What are the arguments for and against a Bill of Rights here in Australia?

Different categories of rights are human, social and economic, and civil and political.

Types of rights

Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

Types of rights

Different categories of rights are human, social and economic, and civil and political.

Parliamentary Education Office (peo.gov.au)

Description

Social and economic rights are rights we need in order to live with dignity:

  • housing
  • healthcare
  • sanitation
  • food
  • education.

Civil and political rights are rights we need to be able to participate in society as free and active citizens:

  • freedom of movement and assembly
  • freedom of speech
  • right to protest
  • freedom of religion.

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A Bill of Rights is a list of the most important rights belonging to a country’s citizens. It is usually passed as a law through parliament and belongs to the domestic law of the country. Australia does not have a Bill of Rights. 

There are many arguments for and against a Bill of Rights in Australia. The main organisation the deals with human rights in Australia is the Australian Human Rights Commission. They might be a good place to start your research.

If a Bill of Rights were to be introduced in Australia, it may involve changes to the Australian Constitution.