Comments on: Human rights: why we need a charter http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/02/11/human-rights-why-we-need-a-charter/ now with extra source Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:03:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: achimova1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/02/11/human-rights-why-we-need-a-charter/#comment-58580 achimova1 Sat, 13 Feb 2010 17:36:46 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=115818#comment-58580 Maybe David Lodge, who queries "Who and where are these people Mark? And what kind of abuses?" should ask a few Aboriginal people, mental patients, prisoners and refugees - for a start - about how well their rights are protected in Australia. And a read of Chloe Hooper's book "The Tall Man" may indicate that systemic neglect of human rights is part and parcel of Australian life. An example. A prisoner is put in shackles in an Australian gaol. I appeal to the Human Rights Commissioner in Canberra. He says it is a state issue. I call the local Human Rights and Equal Opportunity office. I am told that the person with the power is the superintendent. As he had to impose the punishment, changing his mind was unlikely. So I called one of the local shock jocks - and Amnesty International in London - and the shackles came off within a day. Not good enough David for a supposedly democratic country Maybe David Lodge, who queries “Who and where are these people Mark? And what kind of abuses?” should ask a few Aboriginal people, mental patients, prisoners and refugees - for a start - about how well their rights are protected in Australia. And a read of Chloe Hooper’s book “The Tall Man” may indicate that systemic neglect of human rights is part and parcel of Australian life.

An example. A prisoner is put in shackles in an Australian gaol. I appeal to the Human Rights Commissioner in Canberra. He says it is a state issue. I call the local Human Rights and Equal Opportunity office. I am told that the person with the power is the superintendent. As he had to impose the punishment, changing his mind was unlikely. So I called one of the local shock jocks - and Amnesty International in London - and the shackles came off within a day. Not good enough David for a supposedly democratic country

]]> By: j.oneill http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/02/11/human-rights-why-we-need-a-charter/#comment-58221 j.oneill Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:06:37 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/?p=115818#comment-58221 Well said Mr Blumer. Australia's attitude to human rights legislation is akin to the woman who was wartching her son at the passing out parade and proudly pointed out to her friends that her Jonny was the only one marching in step. For all the scaremongering of Ms Parnham and her ilk the great Australian public seems not to know that Australia is almost unique in not having a Charter of Rights or equivalent. One of the leading opponents is Professor James Allan of the University of Queensland. Mr Allan opposed a charter for his native Canada but they ignored his advice and passed legislation that actually strengthened an earlier version. Canda is the better for it. Mr Allan then went to New Zealand where he led the charge against that country's Bill of Rights. Fortunately the New Zealanders were not persuaded and they now have a Bill that is modelled on the Canadian Charter and the country is much the better for it. I spoke with one conservative member of the NZ Court of Appeal who told me that he had been among the doubters but actual exposure to the Bill had changed his mind. None of which will stop the naysayers here who persist in repeating the hoary myths so eloquently exposed in speech by Justice Kirby that you link to. Well said Mr Blumer. Australia’s attitude to human rights legislation is akin to the woman who was wartching her son at the passing out parade and proudly pointed out to her friends that her Jonny was the only one marching in step. For all the scaremongering of Ms Parnham and her ilk the great Australian public seems not to know that Australia is almost unique in not having a Charter of Rights or equivalent.
One of the leading opponents is Professor James Allan of the University of Queensland. Mr Allan opposed a charter for his native Canada but they ignored his advice and passed legislation that actually strengthened an earlier version. Canda is the better for it. Mr Allan then went to New Zealand where he led the charge against that country’s Bill of Rights. Fortunately the New Zealanders were not persuaded and they now have a Bill that is modelled on the Canadian Charter and the country is much the better for it. I spoke with one conservative member of the NZ Court of Appeal who told me that he had been among the doubters but actual exposure to the Bill had changed his mind.
None of which will stop the naysayers here who persist in repeating the hoary myths so eloquently exposed in speech by Justice Kirby that you link to.

]]>