Tell the Government what you think

19 February 2009, 05:10PM

Thanks to © boudist.com

In an opinion poll recently commissioned by Amnesty International, over 80 percent of people supported the introduction of legislation to protect human rights in Australia.

Australia is the only liberal democracy in the world without a Human Rights Act or similar protection. Right now however you have a chance to do something about it.

In the first half of 2009, the Government's Human Rights Consultation Committee is holding community meetings in locations around the country to find out how Australians want their human rights protected - Melbourne, Geelong, Dandenong, Bendigo and Wodonga (VIC) are next on the list.

This is a unique opportunity to have your views heard by those who can make the changes. It is also a chance to call for binding legal protection of the human rights of every single person in Australia.

To see the full meeting schedule for all states, please visit the Human Rights: Share Your Views website and check the page regularly for location and date updates. For information on the format of the meetings and what you will be asked to do and discuss, see our factsheet and tips on attending the community roundtables.

This is a unique opportunity to talk directly with your Government and have your request for a Human Rights Act heard, so please register for a session near you today.

You can also make a submission to the consultation through our quick and easy online form now.

Background

On 10 December 2008 the Government launched a nationwide public consultation asking Australians how they want their human rights protected. The National Human Rights Consultation is run by an independent Committee, supported by a Secretariat in the Attorney-General’s Department.

If human rights aren't formally protected, they are at risk of being eroded. In recent years we have seen how human rights are vulnerable to being undermined by government policies, such as mandatory detention of asylum seekers and Australia's anti-terror laws.

Find out more about the need for a Human Rights Act

• Human Rights Act for Australia
• We'll have what they're having! Check out our interactive world map with information on other countries with human rights protection.
• Read Professor George Williams from the University of New South Wales's article: Human rights in Australia - we should do better

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