Anti-Defamation Commission welcomes legislation change

December 7, 2012 by Geoffrey Zygier
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ADC chairperson Dr Dvir Abramovich today welcomed proposed changes to anti-discrimination legislation contained in the Federal Government’s Anti-discrimination and Human Rights Bill 2012.

Dr Abramovich has written to this effect to Attorney-General Nicola Roxon.
In his letter Dr Abramovich stated in part as follows:
“… The ADC was founded on the principle that discrimination is abhorrent. As a people who have experienced disproportionate mistreatment because of our race and religion, Jews cannot accept injustice. Indeed, the struggle for justice and opposition to all forms of discrimination is an inherent part of Jewish tradition.
While most Australians believe in a fair go, human decency alone cannot guarantee justice. Judaism has always understood that the power of the law must back up good intentions. Hence anti-discrimination legislation that works is crucial. It is true that meaningful change can only be realised by more considered community attitudes and structural change in partnership with the law.  What effective legislation can do is lead the way.
And as well as being effective, such legislation must be comprehensible and accessible to all.  While any one of us can experience discrimination, too often it is the most marginalised and powerless in our community who suffer the most. Hence any changes that are both fair and efficient must be welcomed.
The ADC considers that the Anti-discrimination and Human Rights Bill 2012 is proposed legislation that seeks to include all Australians. The Bill consolidates existing anti-discrimination laws, adds new protections from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity and strengthens protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of other attributes, including religion and political opinion.
As noted above, the Bill provides greater access and equity to complainants by making the law less complex. At the same time this simplification should also enable employers to better understand and meet their legal obligations. And as an important aside, employers should also benefit from improved efficiency and productivity in a more welcoming and caring workplace.
In conclusion the ADC congratulates the Government on this measure.  We look forward to an Australian society that is more caring, thriving, healthier and certainly fairer as a result….”

Comments

One Response to “Anti-Defamation Commission welcomes legislation change”
  1. Raoul says:

    To state this proposed bill would simplify matters and be more just indicates this person has either not read or not properly understood the draft bill. This Soviet-style bill is nothing but a full-on attack on our liberty and most fundamental freedoms. It turns the basic principle of Western law on its head. If this Orwellian nightmare would ever become law, we can – for example – expect to be hauled before the multicult tribunals for the offence of critizising someone’s political opinions. The onus of proof is to be reversed in this bill. If I feel offended by your comments on my political views or my potential pregnancy, you will have to proof before the tribunals to have acted in good faith and inside the boundaries of said law. Please consider the politically correct insanity of “protected attributes” on page 34 of the draft bill:

    3 (1) The protected attributes are as follows:
    4 (a) age;
    5 (b) breastfeeding;
    6 (c) disability;
    7 (d) family responsibilities;
    8 (e) gender identity;
    9 (f) immigrant status;
    10 (g) industrial history;
    11 (h) marital or relationship status;
    12 (i) medical history;
    13 (j) nationality or citizenship;
    14 (k) political opinion;
    15 (l) potential pregnancy;
    16 (m) pregnancy;
    17 (n) race;
    18 (o) religion;
    19 (p) sex;
    20 (q) sexual orientation;
    21 (r) social origin.

    For the full assortment of thought crimes and incomprehensible gobbledygook see here:

    http://www.ag.gov.au/Humanrightsandantidiscrimination/Australiashumanrightsframework/Documents/Human%20Rights%20and%20Anti-Discrimination%20Bill%202012%20-%20Exposure%20Draft%202.pdf

    If it weren’t so serious, it would be laughable to even present something like this for the consideration of adults in a Western democracy.

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