Comments on: Brennan: we want human rights protection http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/08/brennan-we-want-human-rights-protection/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:14:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Liz45 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/08/brennan-we-want-human-rights-protection/#comment-40419 Liz45 Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:54:25 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/08/brennan-we-want-human-rights-protection/#comment-40419 I heartily agree John. I've just listened to PM's interview with Fr Frank Brennan, and I agree with all the points that he made. I reject Bob Carr's views entirely. He's out of touch with the people, and to assert that "we're too sensible to adopt a bill of rights" just proves his ignorance. People in his position perhaps don't need any protections, because he's part of the priviledged in the community, as he's wealthy, has power, is white and male - if he found himself in an unjust position, he has the money to hire whoever he thinks will present his case. That's not the position of the majority of Australians. It's quite clear from the report, that an overwhelming number of people in this country believe that it's time to provide protections. The nonsense about propping up the legal fraternity is nothing but a blight on their own characters. How many in the Howard Government were qualified lawyers, and yet they knowingly and deliberately passed laws(with Labor's concurrence, it must be said)that locked up kids until they got physically and mentally ill, and reduced our treatment of their parents to less than human - I was ashamed of this, as were many others. We need a system that will protect us from the lot of them! I don't feel comfortable with the Laws and impositions that are in effect - the Invasion of the NT is one; the disgraceful health positions of aboriginal people; the incarceration for minor crimes of indigenous people; the discrimination against the disabled, women and those from different cultures and backgrounds. The recommendations of the Commission as annunciated by Frank Brennan sound plausible and reasonable to me, with safeguards and a mixture of actions that can be taken, with Judges sending suggestions etc back to the Parliament for example. I think that with more discussion and good will, we'll finally succeed. The first question I'd ask the Federal Opposition or anyone else for that matter, is what is wrong with protecting the rights of the citizens? What do you plan for us in the future? We saw how they'll quickly remove the rights of the most disadvantaged in the country(aboriginal people and asylum seekers who come in leaky boats, who's next? It should be noted, that there's an immigration detention centre in(almost?) every state and territory in the country - they allow abuses to happen! They have no right to take a high moral stand at all! The present Attorney from NSW is a disgrace to the legal profession. He's been chipping away at the human rights of citizens in this State for some time. I have no respect for him, and his comments speak for themselves - he should hang his head in shame! I heartily agree John. I’ve just listened to PM’s interview with Fr Frank Brennan, and I agree with all the points that he made. I reject Bob Carr’s views entirely. He’s out of touch with the people, and to assert that “we’re too sensible to adopt a bill of rights” just proves his ignorance. People in his position perhaps don’t need any protections, because he’s part of the priviledged in the community, as he’s wealthy, has power, is white and male - if he found himself in an unjust position, he has the money to hire whoever he thinks will present his case. That’s not the position of the majority of Australians. It’s quite clear from the report, that an overwhelming number of people in this country believe that it’s time to provide protections. The nonsense about propping up the legal fraternity is nothing but a blight on their own characters. How many in the Howard Government were qualified lawyers, and yet they knowingly and deliberately passed laws(with Labor’s concurrence, it must be said)that locked up kids until they got physically and mentally ill, and reduced our treatment of their parents to less than human - I was ashamed of this, as were many others. We need a system that will protect us from the lot of them! I don’t feel comfortable with the Laws and impositions that are in effect - the Invasion of the NT is one; the disgraceful health positions of aboriginal people; the incarceration for minor crimes of indigenous people; the discrimination against the disabled, women and those from different cultures and backgrounds.

The recommendations of the Commission as annunciated by Frank Brennan sound plausible and reasonable to me, with safeguards and a mixture of actions that can be taken, with Judges sending suggestions etc back to the Parliament for example. I think that with more discussion and good will, we’ll finally succeed. The first question I’d ask the Federal Opposition or anyone else for that matter, is what is wrong with protecting the rights of the citizens? What do you plan for us in the future? We saw how they’ll quickly remove the rights of the most disadvantaged in the country(aboriginal people and asylum seekers who come in leaky boats, who’s next? It should be noted, that there’s an immigration detention centre in(almost?) every state and territory in the country - they allow abuses to happen! They have no right to take a high moral stand at all!

The present Attorney from NSW is a disgrace to the legal profession. He’s been chipping away at the human rights of citizens in this State for some time. I have no respect for him, and his comments speak for themselves - he should hang his head in shame!

]]> By: John Bennetts http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/08/brennan-we-want-human-rights-protection/#comment-40361 John Bennetts Thu, 08 Oct 2009 04:37:16 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/08/brennan-we-want-human-rights-protection/#comment-40361 John Hatzistergos, the NSW Attourney General, is no friend of anything to do with a Bill of Rights. In response to my enquiry last year I received a solidly worded response which can be paraphrased as "Over my dead body." What a marvellous tool such legislation would become by empowering the weak, ill or uneducated so that they could reasonably expect to receive the same level of fairness that we all expect as we interact with those in authority. John Hatzistergos, the NSW Attourney General, is no friend of anything to do with a Bill of Rights. In response to my enquiry last year I received a solidly worded response which can be paraphrased as “Over my dead body.”

What a marvellous tool such legislation would become by empowering the weak, ill or uneducated so that they could reasonably expect to receive the same level of fairness that we all expect as we interact with those in authority.

]]>