Carry on the flame of postwar resolve

We haven’t finished the job we started in 1948,

SEVENTY

years ago today, on December 10, 1948, the international community joined to adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Having witnessed the horror of World War II, world leaders agreed on a set of basic rights and freedoms citizens of all countries must enjoy.

Their motivation was to help prevent the world descending to the atrocities of war once again.

Sadly, there have been many examples of conflict and war since 1948. However, it is clear the world would be a poorer place without the Declaration. The rights include access to education, health care, adequate food and clothing. These are the basics of a good life where individuals are able to reach their potential. When people achieve their potential, the community as a whole prospers socially and economically.

Despite Australia being closely involved in the writing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights back in 1948, we have not taken the next crucial step of passing an Australian Human Rights Act.

Putting our name to international agreements sends a positive signal but the job isn’t finished until those commitments are translated into domestic law by a vote in our own parliament.

Ours is the only western democracy to have supported the Universal Declaration but not have a human rights law.

In the absence of leadership at a national level, Australian states and territories have begun to lead the way.

It started in 2004 when the Australian Capital Territory passed its own Human Rights Act. In 2006 Victoria followed and this year Queensland tabled its Human Rights Act.

In the mid 2000s Tasmania was at the forefront of this issue. In 2006 the State Government tasked the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute with assessing rights protection in our state.

The inquiry was of great interest to the Tasmanian community, with 407 submissions received, the largest received on any project by the institute at the time.

An overwhelming majority, 94 per cent, supported a Tasmanian human rights law.

Based on the views of Tasmanians and after extensive research the key finding of the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute was that rights protection in Tasmanian is partial, fragmented and inaccessible.

The recommended solution was a Tasmanian Human Rights Act to articulate the rights that Tasmanians enjoy and to require state government to act in accordance with those rights.

Since the final report in 2007 our parliament slowed down then eventually stopped progressing this issue.

We should feel let down that this project had the support of the community but was let to lapse by Parliament.

We should ask our parliamentarians why Victorians, Canberrans and Queenslanders get better rights protection than Tasmanians. Two years ago today I started a petition for a Tasmanian Human Rights Act to re-focus our political leaders and to prove it was important to Tasmanians.

I’m pleased to report more than 1000 Tasmanians and 21 Tasmanian organisations have joined the campaign. At the March election the campaign secured commitment from two out of three political parties (ALP and Greens).

However, the Tasmanian Liberal Party remain hesitant.

Until the proposal for a Tasmanian Human Rights Act receives the support of a majority of MPs, including the Legislative Council, the campaign will continue.

If human rights offer the basics for a good life and cohesive community and Tasmania wants to be the best and most prosperous version of itself, enshrining rights in law is the right thing to do.