Human Rights Commission

Press, 4 July 1983, Page 20

Human Rights Commission

Sir,—l am concerned about the lack of interest in and delay of new appointments to the Human Rights Commission. At present the commission has no commissioners except those with other full-time positions — namely Chief Ombudsman and Race Relations Commissioner. This is a disgraceful situation. It means the recently retired Chief Commissioner under clause 8 (2) and clause 10 (3) has to come to each meeting for a quorum. Can the Minister of Justice advise why it is that in five years since the commission began there has never been a full complement of five commissioners? The Human Rights Commission, staff, and commissioners can only make investigations and recommendations as set out in the act. The fact that the Prime Minister thinks that the commissioners are making profound statements on minor matters must mean the legislators and not the commissioners are at fault.— Yours, etc., M. O’NEILL. June 18, 1983.

[The Minister of Justice, Mr McLay, replies: “The appointment of the Chief Human Rights Commissioner is shortly to be finalised. Until this appointment is made and the new appointee has had the

opportunity to assess the future operation of the commission it is not possible to state what further appointments are likely to be required. Membership of the commission currently comprises one fulltime commissioner and one parttime commissioner, in addition to the Chief Ombudsman and the Race Relations Conciliator, who are both ex-officio members of the commission together. Two further commissioners can also be appointed.”]