Human Rights Act myth busters

• Castan Centre

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02 March 2010

On 8 October 2009, the National Human Rights Consultation Committee, which had been commissioned by the Rudd Government to consider human rights in Australia, handed down its report recommending the adoption of an Australian Human Rights Act.  This was a landmark moment, representing Australia’s best chance to become the last western nation to adopt comprehensive human rights legislation.

At the time, the Government accepted the report but delayed its response, creating a vacuum which has been filled by a spirited debate.  In the course of the debate, some of those opposed to a Human Rights Act for Australia have perpetuated myths about human rights legislation.

In response, the Castan Centre has prepared a number of “myth-busters”, each of which focuses on one of these claims.  One new myth buster will be added to this site each weekday until further notice. 

If you would like to read all the myth busters, but don’t want to check back each day, then you can get them via any of the following:

• Via Twitter.  To receive a link to each new myth buster via twitter, follow us at http://twitter.com/CastanCentre
• Via Facebook: To receive a link to each new myth buster via Facebook, become a fan at: www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Castan-Centre-for-Human-Rights-Law/79529128041?ref=ts
• Via email: send an email to castan.centre@law.monash.edu.au to be included on our daily myth-buster email list.