A Charter of Rights for Australia - Gleebooks discussion
Panel Discussion at gleebooks:
- Susan Ryan AO
- Richard Ackland
- George Williams
- Geoff Gallop (moderator)
Australia is the only democratic country without a national charter of rights. Rights are assumed in Australia; but as David Hicks, sedition laws, children in detention and the push for ID cards demonstrate, such assumptions are disposable. George Williams discusses his new book, A Charter of Rights for Australia, with SMH columnist and Justinian editor Richard Ackland and Susan Ryan AO, former Hawke government Minister, architect of the Sex Discrimination Act and head of the New Matilda Human Rights Act Campaign. Former Premier of WA and now Director of the Graduate School of Government at the University of Sydney, Geoff Gallop, will moderate.
Date: 24 May 2007
Time : 6.30pm for 7pm
Place : gleebooks, 49 Glebe Point Road, Glebe, 2037
Cost: $10 / $7 conc.
To book: (02) 9660 2333 or gleebooks.com.au/events
Hi, this actually couldn’t have come at a better time because i’m writing an uni assignment on the issue of a Bill of Rights, however on the topic of this Charter, i wondered what was being done to avoid the rights being limited in the future, its such a contested discussion but i think the definition of a “right” in many ways serves to limit it, and this becomes a dangerous area in issues such as human rights. Its so important that we don’t get stuck legislating now and being denied rights in the future or for future generations. How could one begin to word it such a document without limiting future possiblities? I’m genuinely interested. I too think human rights is THE most important protection to have, just want to make sure we don’t get it wrong because who knows how long we’ll pay the price if we do…