NSW urgently needs a Bill of Rights to ensure our civil liberties are given proper protection under law. This will put NSW on equal footing with many other jurisdictions who have already adopted similar legislation; including the UK, Canada and New Zealand.
Human rights are necessary for people to live lives of dignity and value and are essential to a democratic and inclusive society. They should be set down in a properly legal form so that individuals and authorities know what their rights and obligations are and so they are included in the development and interpretation of legislation. While Australia is now the only western nation not to have a Bill of Rights, the ACT and Victoria have each enacted a Bill of Rights within their own jurisdiction.
Read The draft Bill of Rights for NSW.
Download the 10 Myths about a Bill of Rights… and Why They Are Wrong fact sheet.
David is also working to repeal draconian amendments to the bail laws by both the Liberal and Labor parties that weaken the presumption of innocence, along with a raft of other ‘law and order’ legislation that targets young people, people of ‘middle eastern’ backgrounds and disadvantaged groups.
We must work towards addressing the systemic causes of crime, by creating better educational opportunities and better drug rehabilitation, rather than pouring money into new prisons.
Find out what David’s been doing in parliament to address Justice issues.