Australians want to be PROTECTED by our own Charter of Human Rights
Australians want to be PROTECTED by our own Charter of Human Rights
The issue
As Australian Citizens MOST of us just presume that our Human Rights are PROTECTED under our Australian Constitution.
The MAJORITY of Australians may be SHOCKED to learn that Australia is the only western democracy WITHOUT a Charter of Human Rights
And that under OUR Constitution we have only IMPLIED Rights - that NEED to be DECIDED on by our High Court - there are no ACTUAL Rights EXCEPT for FIVE.
Which is WHY we must support Andrew Wilkie MP's fight to get a Charter of Rights PASSED in OUR Parliament
In September 2019 Andrew Wilkie introduced the 'Australian Bill of Rights 2019' into OUR House of Representatives.
The Bill was seconded by Rebekha Sharkie - Centre Alliance MP for the seat of Mayo in South Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019B00171/Explanatory%20Memorandum/Text
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019B00171
The Bill was NOT supported by the major parties and was QUICKLY removed from the House agenda - lapsing under SO42 by March 2020
DISCLAIMER: Please be aware - this petition is NOT about 'Freedoms' over-riding the RIGHT to health & safety of others in our community - so please DON'T SUPPORT this petition if this is YOUR idea of "Freedom"
I am NOT in favour of 'Freedom at any cost' - I SUPPORTED the Covid lockdowns that have happened in Australia as I believe that fellow citizens who are vulnerable - the elderly, those immuno-compromised and people with disabilities have the RIGHT to be PROTECTED from the selfish attitude of those whose main focus is only THEIR own individual wants.
As one of the authors of the American Constitution Thomas Jefferson said:
"The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors."
Although many have hijacked Jefferson's quotes about liberty - he was a man who believed in the teachings of Jesus which we all know were NOT about individualism but LOVE for our fellow man and for the common good of society.
"Without health there is no happiness. An attention to health, then, should take the place of every other object." ~ Thomas Jefferson
We are requesting that Andrew Wilkie re-introduce his Bill - modified and renamed (due to the fear many Australians have of the American Bill of Rights) as the Australian Charter of Human Rights - into OUR House of Representatives as soon as possible - but THIS TIME with the support of THOUSANDS of Australians!
OUR Parliament must SUPPORT a Charter of Human Rights for the Australian people - WHY wouldn't they? Why SHOULDN'T they? What are OUR Politicians scared of?
"A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference." ~ Thomas Jefferson
IN AUSTRALIA WE HAVE NO ACTUAL RIGHT TO FOOD, WATER, TO NOT BE HOMELESS AND SLEEPING ON THE STREET OR HEALTHCARE. Circumstances such as mental illness, disability from illness or accident, or unemployment can happen to ANYONE!
For those who are religious it truly is "there but for the grace of God go I'!
In our Australian Constitution there are ONLY five explicit individual rights. These are the right to vote (Section 41), protection against acquisition of property on unjust terms (Section 51 (xxxi)), the right to a trial by jury (Section 80), freedom of religion (Section 116) and prohibition of discrimination on the basis of State of residency (Section 117).
A copy of our Constitution printed in 2012 which was produced by the Parliamentary Education Office and the Australian Government Solicitor, Canberra; has an overview by the Australian Government Solicitor which states:
"Rights
The Constitution has no Bill of Rights, such as that found in the United States Constitution, which prevents a legislature from passing laws that infringe basic human rights, such as freedom of speech.
Some express protections, however, are given by the Constitution against legislative or executive action by the Commonwealth, but not by the States.
Examples are: Section 51(xxxi) (acquisition of property must be ‘on just terms’),
Section 80 (trial by jury is required in relation to some criminal offences),
and section 116 (a right exists to exercise any religion).
Section 117 prohibits the Parliament of a State from discriminating against non-residents of that State. It provides, in effect, that a resident in, say, Victoria shall not be subject to any discrimination or disability in, say, Queensland unless the person would also be subject to that disability or discrimination as a resident of Queensland. (The question whether section 117 limits the lawmaking power of the Commonwealth Parliament has not yet been conclusively resolved by the High Court.)"
