In July 2007 HREOC held a workshop with key representatives of the disability sector. This workshop gave support for a taskforce of AFDO, in partnership with other peak disability organisations who participated in the workshop to assist in the setting up of a Taskforce to further develop a strategic plan within the advocacy sector.
The first action the task force has taken and urges others to take is too take is to send letters from supporters of a ratified Convention, to each State and Territory Attorney General. The letters could include:
1. Express your support for the Convention and its speedy ratification
2. Refer to and attach the position statement
3. Using the dot points below as a guide, give a message about why States and Territories need to act speedily and co-operatively
4. Restate the goal of ratification by 3 December 2008
5. Perhaps seek an opportunity to meet to discuss the issue further.
Notes from the HREOC workshop are available on their website. The following were the messages highlighted and agreed to by participants at the workshop:
• State and Territory governments have been extensively consulted by Federal AG's at each stage in the development of the Australian Government’s position and the progress of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability (CRPD). Their views have been taken into account in detail in negotiations;
• The CRPD does not establish any new human rights; it applies existing rights to the circumstances of persons with disability;
• Australian laws already comply with the CRPD, and in key respects go beyond the minimum standards required by the CRPD;
• While there may remain much to be achieved to fully realise the human rights of people with disability in the Australian context, the Convention clearly recognises change is to be pursued through progressive realisation of the Articles. The fact that improvements are needed, however, presents no barrier to ratification;
• The CRPD was developed with a high level of positive collaboration between people with disability and the Australian Government;
• There are high expectations among Australians with disability that Australia will move quickly to ratify the CRPD and maintain its international reputation as an active supporter of the Convention;
• Support from the States and Territories is necessary if we are to achieve the goal of ratification by 3 December 2008, the International Day of Persons with Disability, as proposed by a coalition of Australia’s peak human rights and disability advisory and advocacy groups who attended the recent HREOC workshop on the ratification of the CRPD. This means that States and Territories need to work collaboratively with the Federal Government and the disability sector to build on the consultation that has taken place over the past 5 years and establish a timeframe to quickly complete the National Interest Analysis.
Click links below to view example letters
Australian Federation of Disability Organisations
Below is a list of mail addresses for the AGs for each State and Territory.
Attorney Generals 2007
State/Territory
Simon Corbell MLA
Attorney General
ACT Legislative Assembly
GPO Box 1020
Canberra ACT 2601
corbell@act.gov.au
Hon. John Hatzistergos
Attorney-General NSW
Level 33 Governor Macquarie Tower,
1 Farrer Place,
Sydney NSW 2000
office@hatzistergos.minister.nsw.gov.au
Hon Syd Stirling
Attorney General
GPO Box 3416
Darwin NT 0801
syd.stirling@nt.gov.au
Hon Kerry Shine
Attorney General
Parliament House
Cnr George & Alice Streets
Brisbane QLD 4000
attorney@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Hon. Michael Atkinson
Attorney General
GPO Box 464
Adelaide SA 5001
croydon@parliament.sa.gov.au
Hon. Steve Kons
Attorney-General
10th Floor, State Offices Building
10 Murray Street,
Hobart, TAS 7000
steve.kons@parliament.tas.gov.au
Hon. Rob Hulls
Attorney-General
Level 26,
121 Exhibition Street,
Melbourne Vic 3001
rob.hulls@parliament.vic.gov.au
Hon Jim McGinty
Attorney General
4th Floor
London House
216 St Georges Terrace
Perth WA 6000
jim-mcginty@dpc.wa.gov.au