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Media Release : Bill of Rights Activist Boycott of Townsville Human Rights Consultation Roundtable...... “nothing short of a revolt will bring about full human rights protection in this country.”

Tue, 05/26/2009 - 15:13 — Pat Coleman

Media Release : Contact Pat Coleman , Email : cyni...@hotmail.com , Ph: 0439839121

Bill of Rights Activist Boycott of Townsville Human Rights Consultation Roundtable...... “nothing short of a revolt will bring about full human rights protection in this country.”

Having been a bill of rights activist for nearly ten years ; having
• Petitioned the Townsville public on the matter and having had those petitions tabled in the Federal Parliament and recorded in the Hansard
(see http://www.aph.gov.au/HANSARD/senate/dailys/ds091105.pdf at p88 – type p100 into adobe page locater)
• Having lobbied politicians
• Having drafted a bill of rights in a submission to the 2002 Senate Inquiry into the Republic
(see http://cynicismcentral.org/node/28 )
• Having publicly campaigned on the issue facing arrest and gaol on many occasions
• Having run 3 successful civil actions on civil liberties matters against the Qld Police-
I Feel I am well placed to offer an opinion on the current National “Human Rights Consultation”.

Having been in the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal and High Court on civil liberties matters, and having run a successful free speech /freedom of expression action under the 1st optional protocol to the ICCPR in the UN Human Rights Committee , I am also well placed to give an opinion on the labor party’s attitude to human rights. (see http://www.cynicismcentral.org/node/19 and http://www.cynicismcentral.org/node/38

Rudds labor party has rigged this consultation so that no matter what members of the public say, a recommendation for a constitutionally entrenched charter or bill of rights cannot be made.
(see http://www.cynicismcentral.org/node/56 )

What they plan to have is already decided, a non enforceable charter that the politicians can ignore.

I read out the universal declaration of human rights without a permit, was convicted fined gaoled and bankrupted. The costs order was 3k or 101 days in gaol. Last year, 2 years after the UNHRC decision I was forced to pay the 3k or face the threat of warrants. After holding out for 9 years I was still paying for it.

When the UNHRC handed down its decision , that it all be reversed and I be compensated both the Howard and Rudd governments said no with AG McLelland saying I should feel free to do a submission to this consultation.( http://cynicismcentral.nigelsim.org/pat-hrc2.pdf at 85-86) I bet he is still giggling .

I am not a bill of rights advocate for my own sake ,there are numerous other examples I would like to point to (see my senate submission) , but I draw on my own experience to show that if they wont uphold the ICCPR which they are bound by , what the hell good is a non binding charter?

What the hell good is it to say we can rely on periodic elections to oust governments that breach rights if the federal preferential voting system is rigged so we cant refuse to preference the big 2?

Given that both labor and the coalition are against positive rights and that I don’t really have any confidence in this process, I feel nothing short of a revolt will bring about full human rights protection in this country.

Whilst I will go through the motions and do written submissions to this consultation I feel that to appear would be a complete waste of my time and I boycott it in protest.

Bill of Rights Dead? Ask Senator Xenophon!
www.cynicismcentral.org/node/42

Addressing The Time Wasting Arguments of Pollies Against A Bill Of Rights
www.cynicismcentral.org/node/37