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?

Found in Domestic Submissions, Focus Areas - National Human Rights Consultation, National Human Rights Consultation, Submissions - Charter of Rights