2024 Alan Missen Oration
On 30 May the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights released its much anticipated report on its Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework. Its core recommendation was the adoption of a National Human Rights Act. Josh Burns, MP, the Chair of this Committee outlines the nature, scope and justification for a National Human Rights Act in this public lecture. July 30, 2024.
Event Details
‘The Time has come for a National Human Rights Act’
Presented by Josh Burns, Federal Member for Macnamara
On 30 May the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights released its much anticipated report on its Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework. It outlined 17 detailed recommendations to reinvigorate this Framework and strengthen Australia’s commitment to human rights. Its core recommendation was the adoption of a National Human Rights Act. Josh Burns, MP, was the Chair of this Committee which received 335 submissions and heard from 87 witnesses. Join us to hear from Josh as he outlines the nature, scope and justification for a National Human Rights Act and the other recommendations of the Committee.
About Josh Burns
Josh Burns is Labor’s Federal Member for Macnamara in the inner south-eastern and bayside suburbs of Melbourne.
First elected in 2019, he serves in key parliamentary roles including as Chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Aid Subcommittee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade.
These positions reflect his commitment to ensuring Australia pursues a proactive and inclusive foreign policy, acting as a leader and partner in our region and beyond, and to the development and promotion of human rights. He recognises the importance of Australia being a nation in good standing internationally.
His values are grounded in the experience of his family. As the grandson of migrants who left Europe and settled in Melbourne in search of a safe place to raise their families, he knows the importance of upholding a multicultural and multifaith Australia – and the profound role education can play in changing lives.
He has been a strong advocate for progressive change – addressing housing affordability, tackling the homelessness crisis and ensuring Australia takes meaningful action on climate change – and is deeply committed to reconciliation with our First Australians in line with the Uluru Statement from the Heart. He is acutely aware of the need for local action to reflect the best of Australia’s aspirations as a country.
Before representing his community in the Australian Parliament, he previously worked as a teacher’s aide and a factory hand, and served as an adviser in state and federal governments, including to the Premier of Victoria.
This event took place on Tuesday 30 July 2024.