Professor Helen Irving issued a warning against adopting a formal Bill of Rights.

In a recent speech at the Sydney Institute with Father Frank Brennan, who is the Chair of the Government's National Human Rights Consultation Committee, Professor Irving said citizens in Britain feel a similar charter there has impinged on their rights rather than upholding them.

She added that many in the British public feel the human rights act has become a fetter on ordinary professional activity and ordinary social or community relations.

Countries that hold a Bill of Rights include the United States, Canada and New Zealand.

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