This morning from 9am the Senate will debate Senator Thorpe’s Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Amendment (Consideration of UNDRIP) Bill 2023.
This Bill proposes a modest but significant amendment to the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 by expanding the definition of human rights to include the rights and freedoms outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
This change will enable the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights (PJCHR) to consider the rights and freedoms outlined in UNDRIP in their assessment of legislation and instruments against international standards.
UNDRIP sets the minimum standard of State Parties’ interactions with their First Peoples and, despite being formally endorsed by Australia in 2009, to date, the government has opposed enshrining its principles into federal law.
The bill has the support of a broad coalition of crossbench MPs and Senators, who signed a letter to the Minister for Indigenous Australians and the Attorney General.
Quotes attributable to Lidia Thorpe, Gunnai, Gunditjmara and Djab Wurrung independent Victorian Senator:
“Today and Apology Day, and in the week where we’ve seen yet another dismal Closing the Gap report, I am urging the Albanese government to support this modest proposal to better protect the rights of First Peoples.
"Labor says they support First Peoples and stand for justice. These words mean nothing unless they are backed by action. This bill gives Labor an opportunity to act.
"This Bill is simple, reasonable and modest. All it would mean is the Human Rights Committee can consider UNDRIP in its scrutiny of legislation. This shouldn’t be too much to ask.
"In 2009 the government endorsed the UNDRIP declaration. To vote against this bill would go against their own policies and international human rights obligations.
"We need much stronger federal leadership to protect First Peoples’ basic human rights in this country. Labor have no reasonable excuse not to support this measure.
"A strong coalition of crossbench MPs and Senators has endorsed my bill, and have joined me in writing to the Minister and Attorney-General, urging their support.
"This a modest but important change to ensure the human rights of First People are considered, no matter who is next in government."