and manifested by clear language. This is known as the principle of legality which acts as an extra layer of protection for human rights against vague or ambiguous legislation. Furthermore, Former Chief Justice of New South Wales, James Spigelman, has compiled a list of a number of rights-depriving acts which the common law presumes the legislature does not intend without clear wording, including retrospectively changing rights and obligations, infringing personal liberty, interfering with freedom of movement or speech, restricting access to the courts, interfering with vested property rights, and denying procedural fairness. In addition, there are various common law principles which afford certain protections, such as legal professional privilege, and the privilege against self-incrimination. International Human Rights Laws in Australia Australia has signed various international treaties and conventions regarding human rights. Australia has agreed to be bound by the following treaties: Universal Declaration on Human Rights International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide Convention on the Political Rights of Women International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1926 Slavery Convention Supplementary Convention on the Abolition of Slavery Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Although Australia is a signatory to these, the rights given in the treaties are only applicable in Australia if domestic legislation is established. For example, the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), implements the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, and the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth), provides some of the rights outlined in the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. However, another way the rights provided in a treaty can be seen in Australian law is where provisions of a treaty are already a part of domestic legislation (for example, the Convention of the Rights of People of Disabilities can be seen as incorporated into domestic law through similar provisions in the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)). Australian Human Rights Commission The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) (previously known as the Human