Abstract
Despite the nationââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s purported reputation for a ââ"šÂ¬Ã‹Å“fair goââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢, the Fitzpatrick and Browne privilege case suggests that Australiaââ"šÂ¬Ã¢"žÂ¢s political culture contains an authoritarian dimension. As David Marr suggests, Australians ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"have only the patchiest record of becoming passionate about great abstractions ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ even the greatest of them, libertyââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â. A Bill of Rights would not be a panacea, but would form an important first step in safeguarding liberty. As George Williams argues, a Bill or Charter of Rights would give legal effect to our basic freedoms for the first time. It would help to prevent the making of bad laws and be used ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"to educate, shape attitudes and bring hope and recognition to people who are otherwise powerlessââ"šÂ¬Ã‚Â. It would help to make better laws and improve the accountability of governments to the people.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Overland |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Keywords
- Australia
- Browne, Frank
- civil rights
- history
- law and legislation
- legislative bodies