AUSTRALIA: One of Australia's top barristers has called for the introduction of a bill of rights, to ensure no future government can erode basic human rights.

Lex Lasry, QC, gave last night's key note address at the University of Western Australia's annual Day of Ideas.

He told delegates while Australia has a good human rights record, he is concerned the Government is compromising that in its fight against terrorism.

But I don't know where he gets that from at the moment Australia's Human Rights record is appalling just ask any Refugee! Anyway I do understand pragmatism so I won't knock him any further because he wants to compromise with the government about their human rights record.

He says renewed debate is needed about the introduction of a bill of rights.

"I think the Government is using fear to erode people's rights and it's only perhaps in more recent times that people have started to see that it's important," he said.

"That these rights have to be protected in a way which can't be changed at the whim of government.

"I think the current Federal Government wouldn't be terribly sympathetic to that argument, but it may remain to be seen whether they are or not."

He says it is an issue that can no longer be ignored.

"The community's being urged to regard themselves as living in different times," he said.

"And every time you hear a politician say 'We're living in different times', the concern is that that's really code for 'You can't expect to have the same liberties now that you had in the past'."

"The problem with that is that it assumes that taking away people's liberties is going to prevent terrorism, and I obviously take issue with that logic."

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