National Human Rights Consultation Submission 

AGWW-7NV4B4 

Name: Kathryn Young 

Submission Text: 

I was listening to an ABC commentator on Australia Talks and he
 
was worried that by creating a bill/charter of rights we are putting too
 
much power in the hands of the judiciary, not our elected officials.
 

 
What struck me about the following debate was that a whole host of ordinary
 
Australians cited examples where vulnerable people had been ignored or
 
victimised by their elected officials.
 

 
I have never heard of a High Court judge throw someone out of their home or
 
stop their payments because they got the forms in too late.
 

 
And let's face it: while judges have to have degrees and experience our
 
elected officials don't - hence Barnaby Joyce. Not going there.
 

 
Sad though it is we actually need a document to protect people from their
 
own elected governments, it is a good idea and I wish you the best of luck
 
and hope it goes through. Just don't screw up the wording on the
 
referendum.
 

 
And hey - they can always stack the High Court (who are appointed by
 
elected officials) and parliament can always overide decisions anyway so it
 
won't mean much anyway.
 

 
But, sometimes, maybe... if we have decent people in charge sanity might
 
prevail. And a bill/charter of rights will help to keep the 'bastards
 
honest' and make sure that no one gets run rough shod over. We are a
 
community and we must do what we can to help each other.
 

 
Thank you for for reading my two cents and goodnight and goodluck.