ALHR believes that the behaviour of Centrelink and the Social Services Minister involves numerous breaches of the human rights of those being targeted for alleged debts, contrary to Australias international law obligations. Under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights the following rights are being breached:
to be treated with dignity (Preamble, Article 1)
to the protection of the rule of law (that there must be proper laws, a legal system that allows appeal against government decisions, and the laws of the country must be properly enforced) (Preamble) and the related right to freedom from attacks upon ones reputation (Article 12)
to non-discrimination on the basis of property (or lack of it, the persons being targeted being those who have received a government payment)(Preamble, Article 2)
to equal protection of the law without discrimination (Article 7)
not to be arbitrarily deprived of property (Article 17)
to equal access to the public service (Article 21)
to social security (Article 9 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, ICESCR, which is binding on Australia)
to protection against unemployment and to have employment income supplemented if necessary, by other means of social protection (Article 23)
to an adequate standard of living, including the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond ones control (Article 25)
ALHR calls on the Minister to immediately halt the operation of the current process and to refund, with interest, all moneys incorrectly claimed by Centrelink.
