The recent debate on the Racial and Religious Tolerance Bill in the Victorian Legislative Assembly continues a tragic trend in political comment and debate. Politicians, academics, and commentators have failed to understand the basic historical underpinnings of our tolerant, harmonious, liberal and democratic values.

It took centuries in the English speaking world to hammer out the principles of separation of church and state and our public education system. It is the enlightenment principle of separation of church and state together with the bringing of children together in a universal, free, and secular education system that is the basis of our peaceful and harmonious society.

Now, it is all under threat.

The Minister assisting the Premier on Multicultural Affairs, Mr Pandazopoulos lists the following as supporting the Bill: The Australian Catholic University; the Roman Catholic Church; the Catholic Education office; various Greek and Jewish interest groups; the Anglican diocese of Melbourne; the Uniting Church; and a number of Moslem organisations.

Persons amongst these groups actively separate children from the rest of the community in order to provide sectarian religious indoctrination. It is not surprising that those who separate children on sectarian lines then call for legislative remedies to counter the natural outcome of sectarian policies.

When will we learn from our history rather than insist on repeating it? There is no good time for a bad idea.