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ACT 1612 || GPO Box 1989
Canberra ACT 2601
Telephone +61 2 6246 3788
Facsimilie +61 2 6248 0639
MR2809
8 October 2009
Law Council Calls on Government to
Seize the Day on Human Rights
The Law Council has welcomed today’s release of the National Human
Rights Consultation Report which recommends the adoption of a Human
Rights Act for Australia.
Law Council President John Corcoran said, “We are pleased to see the
release of the report and applaud the extensive consultation that has
taken place. We believe that now is the time to commit to a Human
Rights Act that will provide more comprehensive protection of human
rights for all Australians."
Many of the report’s recommendations reflect elements of a Human
Rights Act that the Law Council wants to see,
such as Compatibility
Statements for draft legislation and Human Rights Action Plans and
annual reporting on their implementation by Government departments.
“However the Government decides to respond to the report, it must
address better human rights protection as comprehensively as possible,”
Mr Corcoran said.
“The Law Council strongly supports a Human Rights Act and will
examine the report in greater detail in the coming weeks to make further
submissions to Government to achieve this result,” Mr Corcoran said.
The adoption of a Human Rights Act would mean that Australia is no
longer the only western democracy without one.
“A Human Rights Act would provide the best benchmark for the
assessment of the human rights of all Australians and the best means of
protecting them,” Mr Corcoran concluded.
Media Contact:
Elenore Eriksson, Director Public Affairs
P. 02 6246 3716 || M. 0419 269 855
The Law Council of Australia exists to represent the legal
profession at the national level, to speak on behalf of its
constituent bodies on national issues, and
to promote the
administration of justice, access to justice and general
improvement of the law.
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