Right to a Healthy Environment Panel Discussion

Examine intersection of the environment and human rights and discuss why this should be recognised in the ACT Human Rights ACT 2004.

Thu., 30 June 2022

11:30 am – 1:00 pm AEST

8:30pm- 10:00pm CST

Free online event, register here

To coincide with the ACT government’s community consultation on the right to a healthy environment, the Panel discussion will examine the intersection of the environment and human rights and discuss why this should be recognised in the ACT Human Rights ACT 2004.

Public consultation to inform consideration of the introduction of a right to a healthy environment in the Human Rights Act 2004.

• The Right to a Healthy Environment Panel Discussion coincides with the ACT Government public consultation on including the right to a healthy environment in the ACT Human Rights Act.
• The Panel will be discussing the intersection of human rights and the environment what it means to recognise a right to a healthy environment in the ACT.
• Hosted by ABC TV/radio host Dan Bourchier, the panel will be an opportunity to hear from a range of experts discussing the intersection of human rights and the environment what it means to recognise a right to a healthy environment in the ACT Human Rights Act.
• Panel speakers include – Dr Helen Watchirs, OAM, President, ACT Human Rights Commission; Dr Caroline Hughes, Executive Director Collections AIATSIS; Melanie Montalban, Managing Lawyer, ACT Environmental Defenders Office; Roxanne Jones, Researcher Mayi Kuwayu National Study of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing – ANU [TBC Dr Raymond Lovett Director MK Study, ANU]; Dr Brian Weir, ACT Business Chamber; Adina Cirson, ACT Executive Director, Property Council of Australia

Questions the panel members will explore include the following:

• How should we define the right to a healthy environment?
• What duties should be included for government and private entities to ensure respect for individuals’ right to a healthy environment?
• What additional measures should be considered to ensure protection of the right to a healthy environment for vulnerable groups?
• How could the right to a healthy environment recognise the importance of ‘country’ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people?
• How should government go about fulfilling the right to a healthy environment?

The session will run for 90 minutes, and will be recorded for later viewing.