DON'T LET HOWARD TAKE THE HUMAN OUT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Early this week the Senate will vote whether to allow the Howard Government
to take the human out of human rights.
There is little time to act.
Under a Bill known in Canberra as HREOC II, the Human Rights and Equal
Opportunities Commission (HREOC) will become known as the Equal
Opportunities and Equal Responsibilities Commission (EOERC - a wretched
sounding acronym which echoes Howard's wretched record on human rights issues).
More disturbing than the Orwellian name change, however, the government
wants to replace the existing commissioners -- each of whom specialise in
different fields such as sex, race, disability -- and replace them with a
single commissioner for all areas of discrimination. It is impossible for
any one person to remain in control of � and have an in-depth knowledge of
� all such areas of discrimination.
We fear the output from the commission will not be able to done to the same
high standard. Important HREOC roles such as advocating reform and
examining discriminatory legislation are likely to suffer.
Most dangerously, the Bill seeks to give the Attorney-General of the
sitting government the power to intervene in a case and the power to veto a
case. The government needs to be reminded about the separation of powers,
particularly where it involves a judicial system (the courts).
RUMOUR has it the ALP is willing to vote with the Government to pass the
HREOC II Bill.
URGENT PROTEST IS REQUIRED.
TELL the pollies we DEMAND they keep the HUMAN in Human Rights.
Citizens, and most notably citizens in identifiable minorities have been
fighting for equal rights all this century, but it is our successive
governments which have not come to the table with their equal
responsibility to seriously address the issues. Here is a government which
has refused to say sorry for human rights violations of the most serious
kind. Now it is spitting the concept of human rights back in the faces of
all disadvantaged Australians.
Instead of real action on discrimination, Howard serves us trite,
talkback-driven newspeak.
PLEASE URGENTLY CONTACT:
Senator the Honorable Nick Bolkus, Opposition Attorney-General
spokesman, Ph: (02)6277 3388 Fax: (02)6277 3062. Email:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Senator the Honorable Brian Greig, Australian Democrats A-G spokesperson
Ph: (02)6277 3338
Fax: (02)6277 5703 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
The Honorable Daryl Williams, Attorney General. (02) 6277 7300(Tel) (02)
6273 4102(Fax)
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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