National Human Rights Consultation - Wollongong

National Human Rights Consultation

Wollongong Consultation 19th March

The National Human Rights Consultation provides the opportunity for you to share your views on human rights. The Consultation is run by an independent Committee. The Committee is supported by a Secretariat in the Attorney-General's Department.

The Consultation is a chance to hear people's ideas about human rights and talk about ways to protect and promote human rights in the future.

Key Consultation Questions

• Which human rights and responsibilities should be protected and promoted?
• Are human rights sufficiently protected and promoted?
• How could Australia better protect and promote human rights?

 

WOLLONGONG CONSULTATION

What: Community Human Rights Consultation

When: Thursday 19 March, 12pm-2pm
Where: WIN Sports & Entertainment Centre, Premier's Room, Function Centre Cnr of Crown & Harbour Sts - Use Harbour St entrance for access to function room

 

You must REGISTER to attend or go to: https://www.humanrightsconsultation.gov.au

 

Comments by GetUp:

 

"In Wollongong , next Thursday is going to be different. Next Thursday you can help protect the human rights of all Australians, present and future, by standing up for a Human Rights Act for Australia.

 

Kids in detention, workers stripped of their rights, Indigenous Australians without housing and healthcare - together we've fought time and time again for human rights. Now the Government is embarking on a national human rights consultation - the chance of a lifetime to protect our rights with law.

 

Next week, they're rolling into Wollongong. Just 2 hours of your time will help create real change in people's lives - for all those in aged care, those with disabilities, and those who experience discrimination or bureaucratic bungling. Can you attend the Government's human rights consultation?

 

 We know you're busy, but plenty of people in government would rather avoid scrutiny over human rights issues - and they're hoping nobody shows up to the community consultations. Can the citizens of the Wollongong area prove them wrong by turning out in great numbers to have their say? Make sure you bring all your friends - even those who've never thought about human rights protection before.

You don't need any special knowledge before you go along . These meetings are designed so that ordinary Australians can learn a bit about the issues and have their say. Together with dozens of fellow GetUp members attending, you can make a huge difference."  (Source GetUp)

Terms of Reference

The Australian Government is committed to the promotion of human rights—a commitment that is based on the belief in the fundamental equality of all persons. 

The Government believes that the protection and promotion of human rights is a question of national importance for all Australians, and for this reason has appointed a Committee to undertake an Australia-wide community consultation for protecting and promoting human rights and corresponding responsibilities in Australia.  The Government has given the Committee Terms of Reference to guide their work.

The Committee will ask the Australian community:

• Which human rights (including corresponding responsibilities) should be protected and promoted?
• Are these human rights currently sufficiently protected and promoted?
• How could Australia better protect and promote human rights?

In conducting the consultation the Committee will:

• consult broadly with the community, particularly those who live in rural and regional areas
• undertake a range of awareness raising activities to enhance participation in the consultation by a wide cross section of Australia's diverse community
• seek out the diverse range of views held by the community about the protection and promotion of human rights
• identify key issues raised by the community in relation to the protection and promotion of human rights, and

The Committee will report to the Australian Government by 31 August 2009 on the issues raised and the options identified for the Government to consider to enhance the protection and promotion of human rights.  The Committee is to set out the advantages and disadvantages (including social and economic costs and benefits) and an assessment of the level of community support for each option it identifies.

The options identified should preserve the sovereignty of the Parliament and not include a constitutionally entrenched bill of rights.

Information sourced at National Human Rights Consultation website