Should Australia have a Bill of Rights?

As issues such as the treatment of Indigenous children in detention, the recognition of same-sex marriage and the accommodation of religious minorities highlight, the protection of human rights in Australia is an immensely important and contentious subject. The treatment of these issues prompts us to consider whether Australia has an adequate system for the protection of human rights.

This raises the question: should Australia follow in the footsteps of most other liberal democracies and adopt a bill of rights?

When we think about bills of rights, the US often comes to mind. Many people are aware of the First Amendment, which protects free speech, the Second Amendment, which protects gun ownership, and the Fifth Amendment, which requires police to inform suspects of their right to remain silent. However, what we can learn from the US is often exaggerated or outright mistaken.