NSW Charter of Human Rights

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.

Extract taken from the message that Russell Crowe left in the National Trust time capsule, to be opened in 25 years:

“My fervent hope for this country is that we mature enough to have our own Bill of Human Rights and a constitution that protects the rights of individuals as we understand those rights should be. Rights that Australians don’t currently have.” 

Good on you, Russell

Taken from The Bar Association’s news and current awareness bulletin Inbrief 27/07/2007

The Bar Association resolved on 4 May 2006 to support the attorney
general’s call for a community consultation with respect to a charter of
human rights for NSW. It sought from its Human Rights Committee an
options paper considering the models that are available and which one
the committee recommended. Read the committee’s options paper
…

THIS EVENT WAS FULLY BOOKED

Lord Robert Walker of the House of Lords is in Australia for other human rights activities and has very kindly agreed to address our forum. We have asked him to reflect on his experience of human rights under the Human Rights Act 1998 (UK) and he is willing to take questions. This was his only public event in Sydney.

Date: Tuesday 21 August, Venue: Gilbert + Tobin, Level 37, 2 Park Street Sydney

Can a Human Rights Charter make a difference? Presentation from Lord Robert Walker at the forum

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The W.A. Attorney General Jim McGinty announced on 3 May 2007 a proposal to develop a WA Human Rights Act. Please visit their web page to view the Attorney General’s Draft Human Rights Bill, Media Release and other relevant documentation.

Opinion piece on WA draft Bill on ABC website by Fred Chaney

The ALP Conference in April 2007, approved a motion for public consultation of a Federal Charter of Human Rights. This discussion generated the following articles in the Sydney Morning Herald.
Former Premier of NSW Bob Carr said in the Sydney Morning Herald on April 30, 2007: “Democracy thrives in a free press and politics, not in the judiciary”

to which Susan Ryan replied in letters to the Editor on May 1, 2007: “Litany of voices tells of common law failures to protect human rights”

“Harmony Lost: Why Multicultural Australia Needs a Human Rights Act in the Era of Anti-Terror.”

Date and Time: 6:30-8:00 pm, Wednesday 16 May
Location: Level 1, 79 Myrtle Street, Chippendale, NSW

Speakers:
Robin Banks, Chief Executive Officer of PIAC and Director of PILCH
Dr Danielle Celemarjer, Director of Global Studies at the University of Sydney.
Professor George Williams, Director of Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law.
Suraya Turk, Deputy Chair of the Youth Advisory Council of New South Wales

Details and registration: nswaia@amnesty.org.au

Australian Democrats press release on 26 April comments on a worrying trend to to simplify and sensationalise the debate on a bill of rights by both major parties.

An article by Ross Fitzgerald in The Australian Opinion commenting on a Charter of Rights for NSW.