PUBLIC LECTURE: A HUMAN RIGHTS ACT FOR AUSTRALIA

Australia is the only Western democracy without a national Human Rights Act or constitutional bill of rights. New Matilda’s Human Rights Act for Australia campaign was launched last year to change this.

A draft Human Rights Act has been prepared by Associate Professor Spencer Zifcak and a team of leading Australian legal and human rights experts. Launches have been held across the country and this event marks the Perth launch of the draft Bill. The draft Bill draws on the experiences of the United Kingdom, New Zealand and the ACT, which all have enacted modern frameworks for protecting rights. There is mounting pressure on the Prime Minister and the federal Parliament to consider a national Human Rights Act following the Victorian Government’s announcement that it will introduce a State Charter of Rights and Responsibilities before the year is out, and announcements by the Tasmanian and NSW Attorneys General that they are seriously considering following suit.

New Matilda intends to refine its draft Human Rights Act at the end of its public consultation phase. The campaign is confident of achieving its aim to have the Human Rights Bill tabled and debated in the federal Parliament by the end of the year as a private members’ bill.

Chaired by Janet Holmes à Court, speakers include:

•Associate Professor Spencer Zifcak (Law, La Trobe University)

•Dr Carmen Lawrence MP (Member for Fremantle)

• The Hon David Malcolm AC QC (Professor of Law, Notre Dame University and former Chief Justice of Western Australia)

This event forms part of the Institute of Advanced Studies’ series of lectures by distinguished Australians, advocating for further discussion of the Australian human rights landscape, and is supported by New Matilda, the International Commission of Jurists (WA Branch), and the Faculty of Law at The University of Western Australia.

NewMatilda.com delivers a weekly online magazine to subscribers, generating topical analysis and debate, and gives you the opportunity to have a say in developing policy. For more information visit New Matilda at www.newmatilda.com

*Parking available from Hackett Drive Entrance 1 in Car Park 3. Map at: http://maps.uwa.edu.au/crawley/display/11