NSW Charter of Human Rights

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.

The NSW Charter Group of Human Rights was launched at Parliament House on Monday 16 April by Mr Bob Debus, former Attorney General of NSW with Prof. Larissa Behrendt and Prof. George Williams also speaking. Comments made at the launch will be posted soon.

Opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald, 17 April 2007 “Rights shouldn’t rely on government whim” by Prof. Behrendt.

See also Opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald, 16 April 2007 “A dead fish in a sea of red tape“ by Paul Sheehan.

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

Australia is now the only democratic nation without a charter of human rights. David Hicks’ experience is a timely reminder of why such legislation is needed, writes George Williams. Follow the link for the full article.

Read Justice Kirby’s comments on the Constitution
“but the rigidity helps produce a national constitutional lethargy that despairs of needed alterations and of fresh thinking about our basic governance”.

When: Monday, 16 April 2007

Where: Jubilee Room, NSW Parliament House

Time: 10.00am - 11.30am

You are invited to the launch of the NSW Charter Group at Parliament House. Come along and hear why it is important that everyone should support wide community discussion about a Charter of Rights for NSW.

Did you know that most people believe that we already have legislation to protect our rights?

RSVP to Brenda at Public Interest and Advocacy Centre (PIAC) on 8898.6522

Welcome to the web site of the NSW Charter of Human Rights Group. This site will be a voice of the Group and will be updated regularly to keep members and supporters up to date with activities and developments. Feel free to leave a comment on an item, register as a supporter and subscribe to our RSS feeds to keep abreast of all changes.

Contacts

Michelle Burrell, NCOSS: michelle@ncoss.org.au

Robin Banks, PIAC: rbanks@piac.asn.au