In it they explore the unique opportunity the Rudd government now has to promote the advancement of business and human rights at the international level. More:

In this same issue, Phil Lynch also takes on opponents of a Human Rights Act or Charter for Australia, exposing some of the false claims being made by assorted critics and arguing that political leadership on an already popular Human Rights Act would unite us through legal protection and institutional strengthening of those Australian democratic values we hold in common. More:

As part of its current Common Values campaign, which seeks to dispel the myths around the HRA and broaden understanding and promote the importance of human rights in the UK, Liberty has recently published a booklet written by two leading UK conservatives: Churchill’s Legacy: The Conservative Case for the Human Rights Act. Perhaps some of Australias conservative politicians should take a look!

Speaking to Lawyers Weekly today, Lynch slammed recent commentary on the state of the proposed bill, which referred to it as having virtually no public or cabinet support, and labeled such ideas as “misinformed and premature”.

Read the full post by Claire Chaffey here.

Mr Ackland also reviews the proposal for a parliamentary committee to vet legislation, one being pushed by some opponents as an alternative to a human rights bill or charter. Examining the track record of such processes in other jurisdictions he vividly demonstrates that this is not effective.  More:

The apparent reason for this oppostion is the specious argument that such an act would shift power from the executive to the judiciary; the line being peddled by former conservative politicians like John Howard and Bob Carr.

Amazing that this is not an issue elsewhere in the world!  Looks like Australia will remain the only democratic country in the world that doesn’t have full legal protection for what is right and fair.

Refer also to another relevant piece in todays Crikey by Mark Blumer, president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance: “Abbott’s Muslim comment shows the need for a Human Rights Act”.

Read his full response to the most recent such attack, published in The Australian, from a researcher from the right wing think-tank CIS (Centre for Independent Studies).

Dr Aspinall said the need for human rights legislation is evident from the substantial experience of the agencies of the Anglican Church across Australia as they work to address the needs of the most vulnerable including refugees and asylum-seekers, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders, children and the aged, prisoners and the mentally ill.

Read the full media release Here..

In its submission to the Consultation, the Uniting Church articulated its commitment to social
justice and the achievement of human dignity for all through a Human Rights Act.

National Director of UnitingJustice Australia, Rev. Elenie Poulos, said that a number of Christian groups also made submissions to the Consultation in support of an Act. However, she said some religious groups were unsupportive of an Act, concerned that it would erode the rights of religious organisations. We are concerned that recent attention given to those opposing a Human Rights Act does not accurately represent the views of the entire religious community in Australia,” Rev. Poulos said.

“It is our firm belief that it is entirely possible to draft legislation that properly and appropriately protects religious freedoms. In fact, such legislation would provide protections for religious freedoms that are currently missing from Commonwealth Law.”

Rev. Poulos said that the Uniting Church’s support of a Human Rights Act rests on the importance of providing protections to the most vulnerable, marginalised and disadvantaged in the Australian community; those who currently have few avenues for remedy when their rights are violated.
“The Church is privileged enough to be able to negotiate for itself what matters to its future wellbeing. There are too many people who do not share such privilege and they are the ones who we are most concerned for.”
Rev. Poulos also said that it was naïve to assume that all Christian and religious bodies would take
the same view.

“There are many issues about which individuals or groups of individuals take a different view to
others, and this issue is no exception. “But while the Uniting Church in Australia is the only church to officially support the development of a Human Rights Act, it is important to stress that we are not the only Christian group which has taken such a position.”