My favourite Australian Human Rights Commissioner
The Age reports:
New national security laws, which could see journalists jailed for up to 10 years, are likely to restrict the legitimate scrutiny of Australia’s security agencies, according to human rights commissioner Tim Wilson.
“The law is too broad,” Tim Wilson, who was appointed to the Human Rights Commission by Attorney-General George Brandis last year, said.
“There is the potential for botched operations to go unreported when ASIO really needs to be held accountable.
“Security operations should not be reported on if lives are at risk or if they are current operations. The media would usually approach this in a cautious and considered manner.”
Mr Wilson, a former policy analyst at the libertarian Institute of Public Affairs, is known as the “freedom commissioner” because of his commitment to civil and political rights such as freedom of expression.
I’d like to see a similar appointment to our Human Rights Commission – a Commissioner with a focus on the right to freedom of expression – even when that freedom offends people.
Wilson is also in the news again, criticising again the Government hat appointed him on the issue of the burqa:
AUSTRALIAN Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson has rejected calls to ban the burka, saying the move is not consistent with a tolerant society.
But Mr Wilson does believe it is legitimate to ask people to remove head wear and clothing if required at security screening to establish their identity.
“There’s no basis to ban the burka. To ban the burka is inconsistent with religious tolerance and liberal values,” Mr Wilson told The Australian.
It is indeed. Again good that Australia has a consistent voice for liberal values.