The right to freedom of speech is a fundamental right which the City Council in fact has a duty to facilitate. It should do so by enacting laws which comply with its obligations under the Human Rights Act.
Read More
A Human Rights Act is not a panacea, ultimately only an active citizenry can protect our rights and liberties. However, the Act will provide a new tool that citizens of this State can use to protect themselves. Perhaps more importantly, it will force decision-makers to consider the particular circumstances of each individual, about whom they have to make a decision. That must result in better decisions and better government.Despite our criticisms, we are of the view that this Bill represents a bold reform and this is not the time to allow the perfect to be the enemy of the good.
Read More
A Human Rights Act is not a panacea, ultimately only an active citizenry can protect our rights and liberties. However, the Act will provide a new tool that citizens of this State can use to protect themselves
Read More
In the Council’s view the case for a Human Rights Act is quite simply irrefutable. In saying that the Council does not think that a Human Rights Act will constitute a revolution in either sense. That is, a Human Rights Act will not create a human rights nirvana in Queensland. Nor will it wreck the separation of powers between the branches of the government or destroy our democracy. What it will do is represent a bold statement of commitment by the Queensland Government to bring human rights closer to the heart of political culture in this state and provide a place where the marginalised and disadvantaged in our community can seek redress for their grievances.
Read More
The members of this Council do not think that there is any single way to protect civil liberties in this country. The pluralistic, open, democratic society in which we live only survives because the citizens of this country believe in it sufficiently to be active in support of it. This however does not mean that we cannot improve our institutional arrangements to ensure that they best support the continued existence of that society.
Read More
Eminent community leaders, human rights activists and Members of the Legislative Assembly will meet this Wednesday evening at Queensland Parliament House to discuss whether Queensland’s legislative treatment of the rights of its citizens is falling behind comparable neighbour states and nations.
Read More
Work Choices Decision Highlights Need for Human Rights Act: Mr. Cope President of the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties says “The decision of the High Court in Workchoices case brings home the vast increase in commonwealth powers which have occurred particularly in the last 30 years. In doing so it also adds to the case for the Commonwealth Government to introduce a Human Rights and Responsibilities Act “.
Read More
ACCL President Terry O’Gorman said the poor human rights record of the Howard Government, especially its supine position towards the US over Messrs Hicks and Habib’s imprisonment in Guantanamo Bay, would guarantee a strong backlash against the Prime Minister if he moved to override the ground breaking ACT human rights legislation.
Read More