I believe that the way society perceives difference is shaped by political acts that demand the provision of a high quality of life for all citizens, regardless of their origins or circumstances. Australian public institutions such as schools, law enforcement and government service providers have an obligation to uphold the right to fair and equitable treatment for all citizens, reflecting wider global policies in human rights (Elkins, 2008). Global human rights declarations consider it unacceptable to discriminate against people based on their race, age, gender, cultural or social origin or disability, and this constitutes the basis of Australian human rights law standards (Ashman, 2008; Australian Human Rights Commission, 2008; Center for the Study of Inclusive Education, 2008). The value of inclusive politics in society is reinforced as discriminatory behaviors related to employment, education and law enforcement, once commonplace, are viewed harshly and treated seriously (Commission Australian Human Rights Commission, 2008). Strong sanctions for violations of these standards require service providers to be aware of potential bias and discrimination in their interactions with “people of difference,” which spill over into wider society and influence the behavior of people, even their underlying attitudes. As schools and teachers are agents of social change, inclusive education policies are a strong demonstration of the government's commitment to addressing diversity in Australian society (Disability Coordination and Regional Disability Liaison Officer Initiative, 2008) . Conversely, education policies and legislation in Australia currently reflect a federal government push towards standardization and accountability in sc...... middle of document...... dustandards.info/index.php*Elkins, J. (2008). Legislation, policies and principles. In A. Ashman & J. Elkins (Eds.), Education for inclusion and diversity. Frenchs Forest, New South Wales: Pearson Education Australia. McTighe, J. and Brown, JL (2005). Differentiated instruction and educational standards; Is relaxation possible? From Theory to Practice, 44(3), 234-244.Queensland Education. (2005). Declaration on inclusive education. Retrieved March 2, 2010 from http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/learning/docs/includedstatement2005.pdf.The Curriculum Corporation. (2009). The Australian program. Retrieved March 8, 2010 from http://www.curriculum.edu.au/ccsite/the_australian_curriculum,28824.htmlWilliams, CB and Finnegan, M. (2003). From myth to reality; Solid information for teachers about deaf students. Teaching exceptional children, 35(3), 40-45.