When the Human Rights Act was passed in 1993 I supported the writing of non-discrimination rights into law. At that time I, like many New Zealanders, believed that people had a right to not be discriminated against that the government should protect. Since then, reflecting on the issue has lead me to change my mind. […]
Entries Tagged as 'Rights and Freedoms'
Nonsense on Stilts: Non-Discrimination Rights
March 29th, 2014 16 Comments
Tags: Discrimination · Rights and Freedoms
Watch Matt on the GCSB Bill on Shine TV
August 1st, 2013 2 Comments
On 30 July 2013 Matt was interviewed on Shine TV about the Government Communications Security Bureau and Related Legislation Amendment (“GCSB”) Bill. The discussion on the issues of civil liberties, spying in times of threats against citizens is very good. The video is here:
Tags: GCSB · MandM on Video · Rights and Freedoms · Shine TV
Why Defamatory Speech is not Free Speech
June 22nd, 2013 42 Comments
The following is a representation of the standard argument as to why a remedy requiring the removal of defamatory speech from a publication is not a violation of the right to free speech: The right to Freedom of Expression is protected by s14 of the Bill of Rights Act 1990 (“BORA”). The operational provisions of […]
Tags: Defamation · Freedom of Speech · Rights and Freedoms
Why Defamatory Speech is not Free Speech
May 27th, 2012 10 Comments
The following argument as to why a remedy requiring the removal of defamatory speech from a publication was not a violation of the right to free speech is representative of one I have previously put before the court: The right to Freedom of Expression is protected by s14 of the Bill of Rights Act 1990 […]
Tags: Defamation · Freedom of Expression · Freedom of Speech · New Zealand Bill of Rights Act · Rights and Freedoms
Freedom of Religion in a Secular Society @ Auckland University this Monday
September 8th, 2011 Comments Off on Freedom of Religion in a Secular Society @ Auckland University this Monday
As part of AUSA’s Human Rights week at the University of Auckland, and in association with Thinking Matters, Matt and I will be giving a free public lecture with Q&A on the topic “Freedom of Religion in a Secular Society” on Monday 12 September from 7-8.30pm in Clock Tower Lecture Room 032. The Facebook page for […]
Tags: Doctrine of Religious Restraint · Events · Freedom of Religion · Human Rights · John Rawls · Rights and Freedoms · Separation of Church and State · Thinking Matters
A Godless Public Square: Do ‘Private’ Christian Beliefs Have a Place in Public Life? Part III Madeleine Flannagan – Law
August 26th, 2011 140 Comments
A few weeks ago, as part of Jesus Week at the University of Auckland, Thinking Matters and Evangelical Union hosted an event entitled A Godless Public Square: Do ‘Private’ Christian Beliefs Have a Place in Public Life? This event was a conversation between Theology, Philosophy and Law and featured Matthew Flannagan – Analytic Theologian, Glenn Peoples – Philosopher and Madeleine Flannagan – Legal Scholar. The video is still […]
Tags: Doctrine of Religious Restraint · Freedom of Religion · Jesus Week · Paul Rishworth · Religion in Public Life · Rights and Freedoms · Steven Smith · Thinking Matters
A common objection to belief in the God of the Bible is that a good, kind, and loving deity would never command the wholesale slaughter of nations. In the tradition of his popular Is God a Moral Monster?, Paul Copan teams up with Matthew Flannagan to tackle some of the most confusing and uncomfortable passages of Scripture. Together they help the Christian and nonbeliever alike understand the biblical, theological, philosophical, and ethical implications of Old Testament warfare passages.
AUSA, expelling pro life groups, and legal advice
October 5th, 2017 Comments Off on AUSA, expelling pro life groups, and legal advice
For those following the Auckland University Students Association (AUSA’s) recent decision to expel a pro-life group at Auckland University, it may interest you to know that the following press release was sent to me today: Media Release: ProLife Auckland Date: 5 October 2017 University Group Celebrates Victory Against Unjust Discrimination Auckland University Club ProLife Auckland celebrates […]
Tags: Abortion · AUSA · Rights and Freedoms