Faces of Australia
Australians from all backgrounds have good reason to wonder how our human rights - and the rights of our families and friends - are protected, and how they will be protected in the future. Read below for some perspectives from real people.
Anthony
"I want to make sure that the people who work for me are protected - their health, unions, and families."
Amity
"I want a Human Rights Act for Australia so that the man living in his car down the road has the same rights as I have."
Callie
"I want to make sure I have good health care when I get older. I have a right to that, and if we don't have a Human Rights Act, that might not happen."
Edwina
"I can't believe our rights are not protected. Freedom of speech is so important, it's ridiculous that we can't even protect that."
Henry
"We should have a Human Rights Act because I want to make sure that when I have a family, they have the right to live healthy, secure, and fair lives in a country that respects its people."
Vicki
"How can we fight against injustices like child labour when we don't even have protection against it in our own country?"
Jacki
"If we claim to be a fair and just country, we should have a Human Rights Act to ensure that's how we behave."
Comments
James Fehon | Posted on 23 February 2009, 02:23PM | Report comment
Hi Chris
I support legislation including all those rights listed in the UDHR & related covenants (AIA has a list of these at http://amnesty.org.au/wiki/Universal_Declaration_of_Human_Rights/ )
I do think this sort of legislation will benefit our society as a whole, not just minority groups. The Australian Human Rights commission gives some good examples of this: http://www.humanrights.gov.au/letstalkaboutrights/info.html
There’s also some specific cases showing human rights legislation benefiting everyday people in Victoria & UK at http://www.hrlrc.org.au/html/s02_article/article_view.asp?id=438&nav_cat_id=188&nav_top_id=70
I agree the Bill of Rights is better than nothing but there’s some things (right to bear arms) I don’t think should be adopted here. It also leaves out many of the rights now recognised internationally.
The case studies & examples above really broaden the conversation, because you’re right, many people don’t know the majority really will benefit as well.
Chris | Posted on 23 February 2009, 10:16AM | Report comment
James
Thank you for your response. My comment about the right not to be offended was in reference to the growing area of hate speach legislation.
You obviously feel that Human Rights legislation will improve things in Australia and I would like to hear you argument on this, however as you’ve probarly guessed by now I am a conservative and therefore deeply suspicious of any attempt to introduce more laws or regulations. I cannot see how human rights legislation would improve the rights of my community, the only people that would benefit from this is minority groups who would attempt to assert their rights over the rest of the community.
If we must have human rights legistaltion I would like suggest that you take a look at the first 10 ammendments of the US constitution - a ready made off the self piece of legislation that has worked for two centuries.
James Fehon | Posted on 20 February 2009, 03:54PM | Report comment
I think rights protection strengthens democracy - and reinforces all the values we believe in. I’ve never heard of a right not to be offended - maybe you mean hate speach and incitement to violence. I don’t think Amnesty’s suppressed anything here - we should all be free to express ourselves but also have the right to feel safe - I’ve been offended before and on the other had have been threated - there’s a pretty clear difference.
I think all that the continued detention of the two men you refer to shows is that Amnesty along with the British majority (96%) who support legislation protecting their freedoms and rights agree that their government should not deport people into countries who won’t respect these same rights. Sure certain rights are taken away when you’re found guilty but if you can’t guarantee certain basic rights are met than don’t deport people!
A Human Rights Act will bring so many positives and you’re misrepresenting the UK’s completely
Chris | Posted on 19 February 2009, 08:11AM | Report comment
As the UK and EU have shown us the creation of a Human Rights Bill will threaten our democracy. This threat will occur when a particular group’s right not to be offended conflicts with our right to free speech, a right which groups like amnesty have been keen to suppress.
Also thanks to the sterling efforts of Amnesty the people of the UK have been forced to keep and maintain men like Abu Qatada and Abu Hamza. Finally the UK government today has developed a spine and is now standing up to Amnesty.