Bill of rights is essential to best serve human rights

John Von Doussa writes that he can no longer support the argument that human rights in Australia are best protected by the common law and Parliament.

This represents a significant change from the view he held on assuming his term as president of the Australian Human Rights Commission five years ago, when he was still confident in the ability of the common law and a robust democracy to protect human rights.

In an opinion piece in the Sydney Morning Herald on October 9, 2008, he states that he is now convinced that Australia needs a major legal and cultural overhaul to deal with the human rights challenges of the 21st century. Read more: