National Human Rights Consultation Submission 

AGWW-7RH6HF 

Name: Elizabeth Wardrop 

Submission Text: 

To whom it may concern,
 
I believe that the considered creation of a Bill of Rights for australian
 
people is an important step in protecting the effectiveness of our
 
democracy. While Australia operates seemingly well on the surface as a
 
utilitariam culture, the fact is that we are too diverse to be subject to
 
blanket uniform policies. There must be times when people have recourse to
 
challenge decisions that restrict their rights to freedom, happiness and
 
growth. For example, from a QLD'r perspective, I believe the move-on laws
 
introduced not too long ago are discriminatory towards young people,
 
homeless people and our indigenous population and that there are times when
 
these powers ought not be invoked by law enforcement. I believe that there
 
are occasions when the laws making it illegal for parents involved in child
 
protection cases to speak to the media, are there to protect bureaucrats
 
from public scrutiny following terrible decisions. I believe that a bill
 
of rights will not only remedy these issues and others like them, once
 
done, but will provide a framework for more careful and humanitarian
 
application of policy, power and decision making across all states and
 
territories. I believe that not having a senate in QLD is a danger. I
 
believe that the federal system without checks and balances is a danger
 
when the government of the day takes hold of the senate. I believe that
 
there are times when an individual fighting against a bureaucracy or
 
organisation for dignity needs the weight of the law behind it, and this is
 
more important for the weak and the vulnerable than ever. I believe the
 
case in Victoria where the government ruled that children with autism
 
required no special attention in school until it was challenged on the
 
grouds of human rights and defeated is an excellent example of that. I
 
believe the time has come!
 

 
Cheers
 
Elizabeth 

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