Scots Church Adelaide Human Rights Submission
Posted June 19 2024
Scots’ Congregational Submission for a Human Rights Act
Dear Committee Secretary
Scots Church Adelaide is a congregation of the Uniting Church in Australia.
Scots Church Adelaide and the Uniting Church have long been involved in the provision of social services in South Australia and advocating for fairness and justice.
We thank the committee for the opportunity to contribute to this important enquiry.
A South Australian Human Rights Act
We believe that it is time for South Australia to spell out in legislation the basic human rights that all South Australian residents enjoy. These rights are already enshrined human rights in Acts of Parliament in the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Queensland.
A South Australian Human Rights Act will give all residents in our state certainty about their rights.
In addition, it must give residents access to practical and straightforward ways of resolving disputes where individuals believe their rights have been unjustifiably breached.
Furthermore, a human rights act enshrined in South Australian law must require the South Australian government to consider the basic human rights of all people in the design of new laws, regulations, and policies.
We come now to two specific areas where we believe a Human Rights Act for South Australia will positively impact our life and work at Scots Church Adelaide.
People who sleep rough in Adelaide
Scots Church Adelaide is not able to offer structured services to those who sleep rough in our city. However, we are in contact with many who sleep rough, particularly when they are in crisis. We do what we can to provide welcome, connection and direction to current information about specialist homeless services and associated resources in Adelaide.
People who must sleep rough in our city are some of our state’s most vulnerable residents, open to exploitation and abuse by other residents and by officialdom. It is not uncommon for those of us who work for or are members of Scots Church Adelaide to meet homeless individuals who are highly agitated. That agitation often stems from an experience where individuals believe that they have been unjustly treated in an encounter and are unsure of their rights in those situations.
A Human Rights Act that makes clear what rights each of us has will highlight and bring to greater prominence in public consciousness a higher degree of respect for human rights.
International students
The second specific example of a need for a Human Rights Act in South Australia that impacts Scots Church Adelaide is the situation for international students.
In the last few years, the three South Australian universities have been very successful in attracting international students to our city. Scots Church Adelaide offers well-being support and community connection to many international students as they seek to orientate themselves to Australian culture and find their place in their university studies and in the city of Adelaide. Many students must work part-time to support themselves during their studies and many do not understand the rights they have as residents and as employees. It is not uncommon for young international students to be exploited by unscrupulous employers. While there are laws now introduced to deal with this specific issue, a Human Rights Act in South Australia would more easily allow international students to understand and advocate for their rights in employment and more generally.
In addition, international students are very vulnerable members of our society, regularly facing racism and alienation whilst also disconnected from family support and cultural norms. A Human Rights Act that makes clear the rights of all residents in South Australia regardless of race, faith, sexuality, or socio-economic status would help international students feel valued members of the South Australian community and understand that racism and other bigotries are not acceptable.
Conclusion
For some South Australian residents, human rights are abstract concepts that require little thought or contemplation in much of their lives. For other South Australian residents, denial or diminishment of their human rights is a daily frustration and humiliation. All South Australian residents deserve to have their human rights clearly and unambiguously enunciated, promoted, and enshrined in law.
Your Sincerely,
Rev. Paul Turley