Justice News
CALL TO ACTION NOVEMBER 2009
A Human Rights Act for Australia
On 10 December 2008, the 60th anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, announced a national consultation into the protection and promotion of human rights in Australia.
The Consultation’s independent committee, after hearing from thousands of Australians, recommended that the Federal Government introduce a Human Rights Act.
We are urging the Federal Government to act on this recommendation, and give all Australians the human rights protection they deserve, however we also need you to do the same.
We know that federal politicians are hearing that all Christians are opposed to a Human Rights Act.
Some religious leaders are concerned that a national Human Rights Act will undermine freedom of religion in Australia. On the contrary, we now have a great opportunity to enshrine, for the first time, the right to freedom of religion in Commonwealth legislation.
It is important that they hear from Christians who support a Human Rights Act.
UnitingJustice urges you to
Write, phone, email or organise a meeting with your Federal Member of Parliament explaining why you, as a Christian, support a Human Rights Act.
Please include your full name and postal address in any correspondence for a response. We would love to hear from anyone who receives a response from their local MP.
Who is your Federal MP? If you are not sure who your Federal MP is go to the Australian Electoral Commission site http://www.aec.gov.au/ and search by suburb.
The Uniting Church believes that the Australian Government must protect and promote all of the human rights contained in the UN human rights instruments which Australia is party to, including civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights.
We do not believe that the current protection of human rights in Australia is sufficient. Over the past decade we have seem numerous examples where fairness, dignity, tolerance and equality have been flouted and where governments and courts have not had adequate mechanisms to correct these injustices, including:
• the indefinite, mandatory detention of asylum seekers, including children, contravening the right to freedom from torture and other cruel treatment, the right to freedom from arbitrary detention and severely affecting the mental and physical health of already traumatised people
• far-reaching anti-terrorism laws, which threatened freedom of association and speech, and raise serious concerns about the powers given to law enforcement authorities to detain people without charge and obtain control orders
• the continued socio-economic disadvantage felt by Indigenous Australians, violating the right to adequate housing, education and healthcare and the Northern Territory Intervention, which implemented several discriminatory measures through a process which failed to ensure the right of indigenous people to participate in decisions which affect them
We believe that a Human Rights Act will provide greater protection for the fundamental rights and freedoms to which all in our community are entitled, promote dignity, and address disadvantage and exclusion. If you’d like more information on the Uniting Church’s support for a Human Rights Act, and the possible impact of an Act in the Australian community, you can find it here on our website.
Christmas Island chaplaincy: a light in the darkness
Christmas Island is a tiny speck in the Indian Ocean, yet it will seem vast compared to some of the tight spaces Rev Christine Senini worked in. And she won’t have to sleep in a bunk bed.
The President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Alistair Macrae has added his name to the list of prominent Australians calling for reform to our asylum seeker policies. UnitingJustice has continually advocated for a more compassionate approach to these vulnerable members of our society.
UnitingJustice and the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly has joined the chorus of voices calling for Constitutional recognition of the unique contribution that First Peoples have made to this country. Amendments to the Australian Constitution should also include removal of racist and discriminatory language and clauses. The open letter was accompanied by a submission to the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition made by UnitingJustice.
UJA Reference Committee member, Professor John Langmore, discusses the political momentum behind and the public benefits of introducing a financial transactions tax.
Rethink Refugees - watch UJA National Director, Rev. Elenie Poulos, reflecting on her work in refugee advocacy as part of Amnesty's information campaign
Preamble posters and Covenanting resources
Download or print your own here.
Position Vacant: Senior Media Officer
The Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia seeks to appoint an experienced media professional to the role of Senior Media Officer. Read more...
Churches solid on poker machine reform
The major Christian churches in Australia have reaffirmed their commitment to the Government’s proposed poker machine reform this morning in the face of Catholic priest Father Chris Riley’s apparent support for the inaccurate, well-funded industry campaign. Read more...