What is interesting below is that the Australian Government reduced cooperation from the United Nations when it was criticised.  They don’t appear to be able to handle criticism in areas. This comes from personal and organisational insecurity.  This is also apparent from reports to reduce funding of the ABC given its criticism.  I see this as the core issue. They are not living the democracy they say this country reflects.  I see this type of contradictory behaviour in other Western nations who state they are democratic but go ahead and repress, reduce rights (exclusion), water down civil liberties (trade off with perceived terrorism) and human rights (rebalancing power).  This is how creeping fascism starts as it arises out of unquestioned mindsets, no checks and balances on power and regarding opposition as the enemy.  The war mindset is not only in the military, it surfaces whenever we see ourselves in competition with others.  Rather than use that contrast to expand what we know or do we use the challenge to discredit or destroy the other. These are the very negative seeds that bring down governments by their own undoing, in truth.

Like all abuse the ones abusing or encouraging abuse do not see it, they will blame others, they will cleverly create narratives but they are unable to see their own oppression and cruelty. They typically do not take full responsibility and integrity is seen as impractical or unrealistic in this type of world. Always abuse will be justified as necessary to suppress a greater evil or threat (media typically support this demonization by repeating negative narratives without balance).  Cruelty and abuse can never by justified, the real work is to resolve the problem.  Abuse in not misunderstanding it is actually a mental health issue.  Some of the most normal looking people are engaged in abuse as normalised which can be termed or classified as bullying (repeated negative behaviour). Yet again, they will not see it as bullying but leadership or used to frighten the other. Denial of responsibility blocks perception and the inner feeling that would generate conscience.  This is what I have learned having experienced abuse myself.  I will never dislike anyone I will keep trying to understand more so that I can be more compassionate and understanding of this global problem that starts most probably in childhood.  I believe to truly assist those who abuse you must make the abuse visible and help them to reconnect to their humanity.  When they do they realise, it is hard but it is important.  Some will awaken others will not.  Malcolm Fraser, a former Australian Prime Minister is a case in point. He was regarded as very negative and not liked in Australia during the Whitlam Government. He was regarded as dishonest and underhanded.  He was seen as unkind. Yet in later years when he headed Care Australia he actually turned around through learning to give and care for those vulnerable, his true self surfaced.  So it is possible to change or realise humanity. Others like the former Prime Minister below, probably won’t, as denial is very entrenched. He will hold onto his views until he dies, he has more stubbornness of being ‘right’ whereas Malcolm I feel desired truth and I would assume was affected by those who were in need.  I think he may have experienced depression as well and perhaps that opened up an experience which helped him feel for others. That is how people change. They only do so when they are ready.  However, in the meantime, we just keep publishing information until there is popular support for change and better leadership that understands its obligations and duty to its citizens. Good governance has to be sensitised to the special needs of people, what life is like for people and for Ministers to be self aware of their own prejudices and their purpose to serve and represent (truthfully) the public.  Human rights violations only happen when values are discarded and there are no checks and balances in governance. The quality of leaders and Ministers is extremely important.  For myself I’d like to see a record of real community services, not only an expertise in law or business but a wide range of experiences so that the pool of politicians are contrasting to enable greater creativity and insight. To have the same types with the same mindset is where group think makes normal what is not.  The information below provides international insights into human rights violations in Australia.  As more privatisation of public goods occurs, the voice of people is weakened.  Issues like users pay excludes those on low incomes, this is a key human rights issue in my view.  What do you think or feel?

This is the 2017 Human Rights Report:

https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2017/country-chapters/australia

Refer Anup Shah, Australia and Human Rights, Global Issues, Updated: September 04, 2000

Australia and Human Rights