Consultation news
Three sessions for Sydney
Owing to the number of participants wanting to attend a roundtable in Sydney, it was necessary to hold three sessions over the course of our visit.
The first, a lunch-time session, attracted a large crowd with plenty to share. A number of rights were identified as requiring protection. These included freedom of expression (particularly in the visual arts), the right to privacy and the rights of people with a disability. An interesting discussion took place about whether some rights should be prioritised over others, or whether all rights are interdependent and interrelated. Most participants considered that rights required additional protection, but pinions were divided as to whether or not the Human Rights Commission should be vested with greater powers.
The afternoon roundtable in Sydney was similarly well attended, and began with a review of the rights that participants thought required protection. Some participants considered the right of the terminally ill to die in dignity was one that deserved particular protection, while others considered the right to life precluded a “right to die”. The rights of minorities, including same sex couples, people with disability and refugees were all mentioned. While some participants noted that countries with a bill of rights were not always democratic, others argued that a charter of rights would provide a good framework for government action.
A strong crowd was seen again in the evening session, where participants identified a range of important rights, including civil and political rights, social and economic rights, and environmental rights. During the session a significant focus was placed on the rights of the vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised. Education was considered to be an important element of any strategy to better protect human rights, particularly if cultural change is to be effected.
We’d like to thank participants in all three of our Sydney sessions for their time and valuable contributions.
Frank Brennan, Mary Kostakidis, Tammy Williams and Mick Palmer