05.43 pm, Monday November 23 2009

Rights 'hard to protect' in outback

14:49 AEST Fri Jul 3 2009
By Susanna Dunkerley
VIEWS: 0
| FLOCKS: 0
| comments0 comments so far

A magistrate responsible for one of largest geographic jurisdictions in Australia has provided a Canberra conference with a grassroots perspective of protecting human rights.

The three-day human rights consultation talkfest, which wound up on Friday, heard from government ministers, lawyers, activists, academics and an asylum-seeker among others.

But it took Kalgoorlie magistrate Elizabeth Langdon to remind the conference of realities at the sharp end of life in outback Western Australia.

A serious lack of social services in remote areas meant she struggles to protect the rights of victims and offenders.

In her district, which includes indigenous communities near the Northern Territory border, Aboriginal people made up 7.5 per cent of the population.

But they represent the vast majority of offenders who come before her court.

Most of them were addicted to petrol sniffing and came from backgrounds of disadvantage where there was housing overcrowding, transience and homelessness.

"The lack of provision of adequate resources impedes my ability to protect human rights for victims of crime and offenders," Ms Langdon told the conference.

"If a chronic young petrol sniffer cannot remain in a family home ... the only alternative for me is to detain them in a detention centre ... almost 2,000 kilometres away," she said.

Even if legislators introduced a charter of human rights, those rights would never be truly protected without "adequate and meaningful resources".

Earlier former federal justice minister Bob Debus said a bill or charter of rights would fill "substantial holes" in the protection of human rights.

He stressed the power of judges would not change significantly if a charter was enacted.

There are concerns, especially from the Australian Christian Lobby, that judges will be given too much power to determine moral and social policy under any charter.

Mr Debus, who served as NSW attorney-general from 2000 to 2007 and justice minister in the Rudd government, says the shift in power to protect human rights from parliament to the judiciary will be "slight".

"What judges are asked to do under a charter of rights is little different to what they are asked to do in many other circumstances," Mr Debus told the conference.

It would also help harmonise the different anti-discrimination laws around the country, he said.

The federal opposition does not support a bill of rights.

In a submission to the committee, its legal affairs spokesman George Brandis said a bill of rights "could prejudice democratic governance and the separation of powers".

The National Human Rights Consultation Committee is preparing a report on the protection and promotion of human rights in Australia.

The report will be delivered to the Rudd government next month.

 
SHARE:
MESSENGER
FACEBOOK
MORE
Blog on Spaces
Add to delicious
Add to Digg
Share on MySpace
?
Share, bookmark, and save your favourite ninemsn articles and features.  Learn more.

Most popular

 Man learns father is Charles MansonA US man has revealed his anguish over learning that his father is serial killer Charles Manson.
 Rann denies sex claims, threatens lawsuitSouth Australian premier Mike Rann has come out fighting against allegations of sexual impropriety made against him by an alleged former lover.
 Roo tries to drown dog, attacks ownerA man in Victoria has been attacked by a kangaroo that tried to drown his dog in a dam.
 Grieving family urges Scientology probeFor three days leading up to soldier Edward McBride's suicide, his family say he was bombarded by telephone calls and texts from Church of Scientology members.
 Demi Moore photoshop: snapper hits backThe fashion photographer at the centre of a photoshopping row over a missing chunk of Demi Moore's hips has hit back at the actresses claims her thighs were not digitally altered.
 Girlfriend lunged at me with glass: BirdGreg Bird's girlfriend, whom he has been convicted of glassing in the face, had been "lunging" at him with the glass before it smashed, the ex-NRL star says.
 Girl, 15, puts rat poison in school waterUp to 30 people at a school in Brazil were rushed to hospital after a 15-year-old girl allegedly put rat poison in a staff room water tank.
 US sailor not guilty of rape in SydneyA US sailor cleared of raping a prostitute in a Sydney brothel is "looking forward" to returning to California.
 Woman with brain tumour sues Qld HealthA woman with a malignant brain tumour is taking legal action against Queensland Health for medical negligence.
 Train passengers trapped with alleged killerPassengers on a train in New York who witnessed a man being stabbed to death were forced to remain in their carriage with the alleged killer and a blood-soaked body for several minutes.
ninemsn newsroom reader Wendy Kingston. (Nine News)Newsroom latest A quick hit of the top stories making news online today. Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty has tied the knot. (Getty)Bollywood bashIndian actress Shilpa Shetty marries in lavish ceremony. Michelle Chantelois says she had an affair with Mike Rann. (Seven Network)Sex claimsBarmaid says she got intimate with premier 'on parliament desk'. AAPWild Lily Lily Allen shocks Ray Martin with her plans for the future. ACASolo manHero from classic 80s TV ads tells of his latest adventures. Canadian woman Nathalie Blanchard's benefits were cut.Bikini bustWoman loses insurance benefits over Facebook photos.
advertisement
Top model mourned Fashion star found dead in apartment was full of creativity, friends say ... read more Movie monster Twilight sequel has highest-grossing opening day of all time ... read more Entourage death Miley Cyrus's driver killed, another injured after tour bus overturns ... read more Zoo bear attacks A man has been mauled after climbing a zoo wall and falling into a bear enclosure ... read more Snapper hits back The photographer at the centre of the Demi Moore photoshop scandal speaks out ... read more Ride from hell Commuters get trapped in a train carriage with an alleged killer and body ... read more Become a Nine News breaker Seen or heard something? Send tip-offs, images and video from your mobile or PC ... contact us
Bruised bootyJennifer Lopez takes a tumble on stage at music awards | Video
You need the latest version of Flash Player.
Enjoy the most vivid content on the web
Watch video without extra features
Interact with applications on your favourite sites
Upgrade now

page complete
Other ninemsn businesses: iSelect RateCity
© 1997-2009 ninemsn Pty Ltd - All rights reserved