Read a call by Philip Lynch, Director of the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, for Australia to unite and support a national charter of rights. Lynch’s article describes the historical bipartisan support that human rights have enjoyed in Australia, and shows that a Human Rights Act would not divide the population, as opponents have suggested.

Australian Policy Online has published an article by Susan Ryan AO on the current progress of the Human Rights Act. Read about why we need an alternate protector (other than Parliament) of our rights, particularly in face of violation of those rights by the government itself.  Susan also addresses the suggestion that the charter is solely the work of the elite.

Phil Lynch, the Director of the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, has written a response to the latest claim of opponents to the Human Rights Act that the charter would be divisive and electorally unpopular. Lynch debunks the myths being spread by HRA opponents, showing that there is in fact widespread support for the charter and for increased human rights protection. In addition, the author displays that even controversial issues can ultimately have a uniting effect on the community. Read the article here.

Last night, Father Frank Brennan gave a comprehensive speech in response to George Pell’s comments on the proposed Human Rights Act (HRA).  This address provides a balanced discussion of the freedom of religion, particularly in relation to Victorian laws on abortion and religious vilification. Brennan describes the wide variety of Christian views on the HRA and argues that the Church should promote human rights without opposing the Human Rights Act. Read the complete address here.

Contrary to the claims of very vocal opposition to a human rights act, faith-based communities are not united in opposition to the Human Rights Act. Here is a great resource from IsaiahOne, which explains how Christian beliefs and a human rights act are in fact aligned. This site also addresses some of the main concerns of faith-based communities.

Despite opposition to a federal human rights act from some religious organisations, the Uniting Church remains a strong supporter of the human rights charter and is making its opinion known. Find out how the Uniting Church is taking a stance here.

The Report of the National Human Rights Consultation released in October 2009 contains fifteen chapters of extensive research into Australia’s views on human rights. In particular, the Report recommended that Australia adopt a national human rights act. A useful summary by Edward Santow and George Williams of the issues surrounding this recommendation can be found here.

Australians want and deserve greater protection of our human rights. We remain the only western country without proper protection of our human rights. Australia has always been happy to talk about the importance of human rights overseas; now it is time that we have a Human Rights Act to protect our human rights at home.

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1. A Human Rights Act will set out the fundamental rights that Australians agree should be protected.
2. A Human Rights Act will improve government decision making by requiring government to recognise and protect human rights. All new legislation should be assessed against the yardstick of the rights enshrined in law.
3. State inquiries into human rights reveal that an overwhelming number of Australians who made submissions want legislative protection of human rights.
4. Current Australian laws only protect a narrow number of rights in a limited way. One instrument will bring all of those rights together and protect them in the same way.
5. A Human Rights Act will ensure that in a strongly democratic society we all bear the responsibility to protect the rights of others.

For five more reasons check out Doing Justice from the Federation of Community Legal Centres.

Here are some useful resources including fact sheets, case studies and speeches to assist you in expressing support for a Human Rights Act.

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