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Human Rights and Justice
Government's knuckles rapped over NT intervention by UN rapporteur
The Australian Greens today welcomed the release of observations by the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples on the Northern Territory emergency response (NTER), noting that the Rudd Government is failing to comply with its calls to fully and unconditionally reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA).
"Professor Anaya's analysis of the way in which the NT intervention tramples the rights of Indigenous Australians, discriminates unfairly against them and fails to comply with Australia's international human rights commitments is both compelling and comprehensive," said Greens spokesperson on Aboriginal issues Senator Rachel Siewert today.
"The Special Rapporteur's report also clearly sets out what the Minister needs to do to properly reform the intervention so that it protects human rights and engages Aboriginal communities in developing effective community-based solutions."
Confirmed: Indonesian fish stocks contaminated by Montara oil
Concerns repeatedly raised by the Australian Greens that Indonesian fishing grounds were contaminated by oil from last year’s Montara oil spill have been confirmed, following testing of an oil sample submitted to the Montara oil spill inquiry by Australian Greens Senator for WA Rachel Siewert.
“We first raised concerns in October that communities in Indonesia who rely on fish for food were being affected by this oil spill,” Senator Rachel Siewert said today.
“The response by the Rudd Government at the time was to play the reports down.
Terrorism white paper: shiny new language, same old laws
The Australian Greens say the Government's long awaited counter-terrorism White Paper cements the creeping expansion of domestic security agencies.
"It will be essential that key aspects of this package are scrutinised by the Parliament and its committees, and we urge the Government to immediately move ahead with the establishment of the National Security Legislation Monitor, which is delayed again in the House of Representatives," said Australian Greens law and justice spokesperson Senator Scott Ludlam.
Senate Inquiry into RDA in NT
A Senate Inquiry into extending welfare-quarantining across the whole of the Northern Territory and the nation, and reinstating the Racial Discrimination Act in the NT will conduct hearings beginning in Darwin today.
It comes as a result of Australian Greens referring the legislation to a committee inquiry to ensure proper scrutiny of radical Commonwealth government plans to effectively roll-out unproven social policy nationwide.
"I find it incredible that this government would push one of the biggest social reforms ever made in this country with no proper evidence that it actually works," said Greens community services spokesperson Senator Rachel Siewert.
Campaign call: end discrimination spin-off against same-sex couples
On the day of the July 1 start to the federal governments social security reforms, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on the government not to force same-sex couples to expose their relationship after years of community alienation.
Charities under fire, law change needed to protect fund raising
Commenting on this week’s Federal Court case that has resulted in Aid/Watch loosing its charity status, Greens NSW senate candidate Lee Rhiannon has called on the federal government to define charity in law so community groups are not penalised for their political activities.
Campaign call: end discrimination spin-off against same-sex couples
On the day of the July 1 start to the federal governments social security reforms, Greens MP Lee Rhiannon has called on the government not to force same-sex couples to expose their relationship after years of community alienation.
Opposition Return to TPVs A Disgrace
The Greens reject the Federal Opposition's outrageous "new" immigration policy that revisits the worst excesses of the Howard Government, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Immigration and Human Rights, says the announcement that the Opposition would re-introduce the cruel and inhumane practice of Temporary Protection Visas for asylum seekers shows Malcolm Turnbull has learned nothing from the failures of his predecessors.
"Malcolm Turnbull has clearly laid his cards on the table on immigration,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
"His push for Temporary Protection Visas is a disgrace - they were inhumane under the Howard regime, and nothing will change if they are introduced by a future Liberal Government.''
"The Prime Minister must come out quickly and reject this policy - Kevin Rudd needs to prove he is not a wolf in sheep's clothing, and show he has the courage not to join the Opposition's desperate quest for popularity on the back of hateful fear-mongering.''
Use Some Diplomacy On Asylum Seekers, PM
The Prime Minister must show some leadership and take the venom out of the debate on asylum seekers, according to Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.
Senator Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson for Immigration and Human Rights, says both Kevin Rudd and Malcolm Turnbull are doing themselves and the public a disservice by continuing to refer to asylum seekers as "illegal''.
People who are fleeing persecution have every right to seek asylum under international law, and the Press Council has warned that the use of the words "illegal" or "illegals" in coverage of the issue is inaccurate.
"As a career diplomat, Mr Rudd knows very well the importance of the words he uses,'' Senator Hanson-Young said.
Act On Human Rights - Make It Law, Mr Rudd
The Greens have called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his Government to act quickly in response to the Human Rights Consultation Report, to set out a clear agenda protecting people's rights and to introduce a Human Rights Act.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Greens spokesperson on Human Rights, says the Government must not dither over its response to the report, urging the Prime Minister to show the public that their human rights are protected by more than mere rhetoric.
"The Government must tell the public what it intends to do with these recommendations ahead of the election next year,'' Senator Hanson-Young said. "This report must not be left sitting in the in-tray until the Government deems it appropriate to deal with - we need a timetable now.''
"The response to the consultation - more than 35,000 submissions - shows that Australians are very concerned about the need for government protection of human rights.''
