Should Australia Have a Statutory Bill or Charter of Rights?

The question of a bill or charter of rights is integral to our national conversation about how human rights might be better protected and promoted in Australia.

As a lawyer with a keen interest in human rights and youth issues, it has always struck me as strange that many Australians, whilst familiar with America’s Bill of Rights, understand little about how human rights are protected and promoted in our own backyard. Many seem to be under the impression that Australia has our own Bill of Rights. We don’t.

The question of an Australian bill or charter of rights has certainly been a hot topic during the National Human Rights Consultation. It is consistently raised both at our consultations and in people’s submissions. It has also inspired great debate in the political arena as well as in the media.

Which human rights and responsibilities should be protected and promoted?

When you are trying to describe human rights, think of the core values which you believe should underpin our society.

In 2005, an inquiry was conducted into the Government’s handling of Australian citizen Cornelia Rau. This inquiry brought up a number of issues relating to human rights in Australia. Namely, rights relating to immigration, detention and the rights of the mentally ill.

The inquiry and accompanying public debate raised a number of questions about our responsibilities to protect those rights. What is the responsibility of Government? Of the community? Of the individual?

Not everyone knows which human rights we have in Australia. Not everyone agrees about which rights we should have. Questions exist about what those rights should be and whose responsibility it should be to protect them.

When becoming an Australian citizen a person says:

Are human rights and responsibilities sufficiently protected and promoted?

Would you be able to explain to a new Australian citizen how our rights and liberties are protected and promoted?

Talk Openly: Indigenous e-Health Forum with special guest blogger, The Hon. Tony Abbott

The Hon. Tony Abbott MHR, Federal Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, was our guest blogger in a forum on the potential benefits of e-Health practices for Australia’s remote Indigenous communities.

Measures to start addressing affordable rental housing

It is now widely accepted that Australia has a huge housing affordability problem. Indeed, rarely a day goes by in the media without discussion of house prices, interest rates, first home buyers, and the lack of affordability.

WA Housing Roundtable

This is a sector that has been in crisis for so long that the word barely holds meaning; people simply should not have to work under this kind of stress and official neglect.

Many Faces to the Housing Crisis

The Government should allocate more resources towards the provision of public and community housing as a matter of urgency. Unfortunately, that's a much harder sell to the electorate than the First Home Buyers Grant.

Great News for Home Buyers and the Economy

The doubling of the First Home Owners Grant and the tripling of the grant for those building new homes are expected to provide an immediate stimulus for new housing and help restore business confidence across the sector.

A tax for everything

If we want to encourage more people to enter the housing market, there needs to be some incentive for them to do so.

EXCLUSIVE: Question & Answer with Tony Abbott

In an effort to facilitate a higher level of consultation between our community and decision makers, we are planning a number of "Question & Answer" sessions with Australia's key thought leaders. Our first guest is The Hon. Tony Abbott MHR, former Federal Minister for Health and Ageing. Here are his thoughts on the national health care reform, hospital crisis, electronic health records, community consultation, and more.

TALK OPENLY: The Hon. Tony Abbott, Minister for Health and Ageing, Answers Your Questions

In an effort to facilitate a higher level of consultation between our community and key decision makers, Open Forum has invited a number of thought leaders to facilitate an Open Forum discussion. Our first “Talk Openly” session will be facilitated by The Hon Tony Abbott, Minister for Health and Ageing. Details of the session will be posted in our Events section.