National Human Rights Consultation community roundtable in Canberra
1 April 2009, 12:30PM
Andrew Witheford went along to check out the travelling roadshow that will see the National Human Rights Consultation Committee criss-crossing the country over the next couple of months.
I must admit that I feared the worst - perhaps a time-wasting shouting match between rabid special interest groups punctuated by the odd loner with a major axe to grind?
The venue was the dimly-lit Royal Theatre in the National Convention Centre, looking very different the last time I was there for the kick-arse Midnight Oil gig a couple of weeks ago. People of all ages, from dressed-up retirees to casual-looking students and a babe-in-arms sat around the circular tables.
Father Frank Brennan, the human rights advocate and chair of the Committee, introduced the other two members of the Committee present, journalist Mary Kostakidis, and indigenous lawyer Tammy Williams. Father Brennan mentioned that ex-AFP Commissioner Mick Palmer, would not be able to make this meeting. He mentioned that Palmer had most recently conducted the inquiry into the treatment of the Australian Citizen Cornelia Rau, saying that the case illustrated that - contrary to the general view - extreme human rights breaches could happen to one of "us".
There was a well-facilitated and interesting open discussion lasting about an hour-and-a-half, focusing on (1) Which human rights should be protected and promoted; (2) whether these rights were sufficiently protected and promoted; and (3) How Australia could better protect and promote human rights.
What emerged was a strong consensus that more needed to be done to protect Australian’s human rights. A key concern was the need to protect vulnerable people from the excesses produced by our system of parliamentary democracy. Recurring concerns were: the treatment of Australia's indigenous people, including the suspension of the Race Discrimination Act; the treatment of asylum seekers and excessive anti-terror laws.
Other issues raised included the drastic breaches of basic rights and loss of dignity experienced by people with disabilities and aged persons in institutional environments; the erosion of rights resulting from technological change; and the so-called "third generation" rights - such as the right to water, or a safe environment. Vigorous debate surrounded the right to die with dignity and the right to life. Another point that was made more than once was that more needed to be done to educate Australians about their rights, and the importance of ensuring access to justice.
There was strong support for a legislative charter of rights to be passed by the Federal Parliament. Some pointed out the positive experience of the ACT's Human Rights Act, which has been law for several years. Others expressed concern that ACT (and the Northern Territory) were deprived of a key democratic right because of the ability of the Federal Parliament to overturn Territory legislation.
In summary, the session left me with the impression that there is a high level of community support for a significant strengthening of human rights protection in Australia.
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