Dear all,
The Government's HREOC legislation is due before the Senate at any time now. We need to be sure that Labor holds a strong line and so ask that you urgently express your opposition to the bill as suggested below.
Please distribute this to your networks.
Please send the letter below, or similar re-worded letter, either faxed or emailed, to each of:
Senator the Hon. J Faulkner Leader of the Opposition in the Senate The Senate Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
Fax: (02) 6277 3415
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Senator the Hon. N Bolkus The Senate Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
Fax: (02) 6277 3062
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Hon Bob McMullan MP House of Representatives Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600
Fax: (02) 6277 8496
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
**************************************************
Dear xx
I write regarding the current Government bill before the Senate to change the structure of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC).
HREOC is a critically important institution in monitoring and defending human rights standards in Australia. It is vital that HREOC retains both the capacity and independence from Government to enable it to continue to provide this role, particularly in relation to Indigenous Australians.
The current bill before the Parliament, if passed, would result in the significant and unwarranted weakening of HREOC, and should be rejected outright by Labor in the Senate.
The current structure of HREOC, comprising specialist Commissioners (rather than generalist Commissioners as proposed in the bill), must be maintained. In particular it is vital that there continues to be a distinct, specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner who is experienced in Indigenous community life.
In fact, this position should be further strengthened to ensure that it is always filled by an Indigenous person, as has been the case with both the inaugural Social Justice Commissioner, Professor Mick Dodson, and the current incumbent, Dr Bill Jonas.
The Social Justice Reports and Native Title Reports produced by the Social Justice Commissioners on behalf of the Commission have demonstrated that there remains significant and ongoing human rights concerns in Indigenous affairs, warranting the retention of the position of Social Justice Commissioner as well as independent responsibility for producing such reports. It is inappropriate for such responsibility to be passed on to generalist Commissioners or to the Commission as a whole.
It is also of considerable concern that the bill would confer on the Attorney-General the power to refuse HREOC permission to intervene in court proceedings raising significant human rights issues. HREOC must be able to act independently in this regard and not be subject to the possible self-interest of the Commonwealth.
I strongly urge you to reject the current bill in the Senate.
yours sincerely
xxxx
--
Stephen Webb Media Officer Communications Unit NSW Synod, Uniting Church in Australia Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235, Australia email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: +61 2 8267 4308; Mobile: 0423 259 945; Fax: 9267 4716; Web: nsw.uca.org.au/cu/ & insights.uca.org.au/ ------------------ The Communications Unit publishes the monthly magazine Insights, conducts public relations for the NSW Synod of the Uniting Church, and provides a variety of communications services. These include writing, editing, web consultation and development, desktop publishing and graphic design, public relations and advertising. For a consultation or free estimate on your project call the Communications Unit at (02) 8267 4307.
------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/lists.htm ------------------------------------------------------
