Message from the Commissioner The role of the Human Rights Commissioner is to raise systemic public policy issues that impact on human rights, and seek reform. The Commission has in its legislation commissioners responsible for age, disability, race and sex discrimination. There are also commissioners responsible for children’s rights and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice. These portfolios are often represented through...
THE running of the Australian Marriage Forum (AMF) advertisement on television last weekend to coincide with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade can only be described as pointless and cruel. This anti-same sex marriage message deliberately seeks to undermine the thousands of healthy gay parent child relationships in this country.
Behind human rights is the still revolutionary idea that every human being is free and equal, that individuals own their own bodies and should be free to pursue their lives, opportunities and enterprise. Human rights provide the foundation for our liberal democracy, our market economy and our civil society.
On Sunday night, the Australian Marriage Forum (AMF) broadcast an advertisement against marriage for same-sex couples. The advertisement was scheduled to be broadcast on Channels 7, 9 and SBS.
The AMF advertisement argued that same-sex couples should not be able to marry under the law, because children "wherever possible" need a mother and a father. It is hardly a new or ground-breaking argument.
AMF paid to have its advertisement aired during SBScoverage of the Sydney Mardi Gras parade because that would give it maximum attention.
Charlie Hebdo would have risked being censored by the courts, but self-censorship is the reality of Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.
I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are gathered and pay my respects to their elders, both past and present, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal people present.
Final report released 10 June 2015.
Photo: Anne Stuart (Director Planning, Education & International Program, Family Planning NSW), Tim Wilson (Australian Human Rights Commissioner), Laura Blundell (Same Difference panel speaker), Jan Owen (CEO, Foundation for Young Australians) & Ann Brassil (CEO, Family Planning NSW)
Credit: Robert Knapman
Tim Wilson
Human Rights Commissioner
Australian Human Rights Commission
Thursday 31 July 2014
NSW Parliament House
Introduction
20th International AIDS Conference, Melbourne
