Critics of human rights speculate on their possible negative influence on society. Too little attention is being paid to how they work in practice, particularly in Australia. So take a few moments to read each of the following scenarios and ask yourself the question, “how would I feel if this was me (or a loved one)?”
Scenario One
Imagine you car pool with a colleague from work. While you share lifts each day you have not become close friends, but you know that your colleague is actively involved in the Islamic community and often helps refugees from the Middle East settle into life in Australia. One day the media reports that there has been a failed terrorist attack on the MCG. On the way home from work with your colleague, your car is stopped by the police. Both you and your colleague are arrested. You are held in the police lock up overnight without being told of the charges against you. You later learn that your colleague is suspected of being a member of a terrorist organisation. You are held in the police lock up for a further 5 days and questioned by police for long periods. Meanwhile your home is searched and your lap top seized by police. Your picture is on the front page of the Australian newspapers and your wife and children have been harassed by the media. Finally you are released without being charged with any offence.
How would I feel if this was me…?
Click here to find out how a human rights Charter would make a difference…
Scenario Two
Your 17 year old son goes with a group of friends to the Australia Day celebrations held on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra. The event is marketed as an all-ages, alcohol free event and the Australian Federal Police have promised to take a tough approach to any underage people caught drinking alcohol or consuming illicit drugs. Your son is caught holding a small container of coloured pills for someone else outside the toilets. The pills are later confirmed to be amphetamines. Your son is arrested by the AFP but because the local police cells are full he is transported to the adult remand centre where he is imprisoned overnight. In the same remand centre are adult offenders charged with serious violent offences. Your son is highly traumatised after being harassed by other inmates while in custody.
How would I feel if this was my son or daughter…?
Click here to find out how a human rights Charter would make a difference…
Scenario Three
You are a mentally ill person who is being administered drugs forcibly. However the side-effects are such that you wish to have the ongoing administration of these drugs reviewed. Your requests to review the medication have been ignored even though the treatment should have been reviewed at least twice over the last 13 months by the Mental Health Review Board. You end up waiting over 2 years before having a review of treatment.
How would I feel if this was me or my friend…?
Click here to find out how a human rights Charter would make a difference…
Scenario Four
Imagine you are a single mother with 2 children living in housing commission. You’ve been living in the area for a number of years and your children attend the local school and are thriving academically and socially. Without your knowledge someone you know well has grown some marijuana in your backyard. A neigbour has spotted the plants and reported it to the police. Following a raid you, as tenant, are charged with cultivating marijuana on the property. The Ministry of Housing becomes aware of the charge and issues an eviction notice for illegal conduct on the property. However there are no public housing vacancies available and the rent is far too high to stay in the area. You will most likely end up homeless and your children will be unable to continue at their school. You request a reconsideration by the Ministry but they say the matter is out of their hands, and now with Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
How would I feel if this was me…?
Click here to find out how a human rights Charter would make a difference…
See the link below for other examples of how a Charter would operate on a day to day basis.
- Law Council case studies (244kb pdf file — originally downloaded from the Law Council of Australia’s Charter or Bill of Human Rights page).
We look forward to updating this section with further case studies in the coming weeks.