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‘Australians will not face this pandemic on equal footing’, legal bodies warn
A report into Australia’s handling of human rights has handed down a scathing review for the nation, amid concerns it is not equipped to handle issues related to COVID-19.
Naomi Neilson
Australia’s handling of Witness K and Bernard Collaery, its handling of victims of domestic violence and its treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are among the various concerns listed by three major legal centres in the third universal periodic review of human rights, among the recent bushfire disasters and the current devastating global pandemic.
“This lays bare Australia’s human rights landscape as we enter this global crisis. How the response to the COVID-19 crisis will impact human rights in Australia is uncertain. But we can be sure that this impact will not be felt equally,” the foreword read.
“At this time of global crisis, where lives are at risk, the realisation of human rights and its principles of equality, dignity, respect and fairness are more critical now than ever.”
Legal director at the Human Rights Law Centre, Edwina McDonald, said the report offers a comprehensive insight into the state of human rights in Australia, at a crucial time when the COVID-19 crisis is set to further complicate existing inequalities across the country.
The report is particularly concerned about the impact that Australia’s COVID-19 response will have on Indigenous people, refugees and asylum seekers, older people, people who are experiencing poverty or people experiencing homelessness, among many.
“These human rights that many Australians have taken for granted are suddenly front and centre in public consciousness. Essential rights like healthcare and education are coming under enormous strain and economic inequalities will hit disadvantaged communities the hardest,” Ms McDonald said, adding Australians are not on equal footing in this pandemic.
National president of Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) Andrew Christopoulos said they were proud to have contributed and that it is timely as Australia considers protecting most vulnerable communities amid essential restrictions and emergency laws.
“The report addresses many human rights issues that our lawyers advocate for everyday, including access to the criminal justice system and the treatment of asylum seekers,” he said.
He is especially pleased that their concerns regarding the government’s treatment of the controversial Witness K and lawyer Mr Collaery was included. The report called for the government to repeal laws criminalising public interest reporting and strengthen warrant obligations, amid prosecutions of whistleblowers on national interest matters.
“The health crisis facing the world at the moment has highlighted the importance of holding governments to account and advocating for the rights of people who might otherwise be overlooked in an emergency like prisoners, asylum seekers, people with insecure work and people without a permanent home,” Mr Christopoulos said.
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Naomi Neilson
Naomi Neilson is a senior journalist with a focus on court reporting for Lawyers Weekly.
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