Disadvantaged demand Human Rights Act: PILCH
MEDIA RELEASE
Monday, 15 June 2009
The Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) says the elderly, people experiencing homelessness, refugees and
other marginalised and disadvantaged groups will continue to experience significant human rights violations unless the
Federal Government enacts a Human Rights Act.
PILCH Acting Executive Director, Mat Tinkler, said PILCH has made a number of substantial submissions to the
National Human Rights Consultation, informed by its significant pro bono legal work advising disadvantaged clients.
‘Clients routinely walk through our door with stories of violations to their basic human rights – people experiencing
homelessness, the elderly, asylum seekers, people with a disability and racial and religious minorities are just some of
the people that our present laws fail to protect adequately,’ said Mr Tinkler.
‘Our submissions to the Consultation have been informed by the experiences of these people, and their plights clearly
demonstrate that Australia needs a Human Rights Act that enshrines fundamental civil, political, economic, social and
cultural rights. Parliamentary accountability means little to someone who is about to be evicted into homelessness – a
Human Rights Act will improve the practices of government and promote a “fair go” for all Australians.’
‘PILCH also recognises that a Human Rights Act will not, of itself, address all of the inadequacies of the current system.
Any such Act must be accompanied by a range of other measures, including investing in human rights education;
improving access to justice; and, leveraging the Government’s significant purchasing power to promote human rights-
friendly practices,’ said Mr Tinkler.
Meanwhile, the PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic (HPLC) has drawn upon its own consultations with 145 people
experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness to inform its submission.
‘The HPLC took the question of human rights protection directly to people experiencing homelessness, and they have
definitively called for better human rights protections,’ said Caroline Adler, Manager & Principal Lawyer of the HPLC.
‘80% of participants reported having being treated in a cruel or degrading way while experiencing homelessness, 85%
said that accommodation and housing services in Australia are inadequate, and 99% said that the law must change to
better protect their basic human rights.’
‘People experiencing homelessness endure violations of their human rights on a daily basis. These violations provide
clear evidence that human rights are not sufficiently protected and promoted in Australia,’ said Ms Adler.
Contact
Mat Tinkler
Acting Executive Director
Public Interest Law Clearing House
(03) 8636 4405 – 0438 595 049
mat.tinkler@pilch.org.au
Caroline Adler
Manager & Principal Lawyer
PILCH Homeless Persons’ Legal Clinic
(03) 8636 4408 – 0418 822 164
caroline.adler@pilch.org.au
NEWS 
