On 3 June 2009, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre made a supplementary submission to the National Human Rights Consultation.
The submission is in the form of a Memorandum of Advice from Brian Walters SC and Alastair Pound of Counsel commissioned by the Centre in relation to the relationship between a national Human Rights Act and a range of religious beliefs and freedoms.
The Advice considers, among other matters:
- Would a federal charter of rights result in a transfer of political power to the courts?
- What are the potential cultural impacts of a federal charter of rights?
- What impact might a federal charter of rights have on freedom of religious speech and expression?
- What impact might the recognition of a right to life in a federal charter of rights have on issues such as abortion and euthanasia?
- What impact might the recognition of a right to equality and protection from discrimination in a federal charter of rights have on the ability of religious bodies to discriminate on the basis of religion?
