Freedom of expression has always been a core part of Amnesty International’s work and is closely linked to the right to hold opinions and the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion.

That’s why it was surprising and disappointing that some recent media coverage disregarded the input of the more than 10,000 people who made submissions to the National Human Rights Consultation Committee through Amnesty International.

Over a period of eight months, the Consultation Committee conducted 66 community roundtables in 52 locations, asking people what they think about the protection and promotion of human rights in Australia.

The 35,014 individual submissions represent one of the most extensive responses to a government inquiry or consultation in this country.

Of the 33,356 submissions that addressed the option of a Human Rights Act or Charter, 29,153 were in favour of this option. The National Human Rights Consultation Committee has now recommended the government adopt a federal Human Rights Act.

Throughout the Consultation, Amnesty International encouraged as many people as possible to participate in the process. We collected submissions in a range of forms - online, handwritten on postcards, submission forms and petitions at community events, street stalls, forums, festivals, and fetes throughout Australia.

We received submissions from a wide range of people across the country including plumbers, nurses, church ministers, marine biologists, artists, psychologists, accountants, stay-at-home mums, company directors, journalists, geophysicists, travel consultants, photographers, medical practitioners, builders, filmmakers, job seekers, designers, and pensioners as well as members of trade unions, RSL clubs, Landcare groups, Rotary and Lions Clubs.

It was fantastic to see how interested not only Amnesty International supporters were in this process, but the broader public as well. The process clearly dispelled once and for all the myth that only lawyers and academics are interested in human rights.

Support for stronger rights protections was also reflected in an opinion poll commissioned by Amnesty International and conducted by Nielsen in February of this year. It found that 81 per cent of people polled supported the introduction of a law to protect human rights in Australia. Of those, 85 per cent believed it should be a high or very high priority for the government. This majority support was reflected in the opinion poll the Committee itself conducted

Leaving the numbers aside, it is extraordinary that some commentators are suggesting that some submissions are more equal than others. The value of a contribution should not be determined by its length or who it is from. It is inherently valuable because somebody has taken the time to express their view.

Instead of belittling the thousands of individuals who shared their personal views about protecting and promoting human rights in Australia we should be celebrating the fact that they participated, and that they placed their trust in our democratic processes.

It is not possible in this limited space to reproduce all of the individual contributions made to the Committee, but I would like to quote just two. Nabib in Coffs Harbour wrote, “I don't want to just hope or assume that my rights are protected, I want to know that there is a law to back this up and that I have an avenue if my rights are not respected”. Michael from South Gippsland wrote, "Adopt the human rights act, weave it into the fabric of our society across the land, stand by it and promote it. Let us set an example for the whole world."

Australia is known as the Lucky Country, but according to the Consultation Committee, 10 per cent of those surveyed reported that they had had their rights infringed. The Government showed real leadership when it established the Committee and initiated this consultation process. The overwhelming support for a Human Rights Act could not be ignored by the Committee. A Human Rights Act is a positive step towards making sure people not only have the right to free speech protected, but all of our rights and freedoms.

Claire Mallinson
National Director, Amnesty International Australia