NOTE: What the Solicitor General in 2012 DIDN'T say was that Section 116 ALSO gives us the RIGHT to Freedom FROM Religion - something MORE than a FEW of the Politicians CURRENTLY in the Government and some Religious Institutions seem to conveniently 'forget' when they try to impose THEIR values onto EVERY Australian - SUCH as with Voluntary Euthanasia as an example?
"116. Commonwealth not to legislate in respect of religion
The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth."
So DO our 'implied Rights' really MEAN that it WILL take an Australian Citizen who is ABLE to AFFORD the cost AND GAMBLE of taking their case to the High Court of Australia - to find out WHAT other RIGHTS Australian Citizens REALLY have?
Basically YES! And if it WAS decided we actually DON'T have some presumed RIGHTS - THEN what DOES this MEAN?
Does it mean our 'Rights' DEPEND on WHAT KIND of Government (and Politicians) 'RULE' us at the time?
Whether or not Australians agree on the finer details of Andrew Wilkie's original Bill or even its NAME shouldn't be the main issue - but our Politicians must start taking OUR RIGHTS seriously - because it's very OBVIOUS our Constitution does NOT protect us!
And IF they WON'T support US - WHY should WE support THEM?
Please read and if you are particularly passionate about an area - as I am about First Nations' Makarrata and Rights - and the RIGHT to a roof over the head of every Australian - please put in the comments section when you sign the Petition.
http://lca.lawcouncil.asn.au/lawcouncil/images/Factsheet-QA.pdf
If you read our current Constitution it's nearly ALL about the PROCEDURE for running our Governments and Parliaments - and not much about Australians at all!
Because when our Constitution was WRITTEN Australian Citizens DIDN'T EXIST - we were ALL British Subjects!
The article linked here* discusses our (lack of) RIGHTS in very good detail including the fact that our country - even though Australia is a SIGNATORY under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - when:
"Two Australian citizens stranded overseas recently applied to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) for an order requiring Australia to bring them home. They invoked Article 12(4) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which says that “no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country”.
The UNHRC issued an interim order requesting our government bring the applicants home, pending a full hearing of the case. But here’s the problem:
International conventions and covenants to which Australia is a party have no force under Australia law, unless they have been explicitly adopted by legislation here. The covenant has not, so the government can ignore it along with the UNHRC’s ruling. Which it will."
Please read the full article - it is fascinating and rather scary..
* https://www.crikey.com.au/2021/05/03/australian-citizens-india-ban-legal/
***EDIT: I have NOW placed the detail about Australia's Constitution right at the bottom of this petition - because only those MOST KEEN will want to read in this much detail - but it explains WHY some responsibilities BELONG SOLELY to the Federal (Commonwealth) Government!
When it comes to our Government - Australians with children and grandchildren, or other relatives trapped overseas may be rather shocked to learn that despite Government MPs and Senators SAYING they are 'concerned' and 'sympathetic' about our Citizens - GOVERNMENT* Senators have voted TWICE - AGAINST motions 'Assisting Australians trying to return from overseas'
At the end of November LAST year AND in February THIS year..
On 15th February 2021 - the motion called on the Australian Government to:
(i) expand safe and effective federal quarantine capacity so that people stranded overseas can safely return home,
(ii) ensure that those stranded overseas can access affordable options to fly home, and
(iii) ensure that everyone is welcomed home with care and compassion.
Also in November 2020 - Government* Senators voted AGAINST keeping parliament INFORMED about:
(a) the total number of stranded Australians that returned to Australia during the identified week;
(b) the total number of stranded Australians that remain overseas, along with the total number per country in which they are stranded and broken down by;
(i) age,
(ii) gender, and
(iii) Australian state or territory of usual residence;
(c) the total number of non-Australian citizens that entered Australia during the identified week broken down by visa class and nationality.
The link is for Matt Canavan's 'They Vote For You' page on this motion - but if you click on the people menu at the top of the page or type in a name on the Home page - you can search how your MP/Senators voted
Their page will bring up how they have voted on MANY different subjects - but for some HORRIBLE reason(?) - our STRANDED Citizens seem to be a PARTISAN issue(?!)
