NSW Charter of Human Rights

To celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the International Declaration on Human Rights, the NSW Charter Group is launching a competition for the best film under two minutes that illustrates why Australia needs human rights protection. Several organisations have already donated cash prizes. The larger the prize the more entrants we can attract. Please contact Brenda (brenda@piac.asn.au) if you would like to contribute to the pool or sponsor a prize for a specific target group (for example a prize for young entrants under 18). More information on how to enter will follow.

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (1948)

(60 years on - has the golden thread of human rights unravelled?)

Thursday 27 November, 2008 @ 6 for 6.30 pm

THAT!(The Talking Heads at Toxteth) panellists are:

JOHN DOWD                    Former State Attorney-General and Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW, International Commission of Jurists (President)            

STUART REES                   Director, Sydney Peace Foundation and

                                         Internationalist 

ED SANTOW                     Senior Lecturer in Law, UNSW and Director,

                                         Charter of Human Rights Project, Gilbert & Tobin

                                         Center (sic) of Public Law

THAT!  AUDIENCE            Discussion encouraged– so come prepared

NOTE:   Also attached to the covering email is a Motion for an Australian Charter of Human Rights (drafted by Prof. George Williams) – this Motion will be put (without amendment) to the Meeting.   If you wish to fully participate in this session google, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

VIEWER ADVICE:  This session is rated LLR for laws, liberties & rights

The venue is the upstairs function room of the Toxteth Hotel, 345 Glebe Point Road, Glebe (cnr Ferry Road)

 Senior & Pensioner discounts available at Bar but not for sessions – see Donation below for others

Join us for dinner after for a “buy one get one free” meal deal

DINNER RESERVATIONS ESSENTIAL  -  see Inquiries below

Donation:   $10   –    FREE  for Benefits recipients, full-time students, unwaged                 

Convenors:      Kate Barton,  Alexandra Penfold,  Helen Randerson

Inquiries:         katebarton3@optusnet.com.au   or  Tel:    9518.5560

The Inaugural Evatt Annual Lecture will be presented by the Attorney-General, The Hon. Robert McClelland MP on the topic, ‘Getting into Gear for the next 60 years‘.

When: Tuesday 9 December 2008

Time:  6.30 - 7.30pm

Where:  Eastern Avenue Auditorium, University of Sydney

Cost:   Free - RSVP:  admin@evatt.usyd.edu.au or 02 8090 1170

Article by George Williams and Nicola McGarrity in the Sydney Morning Herald, July 16, 2008:

The protesters have won this round. Next time they are not likely to be so fortunate. The Federal Court decision illuminates the fragile nature of freedom of speech in Australia. The right deserves better protection than the legal presumption that Parliament does not intend to breach the right unless it sets this out in clear terms. It is long past time that such an important freedom was safeguarded in a national charter of human rights.  full article

Dr. Lesley Cannold, Sun Herald, 13 July 2008.

YOU might think I am the sort of person who has always favoured a charter of human rights, but it isn’t so.

Having come of age in America, I had seen first-hand the social ructions caused by the Supreme Court’s invalidation of laws that violated the bill of rights. I watched my country struggle to come to terms with that court’s banning of unconstitutional racially segregated schools, its upholding of the separation of church and state and its striking down of laws banning abortion.

In principle I agreed with each one of these decisions, yet as a new migrant to Australia in the early 1990s I thought this nation’s more incrementalist approach to social change had much to commend it …. Don’t trust politicians with your human rights

.. writes Richard Ackland in the May 9 Sydney Morning Herald.

Contact your local politican and ask when the NSW government will conduct community consultation to promote wider understanding about a charter of rights for NSW.

Tasmanian Inquiry recommends Charter of RIghts for Tasmania

In October 2007, the Tasmania Law Reform Institute completed its
report on a Charter of Rights For Tasmania. The Institute concludes
in its report that Tasmania should introduce a Charter of Human
Rights. The recommendation is for a broad charter protecting
economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. For more
information about the report and to download an electronic copy, go
to: http://www.law.utas.edu.au/reform/

The WA State Government has welcomed the findings of a report into how Western Australia could develop laws to protect the human rights of its people.

Human rights report completed in W.A.

In her eNEWS bulletin No. 366 dated Friday 28 September 2007, The Lord Mayor of Sydney, The Hon. Clover Moore said:

HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION FOR NSW

Australia is the only democratic nation in the world without a legal human rights instrument. Although human rights atrocities are not common, there is a growing feeling that civil rights are being eroded, particularly in response to anti-terrorism laws and the APEC summit.

In Parliament I promoted the NSW Charter Group’s call for public consultation like Victoria and the ACT did before developing Human Rights Charters, to determine what we consider are our basic human rights.

A Charter could provide Parliament with a tool to review the impact of proposed legislation on human rights, ensuring informed decisions. Unlike an American Bill of Rights, which is entrenched in the constitution, Parliament could amend the Charter as community values
change.

As the representative of a socially and culturally diverse inner city electorate, I have long worked to protect human rights, including the rights of Indigenous and gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual citizens. The City is examining the development of a Charter of Human Rights to complement our City’s Social Policy. Such a Charter would be
developed through community consultation and could include recognition of Indigenous Australians, valuing all people, consultation and participation, diversity, social development, equitable access for everyone, and fair and integrated decisions.

The threat of terrorism has resulted in the abandonment of a number of fundamental principles in the name of protecting our safety. Without a human rights legal instrument there is no guarantee that other rights will not be traded in the name of security. I called on
the NSW Government to grasp the opportunity to assess community support for a Charter of Human Rights.

“Australia needs a bill of rights to to reclaim its gold medal reputation for free speech and human rights”, according to acclaimed media lawyer Geoffrey Robertson.  “Free speech has become expensive speech” he said in an interview ahead of an address in Sydney to an audience including the heads of Australia’s major media and legal firms.  “Bill of Rights” Article in the Sydney Morning Herald on-line 28 August 2007.