of our society is too important to leave to politicians alone. Australians have never been attracted to grand philosophical narratives. We hold to the simple goal of a fair go – for all.