Bill of Rights 'needed to eradicate abuses'

2 Jan 2009, 3:45 pm   -   Source: SBS staff and agencies
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Advocates say a Bill of Rights will help eradicate human rights abuses (Getty Images)

Advocates say a Bill of Rights will help eradicate human rights abuses (Getty Images)

Government-appointed advisor on the issue Frank Brennan says a Bill of Rights may have intervened in the high profile cases of Cornelia Rau and Mohamed Haneef.

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Government-appointed advisor on the issue Frank Brennan says a Bill of Rights may have intervened in the high profile cases of Cornelia Rau and Mohamed Haneef.

"One of the pros of a bill of rights is that there have been cases of detention for a long time ie Cornelia Rau, so we could have judges to ensure abuses of human rights don't occur," Father Brennan says.

He and his panel will be travelling in the next few months to hear opinions on whether the country needs a Bill of Rights.

"Our four-member committee has been asked by government to travel Australia and hear submissions between February and May this year on 1) what human rights should be protected? 2) which ones aren't sufficiently protected at moment? 3) which options would you propose to make up for that shortfall?"

"Our committee will make recommendations on what is appropriate for the Australian context," The advisor says.

"However we have to honour the sovereignty of the parliament and our governmentt won't countenance the idea of a Bill of Rights such as the one that exists in the US."

Does Australia need a Bill of Rights? Tell us what you think.

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Your Comments

vilolation of privacy act laws

aloha downing - from nsw australia, 2 years ago

people in this country and over the people around the world need privacy especially i have a child

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