Consultation News
Broken Hill tells us how to fix it. Non-lawyers welcome!
We would like to thank the people of Broken Hill for being so candid with us. Part of the privilege this role on the Committee gives us is people entrusting us with their stories. These stories are a key to us understanding, with perspective and context, which human rights are important to the people in Australia.
One man shared his personal experience with police exercising power in an inappropriate fashion. He was brave enough to share his feelings of embarrassment and frustration. This highlighted the problems faced in small communities where those in authority are sometimes too familiar with the people they serve.
Access to justice in industrial relations matters was also an area which concerned people.
The issue most passionately discussed was equal access to health care. Hearing about the lack of services in rural Australia is confronting. As one man aptly described it, if it were an animal we’d put them down because it is inhumane to make people wait so long for health services.
Another person’s words also rang true when they said they felt the Great Dividing Range really was a division between them and equal access to services.
Reflecting on our second key consultation question, the people of Broken Hill highlighted the deficiencies in service administration. They feel the rights important to them are not being protected in the strongest, surest and most efficient way.
Broken Hill was a destination picked because of its geography. While in New South Wales, the closest State capital is Adelaide for it sits near the border of South Australia and the Northern Territory.
We were keen to hear how cross-jurisdictional issues affected the community. They said that in the access to health sphere their rights were eroded by the fact that the nearest major hospitals were interstate.
Further, jurisdictional inconsistencies were inhibiting people on methadone programs for example. Their pharmaceutical scripts do not cross borders without significant work. One healthcare professional estimated that it took two weeks to organise a script being recognised interstate – something that is difficult to manage when medical needs are urgent.
Broken Hill residents say there are deficiencies in the protections for the right to health care as there is no common sense approach to bureaucratic border and travel issues.
When we asked the group to discuss our third key consultation question, we were met with spirited opinion. The majority were in favour of some form of charter of rights.
However, an anti-charter argument was also present. Some were sceptical of whether a charter could have enough bite to chew up the problems in society. Others were concerned that to write a charter would in fact lessen the scope of rights available to people. Their argument was centred on the idea that interpretation of written words would always be stricter than the broad interpretation of unwritten rights now.
People were unanimous in saying that if a charter were born out of this process it must be in plain English, it must be accessible to the masses and it must be owned by the whole community. They want a charter for the lay person.
Further, all agreed a charter alone was not enough and that it must be followed up with a change in culture, perpetuated by education for all ages about rights and associated responsibilities. The suggestion was made that any charter of rights should be accompanied by a charter of responsibilities. Education about access to services, health and legal in particular, was another suggestion made.
When we wrapped up discussions one woman commented that they could have gone on for hours more. This brings us again to encourage you to write submissions to us. Roundtable discussions are not the only opportunity for you to share your views with us.
Another man, upon being encouraged to write us a more detailed version of his concerns, was dubious of the idea. He said, “I’m no lawyer.”We strongly want to dispel the myth that you have to be a lawyer to contribute in substance to our consultation. We are here to hear from the people of Australia. Some of our most enriching experiences thus far have been with non-lawyers.
He also said that as a man he doesn’t feel comfortable discussing or writing these things down. Again we ask you to put your concerns, embarrassment or shy side aside. We can ensure confidentiality will be respected if that is your request.
Again thank you to the people of Broken Hill – a fascinating town full of unexpected gems.
Tammy Williams and Mary Kostakidis