Amnesty International is calling on the Government to immediately and publicly clarify how it intends to respond to the National Human Rights Consultation Committee’s recommendation that Australia adopt a Human Rights Act.

Amnesty International is both concerned and disappointed with recent media reports that suggest the Government may be shying away from introducing legislation to safeguard peoples’ rights and freedoms in Australia.

Following Australia’s largest ever nationwide consultation process, instigated by Attorney-General Robert McClelland, the National Human Rights Consultation Committee recommended last October that the Federal Government adopt a Human Rights Act.

“It is now high time for the Government to clarify its intentions with regard to protecting human rights in this country and move this extremely serious matter out of the realm of speculation and scaremongering,” said Amnesty International Australia National Director, Claire Mallinson.

Of the 35,014 people who made submissions to the National Human Rights Consultation Committee, an overwhelming 29,153 were in favour of a Human Rights Act.

A 2009 opinion poll commissioned by Amnesty International found that 81 per cent of people surveyed would support the introduction of a law to protect human rights in Australia. In addition, the Nielsen survey results showed 85 per cent of those who supported the introduction of human rights legislation believed its introduction should be a high or very high priority for the Australian Government.

“Disregarding the Committee’s recommendation, the wishes of the majority who participated in the consultation, and broader public support, would result in a major loss of face for the Government with both the Australian people and the international community,” said Claire Mallinson.

“For the Australian Government to play a leadership role internationally on human rights issues, and to speak with authority on important issues in this region or elsewhere in the world, it has to show strong leadership at home. It can do that by adopting a Human Rights Act.”

Amnesty International has been calling for a Human Rights Act that reflects Australia’s international human rights obligations.

In the past year alone, several UN monitoring bodies have highlighted how the Government is failing to implement its international human rights obligations through domestic law.

“Australia is in breach of its international legal obligations by not adequately protecting human rights in Australia,” said Claire Mallinson. “It’s not good enough to commit to these international treaties and then disregard them inside Australia.”

Amnesty International Australia has written to the Attorney-General to remind him of his responsibility to lead the country through changes that will bring Australia into compliance with its international legal obligations and properly protect the human rights of all.

Amnesty International is yet to receive a response from the Attorney-General.

Background

Read Amnesty International’s formal submission to the National Human Rights Consultation Committee.