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Darren Dick

Biography:

Darren Dick is a legal and policy advisor specialising in human rights. He has worked at the Australian Law Reform Commission (1996-1998) and at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) (1998-current). Since 1999, he has been the Director of the Office of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at HREOC. In this role he manages the Commissioner's Office, oversees the research and production of the annual Social Justice Report to the federal Parliament (which reports on the status of enjoyment of human rights by Indigenous peoples in Australia) and has also advised the Commissioner in domestic and international forums.

Please note: The views expressed here are solely my views and do not purport to represent the views of HREOC.

Statement:

The main challenges that I see for Australia over the coming twenty years relate to maintaining a cohesive society and addressing the existing and entrenched inequalities that exist between segments within our society. These are inter-connected challenges.

We are a country of great wealth and opportunity. We are rightfully seen as one of the great democracies of the world. But despite this, our wealth as a nation is not shared by all, with an increasing under-class of 'have-nots'. Entrenched poverty and marginalisation is the experience of too many Australians. And, encouraged by divisive politics, we are increasingly less tolerant and more punitive towards those who do not excel (on whose terms and definitions one might (should) ask). This, in some instances, equates to being less tolerant of those who are unable to overcome the systemic barriers that have been put in their way.

Not least among the challenges that exist are the situation of Indigenous Australians, who on average continue to die 18 years younger than non-Indigenous Australians (and this in the twenty first century in one of the world's richest nations?) and continued gender inequality (with limited improvement in recent years). Recent events, ranging from the Tampa through to race riots, also indicate challenges exist to respond in an appropriate way to new migrant groups, particularly Muslims. This challenge includes fostering tolerance from 'older' or more traditional migrant groups and as such, redefining multiculturalism for the twenty-first century.

As a human rights specialist, I see at least part of the answer to these challenges lying with an improved human rights system and debate that accepts the legitimacy of human rights.

Human rights are founded on recognition of the inherent dignity of the person and commitments to universality - you have rights not because you have earned them, but because you are human. This is regardless of race, sex etc. Human rights are not subjective standards and hence not defined by the dominant group/s in a society.

A fundamental principle of human rights is a commitment to equality. In Australia we have the much-lauded 'fair-go' ideal, which goes some of the way towards this principle. But it needs to go further - towards understanding the unevenness of current society and accepting that there is a need for special measures to level the field and ensure that everyone can have a fair go; and to accepting that cultural diversity is not anathema to equality, but instead enriches our continually evolving society and its values.

There is more to be said for how the challenges raised can be addressed. No doubt this forum will provide such an opportunity. Our status as one of the leading nations in the world must be based on more than economic strength (surely a fragile beast) and is also dependant on our societal structures. In this regard we are in need of renewal and of strong leadership across society. We can do better.