Tasmania needs to have a State Charter of Rights and Responsibilities, as recommended by the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute, especially in light of the Hodgman government’s anti-democratic push to erode civil liberties, Greens Leader Kim Booth MP said today.
“The Greens will be moving in the state Parliament to progress a Tasmanian Charter of Rights and Responsibilities, which covers social, cultural and economic rights, as it is clear under this Hodgman regime that legislated protection is needed now more than ever,” Mr Booth said.
“Despite concerns raised by the United Nations, and in legal advice, Premier and his revenge-driven Ministers such as Mr Harriss are blindly pursuing their agenda to erode civil rights such as freedom of speech and the right to protest, while also attempting to legitimate the vilification of sectors of the community with their controversial anti-protest laws.”
“We are calling on both Labor and Liberal to support the important progressive social reform of a legislated Charter of Rights, rather than rely on the tired old contention that such reform is somehow incompatible with economic constraints.”
“Human rights are not a luxury only worthy of protection during economic good times. Instead it is incumbent upon legislators to ensure the vulnerable are protected, and that civil liberties for all are enshrined, during tough economic times.”
“The experience of other jurisdictions including Victoria and the ACT demonstrate that human rights protection can be enshrined with minimal implementation costs.”
“The Greens have long advocated a Tasmanian Charter of Rights, and we will continue to argue for its implementation, as recommended by the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute in 2007.”
“There is no good excuse for its continual delay. The Hodgman government’s appalling efforts to make some citizens more vulnerable than others make this layer of protection urgent and essential,” Mr Booth said.
Background information:
• The Tasmanian Law Reform Institute held a public consultation process and in 2007 recommended the implementation of a Tasmanian Charter of Rights and Responsibilities: http://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/283728/Human_Rights_A4_Final_10_Oct_2007_revised.pdf
• In 2010 the then Attorney-General, Lara Giddings MP, commissioned a discussion paper on a proposed model for a legislated charter of human rights and responsibilities for Tasmania;
• It was estimated the implementation cost would barely be $1 million;
• Progress stalled, however in the lead up to the March 2014 state election Labor reiterated their support for a Tasmanian Charter of Rights.
Kim Booth MP | Greens Leader
