law human resource rights centre The National Human Rights Consultation Engaging in the Debate The National Human Rights Consultation Engaging in the debate Philip Lynch and Phoebe Knowles Human Rights Law Resource Centre Ltd Level 17, 461 Bourke Street Melbourne VIC 3000 P (03) 8636 4450 F (03) 8636 4455 E
[email protected] W www.hrlrc.org.au Written and researched with the substantial assistance of: Chiara Caputo, Bryn Dodson, Jess D’Souza, Andrew Gun, Francisca Hoffmann-Axthelm, Annette Hughes, Suzanne Komattu-Mathews, Elana Pose, Chris Rosario, Anthony Sciuto, Elisabeth Sobon and Gerard Woods of Allens Arthur Robinson (www.aar.com.au). The National Human Rights Consultation – Engaging in the Debate Table of Contents Executive summary 1 Part A. Background questions 3 1. What are the arguments for and against a Federal Charter? 3 1.1 Introduction 3 1.2 Summary of arguments 3 1.3 Arguments for 4 1.4 Arguments against 8 2. What will it mean to me? 15 2.1 Obligations 15 2.2 Rights 15 3. What else do we need to know? 16 3.1 Overview 16 3.2 Education programs 17 3.3 Funding and resources 17 3.4 Availability of legal and advocacy services 17 3.5 Responsible body 17 3.6 Review mechanism 18 3.7 Changes for specific groups 18 3.8 Changes to related laws 19 Part B. Do we need it? 20 1. Introduction 20 2. Human rights protection in Australia 22 2.1 Domestic human rights protection 22 2.2 International human rights protection 27 2.3 Conclusions about current legal protection of human rights in Australia 30 3.