I am pretty sure if you search - that you will find ALL LNP* Senators VOTED STRONGLY AGAINST these motions!
[Edited: *The motions were never voted on in the Lower House so Government MPs COULDN'T vote against them. Haven't checked to see if anyone TRIED to introduce them as the Government controls the Lower House Agenda]
So BASED on this - it seems it is VERY much about WHO Politicians are.. THEIR ETHICS, PRINCIPLES AND BELIEFS (are the Australian PEOPLE THEIR Priority?) and whether our Politicians CHOOSE to put the RIGHTS of the Australian PEOPLE first OR their PARTY first.
If a PARTY has absolute POWER/NUMBERS to DECIDE (in a pandemic, other disaster or war) YOU and yours MAY get some SUPPORT to come home.. Or may be LEFT to struggle on your own.
[This voting ONLY with the Party line is WHY Helen Haines' and Larissa Waters' #FederalIntegrityCommission Bills can't get ONTO the Lower House Agenda!]
https://www.change.org/HainesIntegrityCommissionCodeofConduct
So Australia NEEDS a STRONG, RETROSPECTIVE Federal Integrity Commission to oversee our Politicians BEHAVIOUR and to PREVENT as much as possible rorting of OUR Public money and corruption..(to Investigate and refer for prosecution if it DOES happen!) and necessary Whistleblower Protection (so Public Servants aren't at risk of PROSECUTION and AFRAID to come forward!) because the RIGHT to KNOW if our Politicians are corrupt or not - is surely a BASIC RIGHT in a Democracy?
BUT we HAVE to DEMAND a Charter of HUMAN Rights for ALL Australians too - including OUR children and grand-children!
Who KNEW we have so much to fight FOR?
"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.~ Thomas Jefferson ~
“Thomas Jefferson, His Words and Vision” (1997), p.18, Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
ADDENDUM: People may be disappointed to learn that only TWO Federal Governments in Australia have TRIED to get through parliament a Bill of Rights for Australians - The Whitlam Government and the Hawke Government.
Based on the demise of Andrew Wilkie's bill in 2019 - would the Labor Party of TODAY support a Charter of Rights for Australians?
If you click on these links you MIGHT be surprised (or NOT!)
https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/policies/229/detail
https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2019-12-02.134.1
*********************************************************
***Our Current Constitution
Part V under The Constitution gives the Commonwealth PARLIAMENT the right to make Laws
"Part V – Powers of the Parliament
51. Legislative powers of the Parliament
The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power (12) to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to:
(i) trade and commerce with other countries, and among the States;
(ii) taxation; but so as not to discriminate between States or parts of States;
(iii) bounties on the production or export of goods, but so that such bounties shall be uniform throughout the Commonwealth;
(iv) borrowing money on the public credit of the Commonwealth;
(v) postal, telegraphic, telephonic, and other like services;
(vi) the naval and military defence of the Commonwealth and of the several States, and the control of the forces to execute and maintain the laws of the Commonwealth;
(vii) lighthouses, lightships, beacons and buoys;
(viii) astronomical and meteorological observations;
(ix) quarantine;
(x) fisheries in Australian waters beyond territorial limits;
(xi) census and statistics;
(xii) currency, coinage, and legal tender;
(xiii) banking, other than State banking; also State banking extending beyond the limits of the State concerned, the incorporation of banks, and the issue of paper money;
(xiv) insurance, other than State insurance; also State insurance extending beyond the limits of the State concerned;
(xv) weights and measures;
(xvi) bills of exchange and promissory notes;
(xvii) bankruptcy and insolvency;
(xviii) copyrights, patents of inventions and designs, and trade marks; xix) naturalization and aliens;
(xx) foreign corporations, and trading or financial corporations formed within the limits of the Commonwealth;
(xxi) marriage;
(xxii) divorce and matrimonial causes; and in relation thereto, parental rights, and the custody and guardianship of
infants;
(xxiii) invalid and old-age pensions;
(xxiiiA)13 the provision of maternity allowances, widows’ pensions, child endowment, unemployment, pharmaceutical, sickness and hospital benefits, medical and dental services (but not so as to authorize any form of civil conscription), benefits to students and family allowances;
(xxiv) the service and execution throughout the Commonwealth of the civil and criminal process and the judgments
