Fed: Aust considering a bill of rights

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2008
Fed: Aust considering a bill of rights

By Susanna Dunkerley and Belinda Cranston

CANBERRA, Dec 10 AAP - Australia is the only liberal democracy without a bill that
protects human rights, but that may be set to change.

The federal government has asked the public to say what kind of human rights should
be protected under Australian law.

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland said a consultation committee would travel
the country for suggestions.

The announcement was made during a speech on the 60th Anniversary of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights on Wednesday.

Mr McClelland said Australia had been a leading proponent of human rights around the
world but could do better.

And a bill of rights could promote religious tolerance, equality for women and boost
the standard of living for indigenous people.

"All research suggests one of the most potent antidotes to the development of violent
extremism is the promotion of religious tolerance and fundamental human rights."

Amnesty International Australia said any bill of rights must guarantee binding legal
protection for all citizens.

"In recent times we have seen how human rights are vulnerable to being undermined by
government policies, such as mandatory detention of asylum seekers and our anti-terror
laws," spokeswoman Sophie Peer said.

"We would like to see legislation that protects all of our rights, across the board,
from the right to education to the right to work.

"It must also include our economic, social and cultural rights."

The Law Society of NSW said while discussions would help educate people about their
rights, it was unlikely to lead to constitutional change.

"A bill of rights in terms of constitutional change is probably too far down the track
to consider at this stage," the society's president, Hugh Macken, said.

"It is likely to be quite divisive, and as history has shown any divisive referendum
which goes up invariably fails."

The federal government also used the day to announce $1.5 million in funding to help
projects that promote human rights in other nations.

The funding will go towards 19 nations in the Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East.

Projects include support for people with disabilities in Cambodia and Madagascar, legal
aid for women in Egypt, teaching facilities in India, doctors in the Philippines and protecting
the legal rights of children in Vietnam.

AAP sld/kms/it/de

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