{"id":681010,"date":"2024-09-10T11:40:33","date_gmt":"2024-09-10T01:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org.au\/?p=681010"},"modified":"2024-09-10T11:40:34","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T01:40:34","slug":"federal-human-rights-act-will-safeguard-australian-democracy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amnesty.org.au\/federal-human-rights-act-will-safeguard-australian-democracy\/","title":{"rendered":"A Federal Human Rights Act will safeguard Australian democracy"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As Australia\u2019s busy year of elections unfolds, we find democracy across the world increasingly at risk. From the rise of populism and corruption to the growing spread of misinformation and disinformation, free and fair elections are getting harder for governments to deliver. While in countries like Australia, it\u2019s easy to see voting, elections, and democracy as a mainstay, these institutions are not necessarily as secure and protected as we think.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The background<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For many Australians, our system of free and fair elections is a cherished institution. Australia\u2019s rare compulsory voting system is generally popular amongst voters for creating egalitarian representation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of this system of mass participation and Australia\u2019s relative political stability, as the only liberal democracy without a Human Rights Act, Australians’ ability to democratically elect their representatives is not protected by our federal laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights explicitly protects the universal right to vote and to be elected at elections alongside the right to take part in public affairs, directly or indirectly through chosen representatives. But that\u2019s not protected in Australia\u2019s laws.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The High Court has considered whether the Constitution protects the right to vote, but it’s not explicitly protected in the Constitution.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the recent Northern Territory election<\/a>, in some electorates, almost two-thirds of enrolled voters did not cast a vote, with the total voter turnout of the election not even reaching 60% of all Territorians. In addition to this amount of non-voting, there is a significant proportion of people presumed to not be on the electoral roll at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of the reasons these voters are unable to cast a vote are due to structural barriers, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n