Tim Wilson has been appointed as Australia’s newest Human Rights Commissioner, focusing on the area of Freedom.
In taking up the role Wilson has resigned from his position at the right wing think tank The Institute of Public Affairs. The same institute that earlier this year called for the Human Rights Commission to be abolished. Accepting his appointment from Attorney General George Brandis, Wilson declared that alongside giving up his current position he had resigned from the Liberal Party.
Wilson has been an open critic of the commission in particular the introduction of Section 18C of the racial discrimination act. Earlier this year when columnist Andrew Bolt was found to have discriminated against indigenous people in a column Wilson described the commission as ‘missing in action’ arguing that it should be more vocal about people’s freedom insult.
In announcing the appointment Senator Brandis said Wilson’s inclusion at the commission would restore the balance.
”The appointment of Mr Wilson to this important position will help to restore balance to the Australian Human Rights Commission which, during the period of the Labor government, had become increasingly narrow and selective in its view of human rights.”
Mr Wilson’s appointment has received a mix of responses, Labor Senator Kim Carr tweeted, “IPA snouts in the trough as Policy Director lands $322K job at a body it recommended be abolished. Jobs for the boys are back.”
Karl Hand the co-convener of NSW’s Community Action Against Homophobia was critical of the appointment. Mr Hand told the Star Observer that Mr Wilson’s appointment was reminiscent of Tony Abbott’s move to appoint himself as Minister for Women’s Interests.
“Tim Wilson’s appointment as Human Rights Commissioner is a feat of Orwellian doublespeak,” Hand said.
“His past qualifications consist largely in having been the president of a student association and having worked for a right wing think tank. Already, he is indicating a swing towards neo-liberal ideology, calling racial and sexual bullying ‘freedom of speech’, and perhaps more absurdly, calling Australia’s media monopoly ‘freedom of the media’.”
Mr Wilson’s appointment was welcomed by Australian Marriage Equality, National Director Rodney Croome released a statement highlighting Wilson’s support for same sex marriage.
“Mr Wilson is a long-time supporter of allowing same-sex couples to marry, and is on record as saying he would marry if he could,” said Croome.
“We are confident Mr Wilson’s emphasis on freedom will embrace the freedom of same-sex couples to marry.”
“Mr Wilson brings to the marriage equality debate a deep understanding of how our humanity is compromised when the government dictates who can and who can’t participate in a core institution like marriage.”
Wilson lives in Melbourne with his partner Ryan, who he thanked following his appointment. He appears regularly on television on programs like the ABC’s ‘The Drum’ and Sky News’ ‘Lunchtime Agenda’. He is on the steering committee for Sydney’s Festival of Dangerous Ideas and writes regularity in a variety of publications.
OIP Staff
