4 Sept 2003 - Write a letter opposing passage of the HREOC Bill

Dear Friends,

The Government's HREOC legislation is due before the Senate at any time now. We need to be sure that Labor holds a strong line and so ask that you urgently express your opposition to the bill as suggested below.

Please distribute this to your networks.

Please send the letter below, or similar re-worded letter, either faxed or emailed, to:

Senator the Hon. J Faulkner
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate
The Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Fax: (02) 6277 3415
senator.faulkner@aph.gov.au

Make sure you CC your letter to:

Senator the Hon. N Bolkus
The Senate
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Fax: (02) 6277 3062
senator.bolkus@aph.gov.au

Hon Bob McMullan MP
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
Fax: (02) 6277 8496
Bob.McMullan.MP@aph.gov.au


Sample Letter:
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Dear Senator Faulkner,

I write regarding the current Government bill before the Senate to change the structure of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC).

HREOC is a critically important institution in monitoring and defending human rights standards in Australia. It is vital that HREOC retains both the capacity and independence from Government to enable it to continue to provide this role, particularly in relation to Indigenous Australians.

The current bill before the Parliament, if passed, would result in the significant and unwarranted weakening of HREOC, and should be rejected outright by Labor in the Senate.

The current structure of HREOC, comprising specialist Commissioners (rather than generalist Commissioners as proposed in the bill), must be maintained. In particular it is vital that there continues to be a distinct, specialist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner who is experienced in Indigenous community life.

In fact, this position should be further strengthened to ensure that it is always filled by an Indigenous person, as has been the case with both the inaugural Social Justice Commissioner, Professor Mick Dodson, and the current incumbent, Dr Bill Jonas.

The Social Justice Reports and Native Title Reports produced by the Social Justice Commissioners on behalf of the Commission have demonstrated that there remains significant and ongoing human rights concerns in Indigenous affairs, warranting the retention of the position of Social Justice Commissioner as well as independent responsibility for producing such reports. It is inappropriate for such responsibility to be passed on to generalist Commissioners or to the Commission as a whole.

It is also of considerable concern that the bill would confer on the Attorney-General the power to refuse HREOC permission to intervene in court proceedings raising significant human rights issues. HREOC must be able to act independently in this regard and not be subject to the possible self-interest of the Commonwealth.

I strongly urge you to reject the current bill in the Senate.

yours sincerely

<insert your name>

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Thanks for your support

David Cooper
National Coordinator