Former Senator Margaret Reynolds says the Upper House can play a constructive role and provide real leadership
AS we wait for the complex count of Senate votes it is timely to ask why does the Senate matter? 
There are obvious answers to this question.
The Senate has important review functions, provides a check on government and its members can play an important role in speaking out on behalf of the state they represent.
Nevertheless, there are some in the community who see the Senate purely as a rubber stamp for government.
Some commentators are already lamenting the fact that the new Senate may be as diverse and as "unpredictable" as the last.
There are accusations of instability and irresponsibility as Australia elects the kind of Senate it wants to monitor the actions of government.
Surely scrutiny and negotiation in the Senate should improve public policy. The Senate plays a significant role in Australia's democracy and can take important initiatives to influence the nature of debate that comes out of Canberra to lead the nation.
Twenty years ago it was the Senate which initiated development of a Code of Race Ethics for Federal Parliamentarians.
The idea was brought to the Parliament by indigenous citizens when then Member for Ipswich, Pauline Hanson, was elected. She had openly boasted she would not represent Aboriginal constituents so they wanted some action taken on their behalf to counter racist rhetoric.
The need for some kind of code of practice to prevent racism was debated in the Senate in   May 1996 and resulted in the following code: As a Member of the Australian Federal Parliament I agree 1. To act in a manner which upholds the honour of public office and the parliament.
2. To respect the religious and cultural beliefs of all groups living within Australia in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
3. To uphold principles of justice and tolerance within our multicultural society making efforts to generate understanding of all minority groups.
4. To recognise and value diversity as an integral part of Australia's social and economic future, 5. To help without discrimination all persons seeking assistance. 6. To speak and write in a manner which provides factual commentary on a foundation of truth about all issues being debated in the community and the parliament.
7. To encourage the partnership of government and non-government organisations in leading constructive and informed debate in the community.
8. To promote reconciliation with indigenous Australians.
In 1997 this Code was incorporated into the Standing Orders of the Tasmanian House of Assembly, the first state to respond.
Subsequently the Code of Race Ethics was endorsed by Premiers and Leaders of the Opposition in all states and territories.
By   December 1998 54 per cent of Members and Senators had signed the Federal Parliamentarians Code of Race Ethics. This support for a more tolerant Australia was featured at a Parliament House ceremony attended by a diversity of religious and ethnic leaders.
At the time it was hoped that all parliamentarians would over time sign on to the Code but momentum stalled.
Twenty years on and Australians still need leadership from our parliamentarians to counter racism. This debate needs rational argument based on facts and it is the responsibility of our current elected members and senators to demonstrate that they are committed to this task.
Margaret Reynolds is a former Queensland Labor Senator who now lives in Tasmania.