Freedom, the fundamental human right
with Tim Wilson, Australia's Human Rights Commissioner
The Australian government recently appointed Tim Wilson, an outspoken classical liberal, to its Human Rights Commission.
Commissioner Wilson's agenda is ambitious: He seeks to promote a culture of rights and responsibilities so that every
citizen understands their rights and confidently stands up for them against government encroachment.
In his lectures to The New Zealand Initiative, Tim Wilson will show how human rights are the foundations of classical
liberal thought – and how freedom is the ultimate human right.
Underlying this is the belief that people own their own lives; that rights are universal and can be reasonably and
consistently exercised by individuals to pursue their happiness and enterprise. The classical liberal view of human
rights is narrow and focuses on basic concepts such as freedom of speech, association, worship, protection of property
and protection against arbitrary detention. In balancing competing rights, deference is towards more freedom, not less.
Join us for a thought-provoking discussion of the relationship between freedom and human rights.
About the Speaker:
Tim Wilson was appointed Australia's Human Rights Commissioner in February 2014.
Dubbed the "Freedom Commissioner", Tim is a proud and passionate defender of universal, individual human rights. As
Commissioner he is focused on promoting and advancing traditional human rights and freedoms, including free speech,
freedom of association, worship and movement and property rights.
Prior to his appointment Tim was a public policy analyst and a policy director at the world's oldest free market think
tank, the Institute of Public Affairs. He has also worked in trade and communication consulting, international aid and
development, as well politics. He has served as a Board member of Monash University's Council and on the Victorian Board
of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Tim is a Director of Alfred Health.
He has extensive experience in public debate and has had many regular radio and television commitments, with both
commercial and public broadcasters. The Australian newspaper recognised Tim as one of the ten emerging leaders of
Australian society. He has written extensively for newspapers, journals and books. He recently co-edited the book
Turning Left or Right: Values in Modern Politics.
Tim graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Policy) and a Masters of Diplomacy and Trade (International Trade) from Monash
University. He has also completed executive education at Geneva's Institut de Hautes Etudes Internationales et du
Développement and the World Intellectual Property Organisation's Worldwide Academy.
Registrations are essential and can be made by clicking below.
Events will be held in Auckland and Wellington. If you would like to invite your colleagues, please forward this
invitation onto them.
Auckland
Time and Date:
Monday 30 June 2014
5.45pm - 6.00pm Arrival
6.00pm - 7.00pm Seminar and Q
7.00pm - 7.30pm Networking
Location:
Decima Glenn Room
Level 3, Owen G Glenn Building
12 Grafton Road
Auckland
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Wellington
Time and Date:
Tuesday 1 July 2014
5.45pm - 6.00pm Arrival
6.00pm - 7.00pm Seminar
7.00pm - 8.00pm Drinks and Canapés
Location:
The New Zealand Initiative
Level 12, Bayleys Building
36 Brandon Street
Wellington
ends