03 March 2010

Human Rights Myths

The Castan Centre at Monash University is issuing a series of human rights "myth-busters", each of which focuses on claims about human rights legislation from some of the people opposed to a Human Rights Act for Australia.

The mythbusters are worth reading in their own right. They're also worthy of attention in commemoration of the late Ron Castan QC, a brilliant lawyer and a good man.

The current items are -
Myth 1: The proposed Human Rights Act would shift decision making to unelected judges

Myth 2: Judges would be able to effectively change the law under a Human Rights Act

Myth 3: Judges would use a Human Rights Act to bully politicians into changing laws to comply with human rights

Myth 4: Human rights are too political for judges

Myth 5: Human rights are too vague for judges

Myth 6: A Human Rights Act would be a lawyers' feast

Myth 7: Our human rights are adequately protected already