of the courts of the States;
(xxv) the recognition throughout the Commonwealth of the laws, the public Acts and records, and the judicial proceedings of the States;
(xxvi)14 the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws;
(xxvii) immigration and emigration;
(xxviii) the influx of criminals;
(xxix) external affairs;
(xxx) the relations of the Commonwealth with the islands of the Pacific;
(xxxi) the acquisition of property on just terms from any State or person for any purpose in respect of which the Parliament has power to make laws;
(xxxii) the control of railways with respect to transport for the naval and military purposes of the Commonwealth; (xxxiii) the acquisition, with the consent of a State, of any railways of the State on terms arranged between the Commonwealth and the State;
(xxxiv) railway construction and extension in any State with the consent of that State;
(xxxv) conciliation and arbitration for the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes extending beyond the limits of any one State;
(xxxvi) matters in respect of which this Constitution makes provision until the Parliament otherwise provides;
(xxxvii) matters referred to the Parliament of the Commonwealth by the Parliament or Parliaments of any State or States,15 but so that the law shall extend only to States by whose Parliaments the matter is referred, or which afterwards adopt the law;
(xxxviii) the exercise within the Commonwealth, at the request or with the concurrence of the Parliaments of all the States directly concerned, of any power which can at the establishment of this Constitution be exercised only by the Parliament of the United Kingdom or by the Federal Council of Australasia;
(xxxix) matters incidental to the execution of any power vested by this Constitution in the Parliament or in either House thereof, or in the Government of the Commonwealth, or in the Federal Judicature, or in any department or officer of the Commonwealth.
567
The issue
As Australian Citizens MOST of us just presume that our Human Rights are PROTECTED under our Australian Constitution.
The MAJORITY of Australians may be SHOCKED to learn that Australia is the only western democracy WITHOUT a Charter of Human Rights
And that under OUR Constitution we have only IMPLIED Rights - that NEED to be DECIDED on by our High Court - there are no ACTUAL Rights EXCEPT for FIVE.
Which is WHY we must support Andrew Wilkie MP's fight to get a Charter of Rights PASSED in OUR Parliament
In September 2019 Andrew Wilkie introduced the 'Australian Bill of Rights 2019' into OUR House of Representatives.
The Bill was seconded by Rebekha Sharkie - Centre Alliance MP for the seat of Mayo in South Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019B00171/Explanatory%20Memorandum/Text
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019B00171
The Bill was NOT supported by the major parties and was QUICKLY removed from the House agenda - lapsing under SO42 by March 2020
DISCLAIMER: Please be aware - this petition is NOT about 'Freedoms' over-riding the RIGHT to health & safety of others in our community - so please DON'T SUPPORT this petition if this is YOUR idea of "Freedom"
I am NOT in favour of 'Freedom at any cost' - I SUPPORTED the Covid lockdowns that have happened in Australia as I believe that fellow citizens who are vulnerable - the elderly, those immuno-compromised and people with disabilities have the RIGHT to be PROTECTED from the selfish attitude of those whose main focus is only THEIR own individual wants.
As one of the authors of the American Constitution Thomas Jefferson said:
"The purpose of government is to enable the people of a nation to live in safety and happiness. Government exists for the interests of the governed, not for the governors."
Although many have hijacked Jefferson's quotes about liberty - he was a man who believed in the teachings of Jesus which we all know were NOT about individualism but LOVE for our fellow man and for the common good of society.
"Without health there is no happiness. An attention to health, then, should take the place of every other object." ~ Thomas Jefferson
We are requesting that Andrew Wilkie re-introduce his Bill - modified and renamed (due to the fear many Australians have of the American Bill of Rights) as the Australian Charter of Human Rights - into OUR House of Representatives as soon as possible - but THIS TIME with the support of THOUSANDS of Australians!
OUR Parliament must SUPPORT a Charter of Human Rights for the Australian people - WHY wouldn't they? Why SHOULDN'T they? What are OUR Politicians scared of?
