Stronger Futures legislation: ALHR calls on Parliament to confirm RDA protections
The Stronger Futures legislation is currently before the Parliament, if passed would extend elements of the Northern Territory Intervention for a further 10 years. While the bills formally reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act, suspended in 2007 by the Howard Government’s NTNER Act, the current package is still inconsistent with discrimination laws and several human rights standards.
ALHR President Stephen Keim SC called for Parliament to refer the legislation to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and include a statement of that the protections contained in the RDA prevails notwithstanding any inconsistency with measures in the Stronger Futures legislation.