1991
1991.1. Research Directions for Australia’s Future
Submitted 18 February 1991 to the Australian Science and Technology Council.
Published: Victorian Humanist, April 1991: 5.
Research Directions for Australia’s Future
Our reponse to ASTEC’s (Australian Science and Technology Council) call for submissions included the following suggestions:
1. Human Ecology:
(a) to define basic social needs of Australians for good health, sense of involvement, confidence and security.
(b) to assess the social impact of technology
(c) to define the optimal human population size for Australia
2. The Health of the Nation:
Cost effective benefits have already resulted from preventive measures taken in some disease categories. This approach should be extended to areas in which improvements have not yet been achieved.
3. Environment, research into:
(a) new concepts, materials and energy savings in all types of buildings;
(b) energy efficiency in transport;
(c) prevention of soil erosion, salination and into the development of arid areas.
4. Science Education
Investigation of the quality of science teaching at all levels of schooling and of means of enhancing careers in science.
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1991.2. Multiculturalism and Family Law
Submitted 12 May 1991 to the Australian Law Reform Commission.
Published: Victorian Humanist, June 1991: – .
The Australian Law reform Commission’s Discussion paper on Multiculturalism: Family Law presented a number of issues and proposals for public debate and comment. We suggested the following:
1. That polygamous marriages contracted prior to arrival in Australia be recognised but not those contracted here.
2. That established de facto relationships should have the right to property, financial arrangements and maintenance.
3. That minimum age of marriage should be 18 for both sexes. Exceptions should be made to lower this limit where an ex-nuptial child would be expected or cause great distress or violence.
4. That the custom of early arranged marriages should not be allowed. Religious barriers to forming or dissolving relationships should not be recognised. And religious dissolution of marriage should not be regarded as legal divorce. Sensible and fair pre-marriage contracts should be enforceable; but the court should have the power to set aside those that are likely to cause substantial injustice.
5. The courts should be empowered to protect the child from harmful parental pressures.
6. We urged that polygamous marriages have a low priority in migrant selection.
7. That the law protect the victims of certain religious sects that control relationships; that children be entitled to choose the form of their education, their religion, the observance of social customs and eventually the selection of a spouse.
8. Most particularly we urged that the abhorrent practice of female genital mutilation (female “circumcision”) be strictly forbidden and carry a heavy penalty.
9. We suggested a core subject in schools which deals with cultures in a comparative manner as in comparative religion.
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1991.3. Multiculturalism and Criminal Law
Submitted 16 July 1991 to the Australian Law Reform Commission
Published: Victorian Humanist, Aug. 1991: 3.
Multiculturalism: Criminal Law. Discussion Paper No. 48.
This discussion paper contains a series of proposals by the Australian Law Reform Commission which will amend our criminal law to accommodate cultural diversity and reduce the incidence of conflict between cultural freedom, and other rights. It also focuses on our how to meet our obligations as a signatory to international conventions on Human Rights and on the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination.
HSV’s responses to these proposals were formulated in two meetings of our discussion group. What follows are a few excerpts from this lengthy submission:
• Cultural values and traditions change with time in places of origin; Australia should not become a museum of cultures.
• Cultural freedom should include the teaching of foreign languages but not the teaching of religion at the expense of the State as such knowledge is not of benefit to the whole community. Only comparative religion with its potential to foster tolerance should be taught in schools; sectarian religious instruction should be obtained at private
cost.
• The only exemptions from criminal activity should be accorded to tribal Aborigines.
• We oppose exemptions to allow the carrying of ceremonial weapons, to not wear safety helmets by turban wearers or to allow ritual killings of animals for human consumption.
• We enthusiastically supported the proposal that references to blasphemy in federal law should be removed (and included a copy of our submission on this).
• On swearing of witnesses in court: a solemn affirmation should become the standard requirement, and religious oaths should be available on special request.
• Intending migrants to this country should be issued with an outline of the basic requirements of the criminal law of this country. A statutory declaration should be signed to undertake not to engage in hostile activities based on political, national or religious conflicts of country of origin.
• Special legislation should be enacted to prohibit female genital mutilation as was done in England in 1985.
• We supported a number of other proposals dealing with community education, protection against violence, criminal justice process and sentencing.
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1991.4. Death Caused by Dangerous Driving [and]
1991.5. The Bail Act, 1977, a review
Submitted 30 August 1991 and 20 September 1991 to the Law Reform Commission of Victoria.
Published: Victorian Humanist, Oct. 1991: 4.
We responded to the call for public submissions by the Law Commission of Victoria on the following subjects:
1. Death Caused by Dangerous Driving” (Discussion Paper No.21)
2. Review of the Bail Act 1977. (Discussion Paper No.25)
Both papers set out proposals to amend the existing legislation to meet changing circumstances and the growing public criticism.
We were able to support most of these proposals and, in general remarks, expressed our attitudes and concerns.
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1991.6. National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy
Submitted 31 August 1991 to the Ministry for Environment, Australia.
Published: Victorian Humanist, Oct. 1991: 4.
A Discussion Paper on A National Waste Minimisation and Recycling Strategy from the Federal Ministry for Environment set out a series of proposed changes to the regulations governing waste disposals. Based on principles of “user pays” and “polluter pays”, the strategy offers incentives for responsible waste management and the use of recyclable and recycled materials and disincentives for e.g. overpackaging.
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1991.7. Restrictions on Legal Practice [and]
1991.8. Accountability of the Legal Profession
Submitted 17 and 18 September 1991 to the Law Reform Commission of Victoria.
Published: Victorian Humanist, Nov. 1991: 13.
Two further Discussion Papers in the series “Access to the Law”: Restrictions on Legal Practice and Accountability of the Legal Profession.
Both papers were very informative and identified a number of problems.
We commented on matters such as resolution of disputes and disciplinary actions, code of professional conduct, immunity from liability for negligent work, accreditation, contingent fee arrangement, the involvement of the Trade Practices Commission and the Attorney-General in reviewing practice restrictions, multidisciplinary practices, the role of the Law Institute and the Bar Council and the system of self-regulation.
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1991.-. Bioethics
Submitted [?] 1991 to the International Humanist & Ethical Union
Published: Victorian Humanist, Nov. 1991: 13.
Bioethics
The International Humanist and Ethical Union provided a text on bioethics for our comment . . . . The text dealt with problems of infertility, IVF, gamete donations, adoptions, surrogacy, pre-natal diagnostics, termination of pregnancy, embryo research, informed consent in medical and surgical treatments, medical research on human beings, tests for insurance, eugenics, organ and tissue donations, [and] euthanasia.
We found no variance between the text and the views the HSV expressed in submissions, public debates and letters to the press on these subjects in the last decade.
Not mentioned was the subject of recently developed technologies such as foetal tissue transplantation or genetic testing that reveals predisposition to ill health. We invited their comments on those issues.
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[End of 1991]
Note: No submission is recorded as being made in 1992.
