ON THIS DAY in 1991, Australia ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Category Archives: Human Rights
Adoption Information Act 1990
ON THIS DAY in 1991, the NSW Adoption Information Act 1990 came into force. The Act granted adoptees and relinquished parents the right to access adoption information and express interest in contact or veto contact. The Act was repealed by the Adoption Act 2000 which carried over the 1990 provisions.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/num_act/aia1990n63257
China declares martial law
ON 20 MAY 1989, China declared martial law, bringing parts of Beijing under military rule.
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Coe v Commonwealth [1979] HCA 68
ON THIS DAY IN 1979, the High Court of Australia delivered Coe v Commonwealth [1979] HCA 68; (1979) 53 ALJR 403; (1979) 24 ALR 118. The appellant, Paul Coe, was unsuccessful in his appeal for leave to amend a statement of claim in proceedings seeking declarations and orders on behalf of the aboriginal community that Australia had not been validly occupied under the doctrine of terra nullius.
Gibbs J said: “The question what rights the aboriginal people of this country have, or ought to have, in the lands of Australia is one which has become a matter of heated controversy. If there are serious legal questions to be decided as to the existence or nature of such rights, no doubt the sooner they are decided the better, but the resolution of such questions by the courts will not be assisted by imprecise, emotional or intemperate claims. In this, as in any other litigation, the claimants will be best served if their claims are put before the court dispassionately, lucidly and proper form.”
The legal questions were ultimately decided in the Mabo case in 1992.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/1979/68.html
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Anti Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)
ON 28 APRIL 1977, the NSW Parliament enacted the Anti Discrimination Act 1977.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/nsw/consol_act/aa1977204
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In the Matter of Karen Quinlan, an alleged incompetent 70 NJ 10
ON 31 MARCH 1976, the Supreme Court of New Jersey permitted the life support system of the permanently comatose Karen Ann Quinlan to be turned off to allow her to die a natural death without any civil or criminal liability on her guardian or treatment providers: see IN THE MATTER OF KAREN QUINLAN, AN ALLEGED INCOMPETENT Supreme Court of New Jersey 70 N.J. 10; 355 A.2d 647; 1976 N.J. LEXIS 181; 79 A.L.R.3d 205
Click to access In_Re_Quinlan.pdf
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IN THE MATTER OF KAREN QUINLAN, AN ALLEGED INCOMPETENT 1976 70 NJ 10
ON THIS DAY IN 1976, the Supreme Court of New Jersey delivered IN THE MATTER OF KAREN QUINLAN, AN ALLEGED INCOMPETENT 70 N.J. 10; 355 A.2d 647; 1976 N.J. LEXIS 181; 79 A.L.R.3d 205. The guardian, hospital and treatment providers of Karen Ann Quinlan were permitted to turn off her life support system as she was in a persistent vegetative state.
Sydney, Australia
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Racial Discrimination Act 1975
ON 11 JUNE 1975, the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act 1975 was enacted.
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/rda1975202/
[1987] HCA 23
1973 | Human Rights Bill 1973
ON 21 NOVEMBER 1973, the Human Rights Bill 1973 was introduced into the Australian Parliament by Senator Murphy.
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Voting age reduced to 18
ON THIS DAY in 1973, the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 was amended so as to lower the Australian voting age to 18.
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