Howard: Local bill of rights "ridiculous"

Mr Howard said the new ruling, made by the government of the Australian Capital Territory last month, showed the dangers of "political correctness".

Speaking in a radio interview on Monday he hinted that the federal government might overturn the measure.

Mr Howard described himself as a social conservative, saying he was against gay adoption and gay marriage.

Overturn threat

"I think there are certain benchmark institutions and arrangements in our society that you don't muck around with," Mr Howard told Sydney radio station 2UE.

"Children ideally should be brought up by a mother and a father who are married," he added.

The Labor-led local government of the ACT adopted a bill of rights for the territory last week, which included the right for same-sex couples to adopt.

Thousands turned out in Sydney for the annual gay Mardi Gras

"I think the idea of the ACT having a bill of rights is ridiculous," Mr Howard said in response to the decision.

"If you're going to have things like that, they should be done on a nationwide basis. This is political correctness inside the Labor Party parading itself for all the world to see."

While the Labor Party does control the ACT local government, the federal government is conservative.

Mr Howard indicated that his coalition may use its powers to reverse the decision - something it did in 1997 when the Northern Territory was forced to abandon a law legalising euthanasia.

Mr Howard's comments after Sydney played host to the country's largest street festival - the Lesbian and Gay Mardi Gras on Saturday.

About 100,000 revellers ignored heavy rain to line the route through the city's gay district and view some 130 floats.