"A Bill of Rights is what the people are entitled to against every government, and what no just government should refuse, or rest on inference." ~ Thomas Jefferson
IN AUSTRALIA WE HAVE NO ACTUAL RIGHT TO FOOD, WATER, TO NOT BE HOMELESS AND SLEEPING ON THE STREET OR HEALTHCARE. Circumstances such as mental illness, disability from illness or accident, or unemployment can happen to ANYONE!
For those who are religious it truly is "there but for the grace of God go I'!
In our Australian Constitution there are ONLY five explicit individual rights. These are the right to vote (Section 41), protection against acquisition of property on unjust terms (Section 51 (xxxi)), the right to a trial by jury (Section 80), freedom of religion (Section 116) and prohibition of discrimination on the basis of State of residency (Section 117).
A copy of our Constitution printed in 2012 which was produced by the Parliamentary Education Office and the Australian Government Solicitor, Canberra; has an overview by the Australian Government Solicitor which states:
"Rights
The Constitution has no Bill of Rights, such as that found in the United States Constitution, which prevents a legislature from passing laws that infringe basic human rights, such as freedom of speech.
Some express protections, however, are given by the Constitution against legislative or executive action by the Commonwealth, but not by the States.
Examples are: Section 51(xxxi) (acquisition of property must be ‘on just terms’),
Section 80 (trial by jury is required in relation to some criminal offences),
and section 116 (a right exists to exercise any religion).
Section 117 prohibits the Parliament of a State from discriminating against non-residents of that State. It provides, in effect, that a resident in, say, Victoria shall not be subject to any discrimination or disability in, say, Queensland unless the person would also be subject to that disability or discrimination as a resident of Queensland. (The question whether section 117 limits the lawmaking power of the Commonwealth Parliament has not yet been conclusively resolved by the High Court.)"
NOTE: What the Solicitor General in 2012 DIDN'T say was that Section 116 ALSO gives us the RIGHT to Freedom FROM Religion - something MORE than a FEW of the Politicians CURRENTLY in the Government and some Religious Institutions seem to conveniently 'forget' when they try to impose THEIR values onto EVERY Australian - SUCH as with Voluntary Euthanasia as an example?
"116. Commonwealth not to legislate in respect of religion
The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth."
So DO our 'implied Rights' really MEAN that it WILL take an Australian Citizen who is ABLE to AFFORD the cost AND GAMBLE of taking their case to the High Court of Australia - to find out WHAT other RIGHTS Australian Citizens REALLY have?
Basically YES! And if it WAS decided we actually DON'T have some presumed RIGHTS - THEN what DOES this MEAN?
Does it mean our 'Rights' DEPEND on WHAT KIND of Government (and Politicians) 'RULE' us at the time?
Whether or not Australians agree on the finer details of Andrew Wilkie's original Bill or even its NAME shouldn't be the main issue - but our Politicians must start taking OUR RIGHTS seriously - because it's very OBVIOUS our Constitution does NOT protect us!
And IF they WON'T support US - WHY should WE support THEM?
Please read and if you are particularly passionate about an area - as I am about First Nations' Makarrata and Rights - and the RIGHT to a roof over the head of every Australian - please put in the comments section when you sign the Petition.
http://lca.lawcouncil.asn.au/lawcouncil/images/Factsheet-QA.pdf
If you read our current Constitution it's nearly ALL about the PROCEDURE for running our Governments and Parliaments - and not much about Australians at all!
Because when our Constitution was WRITTEN Australian Citizens DIDN'T EXIST - we were ALL British Subjects!
The article linked here* discusses our (lack of) RIGHTS in very good detail including the fact that our country - even though Australia is a SIGNATORY under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - when:
"Two Australian citizens stranded overseas recently applied to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) for an order requiring Australia to bring them home. They invoked Article 12(4) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which says that “no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of the right to enter his own country”.
The UNHRC issued an interim order requesting our government bring the applicants home, pending a full hearing of the case. But here’s the problem:
International conventions and covenants to which Australia is a party have no force under Australia law, unless they have been explicitly adopted by legislation here. The covenant has not, so the government can ignore it along with the UNHRC’s ruling. Which it will."
