Former Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs addressed the audience at the meeting and called for a bill of rights for Australia.

“Unlike almost every other comparable country Australia has no bill of rights against which government policies, legislation and actions can be benchmarked,” Professor Triggs said.

During her discussion Professor Triggs highlighted examples of how the human rights of individuals seeking asylum deteriorated because the courts didn’t have access to such a legal tool. 

“Papua New Guinea has a modern constitution, including a guarantee of human rights, including the right not to be unlawfully deprived of ones liberty,” Professor Triggs said.

“This enabled the PNG High Court to rule that it was unconstitutional to detain refugees on Manus Island.”

RAR Bendigo Branch secretary Mel Abel said a bill of rights was something the country lacked.

“Australia is lacking a bill of human rights in regards to comparable countries,” Ms Abel said.

“We have the Australian Human Rights Commission, but it can only make recommendations, it can’t actually do anything binding.”

“At the moment there is no effective remedy for people in terms of when their international human rights have been violated.”

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RAR is a network of regional groups from across the country which support and advocate for refugees and people seeking asylum in the country.

There are multiple branches across Victoria and throughout the country along with a network of affiliated support groups.

The Bendigo Branch has been active since 2004 and is part of the Central Victorian Refugee Support Network along with the other RAR groups based in central Victoria.

There were over 300 people at the conference, including eight members from the Bendigo Branch.

Some of the other keynote speakers at the conference included Julian Burnside AO QC, Sr Jan Barnett of the Sisters of St Joseph, emeritus Professor Stuart Hill from the Western Sydney University and Madeline Gleeson of the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law based at the University of NSW.

Ms Abel said the Bendigo Branch was excited to see a bill of rights discussed because it was something they had aimed to be involved in during the year.

“The branch is yet to decide which direction we will take in regards to campaigning for a bill of rights,” she said.

“But it is a high priority for us.”

The branch meets at the Bendigo Library on the second Tuesday of every month.

If you would like to get involved please contact the branch at rarbendigo@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/rarbendigo/.