Human rights report Flashcards
What are two different types of rights
Express rights (written in constitution), Implied rights (rights which are implied in the constitution)
What’s an example of an express right (aus)
s41, right to vote
What are two examples of implied rights (name the case as well)
right to political communication (Nationwide news v Wills 1992)
Right to vote (Roach v Electoral Commissioner 2007)
What was an example of Australia’s attempt at a statute to be a bill of rights and why did it fail
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity act 1986
HC found it was not a chapter 3 court and did not have any legal authority
(Brandy v Human Rights and Equal Oppurtunity Commission 1995)
Whats an example of a ratification act in Australia
Racial Discimination act 1975 (Convention of the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination)
What is and explain a committee in regards to human rights in Australia
Human Rights Committee (Joint standing) (Human Rights act 2011
Scrutinises legislation and issues reports on the compatibility of statutes with international agreements
What is an example of statutory rights being vulnerable
Intervention, in NT Howard gov forced remote communities into medical checks etc
To do this legally, amendments were made to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, as stat. rights are vulnerable to government who are determined to suspend them
What are the two examples of states passing statutes of their own in regards to human rights
Charter of Human Rights 2006 (Vic)
Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT)
List the Pro’s and Con’s of the Charter of Human Rights
P-promoting human rights, and rights culture, increasing awareness, audits by the Commission have lead to improvement (better treatment of women in prisons)
C-limits judges power to ensure human rights because gov can override the charter, party must take a case to the court by ‘piggy backing’ on another Eg Castles v Secretary to the Department of Justice 2010, used the Victorian Corrections Act (IVF)
List the Pro’s and Con’s of the Human Rights Act
P- Complainants can take a case to the courts without piggy-backing, same as the charter
C- Too much power to judges and that the committee declaring a law incompatible doesn’t actually have much authority.
What are two common law rights? (aus)
Right to silence
Presumption of innocence
What is an example of common law rights being breached (aus)
Counter terrorism, significatn powers granted to ASIO and agencies, right to fair trial and presumption of innocence breached, illustrates how executive can persuade parliament into overriding common rights
What is an example of breaches to international human rights
Refugees, Migration act 1958, offshore detention and resettlement, towing boats are all criticised by UN
How can parliament ratify statutes
s51 (xxix)-external affairs power
How does Australia uphold and diminish political representation
- compulsory voting gives accurate expression of the will of the people
- Does not represent age, gender or education evenly
- donations lead to unequal representation