Please read the full article - it is fascinating and rather scary..
* https://www.crikey.com.au/2021/05/03/australian-citizens-india-ban-legal/
***EDIT: I have NOW placed the detail about Australia's Constitution right at the bottom of this petition - because only those MOST KEEN will want to read in this much detail - but it explains WHY some responsibilities BELONG SOLELY to the Federal (Commonwealth) Government!
When it comes to our Government - Australians with children and grandchildren, or other relatives trapped overseas may be rather shocked to learn that despite Government MPs and Senators SAYING they are 'concerned' and 'sympathetic' about our Citizens - GOVERNMENT* Senators have voted TWICE - AGAINST motions 'Assisting Australians trying to return from overseas'
At the end of November LAST year AND in February THIS year..
On 15th February 2021 - the motion called on the Australian Government to:
(i) expand safe and effective federal quarantine capacity so that people stranded overseas can safely return home,
(ii) ensure that those stranded overseas can access affordable options to fly home, and
(iii) ensure that everyone is welcomed home with care and compassion.
Also in November 2020 - Government* Senators voted AGAINST keeping parliament INFORMED about:
(a) the total number of stranded Australians that returned to Australia during the identified week;
(b) the total number of stranded Australians that remain overseas, along with the total number per country in which they are stranded and broken down by;
(i) age,
(ii) gender, and
(iii) Australian state or territory of usual residence;
(c) the total number of non-Australian citizens that entered Australia during the identified week broken down by visa class and nationality.
The link is for Matt Canavan's 'They Vote For You' page on this motion - but if you click on the people menu at the top of the page or type in a name on the Home page - you can search how your MP/Senators voted
Their page will bring up how they have voted on MANY different subjects - but for some HORRIBLE reason(?) - our STRANDED Citizens seem to be a PARTISAN issue(?!)
I am pretty sure if you search - that you will find ALL LNP* Senators VOTED STRONGLY AGAINST these motions!
[Edited: *The motions were never voted on in the Lower House so Government MPs COULDN'T vote against them. Haven't checked to see if anyone TRIED to introduce them as the Government controls the Lower House Agenda]
So BASED on this - it seems it is VERY much about WHO Politicians are.. THEIR ETHICS, PRINCIPLES AND BELIEFS (are the Australian PEOPLE THEIR Priority?) and whether our Politicians CHOOSE to put the RIGHTS of the Australian PEOPLE first OR their PARTY first.
If a PARTY has absolute POWER/NUMBERS to DECIDE (in a pandemic, other disaster or war) YOU and yours MAY get some SUPPORT to come home.. Or may be LEFT to struggle on your own.
[This voting ONLY with the Party line is WHY Helen Haines' and Larissa Waters' #FederalIntegrityCommission Bills can't get ONTO the Lower House Agenda!]
https://www.change.org/HainesIntegrityCommissionCodeofConduct
So Australia NEEDS a STRONG, RETROSPECTIVE Federal Integrity Commission to oversee our Politicians BEHAVIOUR and to PREVENT as much as possible rorting of OUR Public money and corruption..(to Investigate and refer for prosecution if it DOES happen!) and necessary Whistleblower Protection (so Public Servants aren't at risk of PROSECUTION and AFRAID to come forward!) because the RIGHT to KNOW if our Politicians are corrupt or not - is surely a BASIC RIGHT in a Democracy?
BUT we HAVE to DEMAND a Charter of HUMAN Rights for ALL Australians too - including OUR children and grand-children!
Who KNEW we have so much to fight FOR?
"I am not an advocate for frequent changes in laws and Constitutions. But laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind. As that becomes more developed, more enlightened, as new discoveries are made, new truths discovered and manners and opinions change, with the change of circumstances, institutions must advance also to keep pace with the times. We might as well require a man to wear still the coat which fitted him when a boy as remain ever under the regimen of their barbarous ancestors.~ Thomas Jefferson ~
“Thomas Jefferson, His Words and Vision” (1997), p.18, Peter Pauper Press, Inc.
