It is the primary structure for the nurturing and protection of children. The family and all of its members must be given the full protection of the law.
Human rights are inherent and inalienable.
Those rights include the inherent dignity and equality of all members of the human family, including children. Law, domestic and international, cannot confer human dignity but must recognise and protect it. The Convention on the Rights of the Child, although not formally part of the domestic law of Australia, should be used as an impetus for law reform which provides protection for all children, especially those who are in situations of extreme vulnerability. The Convention and the rights of children must be appreciated as part of a legal and social regime which appropriately respects and protects the rights and responsibilities of parents. Courts and legislatures are repositories of power.