In December of last year, Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland launched the National Human Rights Consultation to seek community views on human rights in Australia. One proposal of that Consultation, promoted strongly in some quarters, is a Charter of Humans Rights. Sounds fair enough—who would say a list of human rights is a bad thing? Well, ironically, there are a number of voices—both religious and political—who warn that a Charter of Rights could be anything but good. Among them is former New South Wales Premier Bob Carr who spoke to Open House this week.
Christian leaders including Catholic Archbishop Cardinal George Pell, Anglican Archbishop of Sydney Peter Jensen and the Australian Christian Lobby, plus political voices like Bob Carr, NSW Attorney-General John Hatzistergos and South Australian Attorney-General Michael Atkinson, and media commentators like Paul Kelly and Janet Albrechtsen have all raised concerns that a Charter would be detrimental to human and religious freedoms.
Submissions to the National Human Rights Consultation close June 15, and you are urged to have your say.
- Read the Australian Christian Lobby's reasons for opposing a Charter
- Read more on the Human Rights Consultation Website
- Have your say on the Charter
And, as always, we're keen to hear your view. Should Australia have a Charter of Rights?
Comments (1)
A charter of human rights, rather than ending problems, will only start them. Australia is already equipped legislatively and governmentally to handle itself well in relation to its people. A charter (or bill) can only serve to allow minorities of the clamorous type to impose their desires and values on the rest of us by appealing to judges who,(not being elected and therefore not having to answer to any electorate)can interpret the law partially. The upshot of this would mean oppression from minorities.
Posted by Deryck Thomas | April 30, 2009 11:19 PM
Posted on April 30, 2009 23:19