[recoznet2] genocide - senate inquiry

[David Sjoberg]

There is a senate inquiry into genocide at the moment - its terms of reference are below.  I have been asked to pass this information on (from the AUst senate website)  widely so as many people/groups as possible make a submission to the senate inquiry.  These submissions are due on Feb 10th.   It is not necessary to include arguements re AUstralia's own genocide here of our indigenous peoples - just why AUstralia must change legislation and make genocide illegal.   Then with that legislation in place indigenous people may have some avenue of legal redress.... The address for the information kit is below and is worth getting off the net cheers  Annette   Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee INQUIRY INTO THE ANTI-GENOCIDE BILL 1999 Relevant Information Anti-Genocide Bill 1999   TERMS OF REFERENCE On 14 October 1999 the Senate referred the following bill to the Legal and Constitutional References Committee for inquiry and report: Anti-Genocide Bill 1999 As well as the bill, the Committee is also required to consider the following matters: (1) The adequacy of Australia's implementation of the Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and other relevant international obligations, with particular reference to: the formulation of an appropriate definition of genocide; the status of the convention under Australian law, particularly with reference to the decision of the High Court in Ethnic Affairs v Ah Hin Teoh; Minister of State for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs laws in other jurisdictions that have implemented the convention; the appropriateness or otherwise of the retrospective application of the provisions of the bill; the implications of the Federal Court decision on 1 September 1999 in Nulyarimma v Thompson; the extraterritorial application of Australian law, particularly as it may relate to East Timor; and the relationship between Australian and international criminal law enforcement mechanisms for bringing perpetrators of genocide to justice. (2) The committee, in its report, is also required to include suggested draft amendments to the bill. The Committee, which is to report back to the Senate on 30 June 2000 invites interested organisations and individuals to lodge submissions by 10 February 2000 to: The Secretary Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Or by email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Submissions may address all or some of the terms of reference. It is expected that hearings will be held after February 2000 and dates of these hearings will be posted on the Committee's internet address (see below). Submissions and proceedings are covered by Parliamentary privilege, and submissions become Committee documents. Persons and organisations making submissions should not release copies without the prior agreement of the Committee. For further information, including an information kit which contains a copy of the bill and explanatory memorandum, please contact the Committee Secretariat by phone (02) 6277 3560, fax (02) 6277 5794 or email, as above. Information kits can also be downloaded from the Internet at www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/legcon_ctte.