ADDENDUM: People may be disappointed to learn that only TWO Federal Governments in Australia have TRIED to get through parliament a Bill of Rights for Australians - The Whitlam Government and the Hawke Government.
Based on the demise of Andrew Wilkie's bill in 2019 - would the Labor Party of TODAY support a Charter of Rights for Australians?
If you click on these links you MIGHT be surprised (or NOT!)
https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/policies/229/detail
https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2019-12-02.134.1
*********************************************************
***Our Current Constitution
Part V under The Constitution gives the Commonwealth PARLIAMENT the right to make Laws
"Part V – Powers of the Parliament
51. Legislative powers of the Parliament
The Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power (12) to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to:
(i) trade and commerce with other countries, and among the States;
(ii) taxation; but so as not to discriminate between States or parts of States;
(iii) bounties on the production or export of goods, but so that such bounties shall be uniform throughout the Commonwealth;
(iv) borrowing money on the public credit of the Commonwealth;
(v) postal, telegraphic, telephonic, and other like services;
(vi) the naval and military defence of the Commonwealth and of the several States, and the control of the forces to execute and maintain the laws of the Commonwealth;
(vii) lighthouses, lightships, beacons and buoys;
(viii) astronomical and meteorological observations;
(ix) quarantine;
(x) fisheries in Australian waters beyond territorial limits;
(xi) census and statistics;
(xii) currency, coinage, and legal tender;
(xiii) banking, other than State banking; also State banking extending beyond the limits of the State concerned, the incorporation of banks, and the issue of paper money;
(xiv) insurance, other than State insurance; also State insurance extending beyond the limits of the State concerned;
(xv) weights and measures;
(xvi) bills of exchange and promissory notes;
(xvii) bankruptcy and insolvency;
(xviii) copyrights, patents of inventions and designs, and trade marks; xix) naturalization and aliens;
(xx) foreign corporations, and trading or financial corporations formed within the limits of the Commonwealth;
(xxi) marriage;
(xxii) divorce and matrimonial causes; and in relation thereto, parental rights, and the custody and guardianship of
infants;
(xxiii) invalid and old-age pensions;
(xxiiiA)13 the provision of maternity allowances, widows’ pensions, child endowment, unemployment, pharmaceutical, sickness and hospital benefits, medical and dental services (but not so as to authorize any form of civil conscription), benefits to students and family allowances;
(xxiv) the service and execution throughout the Commonwealth of the civil and criminal process and the judgments
of the courts of the States;
(xxv) the recognition throughout the Commonwealth of the laws, the public Acts and records, and the judicial proceedings of the States;
(xxvi)14 the people of any race for whom it is deemed necessary to make special laws;
(xxvii) immigration and emigration;
(xxviii) the influx of criminals;
(xxix) external affairs;
(xxx) the relations of the Commonwealth with the islands of the Pacific;
(xxxi) the acquisition of property on just terms from any State or person for any purpose in respect of which the Parliament has power to make laws;
(xxxii) the control of railways with respect to transport for the naval and military purposes of the Commonwealth; (xxxiii) the acquisition, with the consent of a State, of any railways of the State on terms arranged between the Commonwealth and the State;
(xxxiv) railway construction and extension in any State with the consent of that State;
(xxxv) conciliation and arbitration for the prevention and settlement of industrial disputes extending beyond the limits of any one State;
(xxxvi) matters in respect of which this Constitution makes provision until the Parliament otherwise provides;
(xxxvii) matters referred to the Parliament of the Commonwealth by the Parliament or Parliaments of any State or States,15 but so that the law shall extend only to States by whose Parliaments the matter is referred, or which afterwards adopt the law;
(xxxviii) the exercise within the Commonwealth, at the request or with the concurrence of the Parliaments of all the States directly concerned, of any power which can at the establishment of this Constitution be exercised only by the Parliament of the United Kingdom or by the Federal Council of Australasia;
(xxxix) matters incidental to the execution of any power vested by this Constitution in the Parliament or in either House thereof, or in the Government of the Commonwealth, or in the Federal Judicature, or in any department or officer of the Commonwealth.
567
The Decision Makers
Petition created on 6 June 2021