This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/17/thinktank-director-tim-wilson-appointed-human-rights-commissioner

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Thinktank director Tim Wilson appointed human rights commissioner Thinktank director Tim Wilson appointed human rights commissioner
(35 minutes later)
The attorney general has appointed a director from the rightwing thinktank the Institute of Public Affairs as Australia’s human rights commissioner. The attorney general has appointed a director from the right-wing thinktank, the Institute of Public Affairs, as Australia’s human rights commissioner.
George Brandis said Tim Wilson, a member of the Liberal party up until this month, had been appointed to “restore balance” to the Human Rights Commission. George Brandis said Tim Wilson, a member of the Liberal party until this month, had been appointed to “restore balance” to the Human Rights Commission.
Wilson, a self-declared classic libertarian, directs climate change policy at the IPA as well as the Intellectual Property and Free Trade Unit.Wilson, a self-declared classic libertarian, directs climate change policy at the IPA as well as the Intellectual Property and Free Trade Unit.
Wilson said he had stepped down from his position at the IPA as well as resigned from the Liberal party to take up the appointment.
The IPA called for the Human Rights Commission to be abolished earlier this year with Simon Breheny, director of its Legal Rights Project, saying it did not protect human rights.
“The Australian Human Rights Commission does not defend fundamental rights such as the right to free speech and property. Instead, it selectively defends a human rights agenda determined entirely by the left," he said at the time.
"The commission is 100% taxpayer-funded yet it actively lobbies government for laws which undermine human rights, rather than defending and protecting them. It should be abolished.”
The IPA released a lengthy statement about Wilson’s appointment as soon it was announced, in which the executive director, John Roskam, acknowledged the institute’s previous calls for the abolition of the commission.
“Tim has been an outstanding advocate for freedom in the seven years he has been at the IPA. The board and staff congratulate him on his appointment and wish him well on taking up this important role at a time when human rights need to be defended,” he said.
The Human Rights Commission has yet to release a response to the appointment.
Wilson said he was looking forward to “advancing the government’s freedom agenda”.
“As Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner I will seek to reverse the incremental dilution of human rights and reassert their essential status in our community,” he said in a statement on his website in which also thanked his partner, Ryan, for his support.
“I will unapologetically approach this important role with the strong belief that human rights are important, consistent and universal and provide the foundations for a free society.
“As Human Rights Commissioner I will put freedom on the offensive: where it belongs.”
Brandis released a statement calling Wilson one of Australia’s most prominent public advocates of the rights of individuals.Brandis released a statement calling Wilson one of Australia’s most prominent public advocates of the rights of individuals.
“He has published and broadcast widely on the topics of personal freedom, liberal democratic values and the rule of law,” he said.“He has published and broadcast widely on the topics of personal freedom, liberal democratic values and the rule of law,” he said.
“He was at the forefront in thwarting recent attempts to erode freedom of speech, freedom of the press and artistic freedom.”“He was at the forefront in thwarting recent attempts to erode freedom of speech, freedom of the press and artistic freedom.”
Brandis said the appointment restored balance to the Australian Human Rights Commission which he claimed had become “increasingly narrow and selective” in its view of human rights under the previous Labor government. Brandis said the appointment restored balance to the Australian Human Rights Commission, which he claimed had become “increasingly narrow and selective” in its view of human rights under the previous Labor government.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.