"Most
of us are secure in the belief that our human rights are well protected under
the law. However the legal system does little to protect our basic human rights.
Even the right to vote, and freedom from discrimination on the basis of race
or sex, exist only so long as parliament continues to respect them."
"Without
a comprehensive domestic charter of rights and freedoms, to prohibit such
rights abuses as genocide, complaints have only the uncertain and patchy regime
of common law and legislation, both subject to parliamentary discretion."
"
…a measure of the civilisation of a society is the extent to which it protects
for the needs of the disabled (and of other minorities) and protects them from
adverse and unjust discrimination which offends their human dignity."
"
The common law does not say we have freedom of speech; it says we may speak
as we wish, as long as what is not unlawful. The Common Law does not say we
have the right to freedom of assembly; it says that people may not be prevented
from meeting together unless the law forbids that meeting."
"
Australia's adoption of a Bill of Rights would bring Australia in from the
cold, so to speak, and make directly applicable the human rights jurisprudence
which has been developed internationally and elsewhere."
"It
must be acknowledged, however, that many of the rights recognized by the international
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are not currently protected by the
common law."
What
is a Bill of Rights?
... a national
statement of basic human rights, which protects the interests of every individual
and reflects the needs and values of the nation as a whole.
 |
What
are your Rights?
|
Issue:
Does
Australia need
a Bill of Rights
I |
MYTH:
You are protected by a Bill of Rights in Australia.
FACT:
Australia and Burma are the only two countries without a Bill Of Rights,
to protect your basic human rights.
