Politics

29 Oct, 2020 12:09 AM5 minutes to read

Act leader David Seymour wants the Human Rights Commission abolished. Photo / Michael Craig

Act leader David Seymour wants the Human Rights Commission abolished because of its "left-wing manifesto".

"The Commission is a hard-left organisation masquerading as a government department," Seymour said.

The Human Rights Commission today called for the new government to honour human rights and laid out 39 issues it wants politicians to adopt.

Included are creating a written constitution that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi, makes the minimum wage the living wage, creates more employment opportunities for disabled people, builds decent and affordable homes and a formulates national action plan against racism.

It also wants a national strategy to deal with family violence, an end pay discrimination, for police to collect hate crime data and to make the health and disability system work for all disabled people.

Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt said successive governments had made these promises over many years and it was time for the new government to deliver them.

"Human rights place responsibilities on governments. They also place responsibilities on individuals to embrace diversity, support vibrant communities and not be racist or homophobic."

Seymour said the manifesto showed the commission was "no longer interested in helping real people with actual human rights issues, but simply advancing a left-wing agenda".

"The commission has become irrelevant, and even dangerous, when it cannot defend our most basic human right.

"The commission has become a highly politicised, left-wing organisation, and when it comes to actually helping people with human rights, it doesn't help at all.

"Act sees no purpose for it and would abolish it completely," said Seymour.

The Human Rights Commission's 39 human rights issues were collected from all four commissioners and are:

Chief Human Rights Commissioner Paul Hunt

Everyone should have a warm, dry, safe, decent home Look after the environment as kaitiaki (guardian) for our children and grandchildren We not only have rights, we also have responsibilities to our communities Rainbow communities can express who they are and be respected and safe A community-based health system (physical and mental health) for everyone Public officials must respect the human rights promises governments have made toall of us The welfare system should ensure a secure and dignified life for everyone Honour and implement the growing partnership between kwanatanga (Crown) andrangatiratanga (hap and iwi) Establish a Human Rights Commissioner for Older People Getting the balance right between freedom of speech and the right to be safe Treat people who are deprived of their liberty with respect A written Constitution that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi

Disability Rights Commissioner Paula Tesoriero MNZM

Respect for disabled people by upholding our dignity and celebrating ourcontributions Give disabled young people a fair go in our education system Make houses, transport and public places accessible so everyone can use them Services respect and work in partnership with tngata whaikaha (Mori disabledpeople) More and better employment opportunities for disabled people Better services for those experiencing violence and abuse Make the health system work for all disabled people Public information provided in ways, such as te reo Mori, NZ Sign Language, andbraille, so that everyone can understand Collect better information about disabled people so services can be better designedfor them

Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Saunoamaali'i Dr Karanina Sumeo

Ensure government contracts have job targets for Mori, women, disabled people,55+, vulnerable youth, Pacific Peoples and ethnic minorities End pay discrimination Free early childhood education Establish fair employment contracts for all Make the minimum wage a living wage Establish a safe and trusted process to deal with sexual harassment and bullying Eliminate modern slavery and exploitation in the workplace

Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon

A National Action Plan Against Racism Teach Te Tiriti o Waitangi, local histories and human rights in schools Police to collect hate crime data Make government systems work for Mori e.g. health, justice, education, OrangaTamariki, welfare and housing A public anniversary to commemorate the New Zealand Wars Support Mori to take part in the political process Equal rules for creating general wards and Mori wards Establish a national action plan for the implementation of the UN Declaration onthe Rights of Indigenous Peoples Appoint an Indigenous Rights Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission A government Ministry for ethnic communities Develop a national strategy to deal with family violence

The Human Rights Commission's call was welcomed by the Public Service Association, the Child Poverty Action Group, the Citizens Advice Bureau, the Disabled Persons Assembly and Community Housing Aotearoa.

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Act's David Seymour calling for 'hard-left' Human Rights Commission to be abolished - New Zealand Herald