Therefore, a reform in this area should shift the emphasis from British authorities to the Prime Minister and cabinet. Any reform should also include specific policy, guidelines and framework for the Government as an institution as well as updated information regarding the importance of the opposition and minor parties. Currently, these areas have not been included which leaves them wide open for attack and speculation and allows individual governments to interpret and rule as they see appropriate, thus hindering stability within the nation.
Within the Australian constitution, limited provision is made for the protection of human rights. Therefore, it is possible for rights to be abused and denied. Internationally, human rights have been included either within the countries constitution, as in the case of Switzerland, or within a subsidiary Bill of Rights, as in the United States of America. Whilst in the Australian constitution there is provision for freedom of speech, freedom of political expression, including the right to protest and run for parliament, and freedom of religion there is no mention of basic human rights like the access to food, shelter, clothing, social welfare payments or medical attention and no provision is made for protecting individuals from cruel and brutal punishment or other such offences. This leaves these rights to being mere assumptions, and whilst law protects most, it is possible for those laws to be changed. With the ever-increasing focus on Human rights around the world by the United Nations, it is important to highlight such rights in the constitution to not only protect the rights of Australian people, but to protect Australia itself from criticism both internationally and from the United Nations. Australia actively engages with the United Nations and is involved in the enforcement of human rights internationally, therefore it is important that these sentiments are engrained within Australia so that they may protect not only citizens from other struggling countries, but their own.
