Charter or Bill of Human Rights

Message from the President

Australia is the only western democracy without a charter or bill of human rights.

Most Australians take their fundamental freedoms and rights for granted, but the fact is there are lots of rights and freedoms that are not specifically protected by Australian law.

Working closely with law societies and bar associations around Australia, the Law Council last year developed a policy in support of a federal charter.

Our policy is aimed at ensuring that decision-makers take human rights into account when making and administering the law.

We are encouraging members of the legal profession to participate in a national consultation on the proposed adoption of a charter for Australia.

You can make a submission to the Australian Government's National Consultation on Human Rights via the National Human Rights Consultation website.

We invite you to endorse our policy when you make your submission to the National Consultation.

Below, you can find a copy of our policy and other materials we've prepared on a proposed charter or bill of rights.

We trust you will find this information informative and interesting, and that it assists you in preparing your submission or in learning more about what a charter of rights would mean for Australia.

John Corcoran
President
Law Council of Australia

Materials

•  A Charter of Rights Would Protect all Australians - May 2009
  Law Council Media Release
•  A Charter: The Best Option for Protecting the Rights of All Australians - July 2009
  Opening Statement by Mr Nicholas Cowdery AM QC for the Law Council of Australia at the Public Hearings of the National Human Rights Consultation
•  Case Studies: Filling the Gaps in Protection - May 2009
•  Fact sheet: Questions & Answers - February 2009
•  Fact sheet: Will a Charter of Rights just be a ‘bureaucrat’s picnic’? - February 2009
•  Policy Statement on a Federal Charter or Bill of Human Rights - February 2009

•  Submissions to the National Consultation on Human Rights