The news that the Law Society were censored from adding their concerns to a Government report criticizing the manner in which the National Government ignores human rights when passing laws is worrying, Chris Finlayson’s arrogant attack on the Law Society for raising those concerns should curdle the blood…
Finlayson launches attack on Law Society
Attorney-General Chris Finlayson has launched a strong attack on the Law Society for claiming that Government’s use of urgency was a breach of human rights.The Law Society said on Tuesday that its concerns about Parliament’s law-making were left out of a Government report to the United Nations.
The society criticised law-makers for passing five acts which were inconsistent with the Bill of Rights.
Law Society spokesperson Austin Forbes QC also argued that the National-led Government’s use of urgency, when Parliament sat for extended hours to pass legislation, was a breach of human rights.
The society presented its concerns in a submission on the Universal Periodic Review in June 2013, but they were not included in the final report.
…did Finlayson censor the UN Report raising concerns about the fascist abuse of civil rights in NZ or is Finlayson just attacking the Law Society for the fun of it?
When Amnesty International are being critical of the manner in which this Government over ride human rights, we should all sit up and listen…
Amnesty International has accused the Government of having a “pattern” of ignoring human rights when passing new legislation.
New Zealand’s human rights record was recently reviewed at the United Nations, which has recommended the Government take action on child poverty and violence against women and children.
Amnesty executive director Grant Bayldon says there’s a lot New Zealand is doing right, but there’s no room for complacency.
“While our human rights record compared to a lot of countries is not too bad, we’re really not seen as human rights leaders anymore in the world,” he said on Firstline this morning.
Of particular concern to Amnesty is what it calls the lack of safeguards in New Zealand’s legal system for human rights issues. Without one, says Mr Bayldon, the Government is able to pass legislation that breaches codified human rights.
“Last year the New Zealand Government breached our own Bill of Rights – pretty basic, fundamental human rights – three times in the space of just a few months, according to our own Human Rights Commission,” he says.
“The three instances were the new legislation on asylum seekers, the carers of disabled people ability to challenge, and the GCSB legislation. They really form a pattern.
…one of the real fears I have in extending the Parliamentary term from 3 years to 4 years is that our Parliament with its one chamber is already one of the most powerful Parliaments in the world and the only brake to that power is the shortness of the term, allowing Parliament an extra year with no checks or balances would be giving politicians even MORE power with less ability to reign their power in.
The Daily Blog are pleased that Amnesty International NZ will be joining our blog roll from February so that issues of human rights can get a better focus in the lead up to the 2014 election.
When the Attorney-General’s biggest enemies are Amnesty International and the Law Society, all free thinking citizens should be deeply concerned.
Finlayson is just following Australia in this, where both Federal and State attorney generals have been heavily criticising the legal fraternity. They’ve been preparing the ground for years, with the Police Association and Nonsensical Sentencing Trust continuously painting judges as weak and out of touch. We just have to look at the high incidence of priapism among the members of Crusher’s CBT club to see how well this approach goes down.
There is also not that much being reported in our much “beloved” MSM (mainstream media) on what the UN report on human rights in New Zealand contained, but here are some reports and other statements on this matter:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/morningreport/audio/2583709/nz%27s-human-rights-performance-examined-by-the-un
http://www.lawsociety.org.nz/news-and-communications/news/january-2014/some-new-zealand-human-rights-issues-not-addressed-in-un-process
http://livenews.co.nz/2014/02/01/un-nz-failing-on-domestic-violence-and-protecting-children/http://www.parliament.nz/resource/0000239651
I heard Radio NZ report on it, there was a mention on the early afternoon news on Radio Live, but not much else on other media.
While Amnesty International and the Law Society have valid criticism on how poorly at least some human rights are being treated in New Zealand, there is more to prove how questionable our legislators in Parliament (that is primarily our present government) are, in making laws, that do not comply with international standards, and that leave unreasonably much discretion and power in the hands of senior administrators like Chief Executives, like for instance in the case the one of MSD.
Read what the ‘Legislation Advisory Committee’ had to say on the ‘Social Security (Benefit Categories and Work Focus) Amendment Bill 2012’ (the bill that lead to the last set of draconian welfare reforms), when it was before the Select Committee:
Submission document:
http://www.parliament.nz/resource/0000239651
Explanation who and what for this Committee is:
http://www.pco.parliament.govt.nz/legislation-advisory-committee/
Read especially paragraphs 9 to 12 in their submission, under ‘Understandable and accessible legislation’, and paragraphs 13 to 14 under ‘Basic principles of New Zealand’s legal and constitutional system’, and paragraphs 15 to 19 under ‘Appeal and review’.
It shows how principles of modern, good and appropriate law making, of natural justice and so forth are being ignored and breached, and the amended Social Security Act 1964 is just one piece of legislation that is showing major flaws now.
Judith Collins may run around claiming how greatly and well New Zealand is doing, how the rule of law and justice may “work” here, and how human rights are being respected. The truth looks a lot different, but one needs to take a closer look, which most in the public do not, and which even the MSM do not, hence they only scratch the surface of what is wrong.
Collins’ arrogant handling and comments in the Teina Poura case are just another aspect of how uncaring and disrespectful she is. As a professional lawyer she should know better, but her interpretation of “justice” is “twisted”.
P.S.: I concede, there was some coverage of this new UN report on human rights in NZ on the major TV channels tonight!
What next!!!??? Will DonKey repeal elections altogether. He’s looking more and more like a not-so-benevolent DICKtator. I’m begining to wonder just how far he will go to keep his death grip on the power he is so clearly addicted to.
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