Couran Cove Human Right Violations - 1 Year - No Power, No Water, No Gas, No Sewerage

Couran Cove Human Right Violations - 1 Year - No Power, No Water, No Gas, No Sewerage

Started
11 February 2024
Signatures: 494Next goal: 500
people signed this week

Why this petition matters

Started by Matthew Asia

Bring back power, water, gas, and sewerage to Couran Cove residents.

Please share this petition: savethecove.com

The residents of Couran Cove have  had their power, water, gas, and sewerage cut off for more than a year. The right to water is a basic human right.

The Australian government, who ratified the ICESCR Treaty is therefore legally obligated to follow the human rights requirements within, including those of General Comment 15:

  • The obligation to protect requires State parties to prevent third parties from interfering in any way with the enjoyment of the right to water. Third parties include individuals, groups, corporations and other entities as well as agents acting under their authority.
  • Under no circumstances shall an individual be deprived of the minimum essential level of water.

Human Rights Violations: https://hungerstrike.au/HumanRights
The Legal Dispute: https://hungerstrike.au/Dispute

My Hunger Strike Declaration

 

An Overview

 

Human Rights Violations

 

The problem as described by residents and members of parliament

 

Parliamentary discussion of new legislation

 

We approach the 1 year anniversary of the beginning of the essential service cutoffs for the residents of Couran Cove, South Stradbroke Island.

Left without water, electricity, gas, transport, and sewerage, the people have been abandoned by the Australian government. In a time of already extreme costs of living, the residents still have to pay rates, strata fees, and bank loans, while at the same time many are being made essentially homeless.

Poor legislation has led to major conflicts of interest where 2 people hold the majority of all debt in Couran Cove [through many legal entities]. One of those two major debtors has acquired control over the utilities and cut the electricity, water, gas, and sewerage for all residents and stopped the ferry.

Water is required for human life, the Australian government allowing people to live without this tarnishes Australias Human Rights record.

"The UN Committee has stated that the human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses, including consumption, cooking, personal and domestic hygienic requirements. Water, and water facilities and services, must be affordable for all." ~ Australian Government ~ Attorney-General's Department ~ Right to an adequate standard of living, including food, water and housing
https://www.ag.gov.au/rights-and-protections/human-rights-and-anti-discrimination/human-rights-scrutiny/public-sector-guidance-sheets/right-adequate-standard-living-including-food-water-and-housing

People who have spoken up have been intimidated and threatened with legal action. This has led to people being fearful of speaking up or even discussing it with people they're not completely sure are safe. Due to this paranoia, it can be hard to get details, but more will be shared as it becomes available.

A conclusion to this is required, one that does not involve hundreds of owners paying potentially millions of dollars of debts of two who have and continue to exploit the legal system.

A few important facts:

  • The ones who cut off the essential services do not own the infrastructure, they just gained control as the operator. The power, gas, water, and sewerage infrastructure is jointly owned by all the property owners through the body corporate.
  • Through this hot and dry summer, without water, should there be a fire, there is no water to fight it with. Everything could be lost.
  • Many retirees, peoples with disabilities, and others have been forced from their homes into a world of uncertainty during the current housing crisis.

What do I want?

  1. Major international attention on this issue until it is resolved
  2. An investigation into this by reporters and investigators world wide
  3. A full and transparent investigation into this ongoing human rights disaster by the government and all parties involved.
  4. Control of the utilities returned to the CBC if they wont be run.
  5. Essential services returned to Couran Cove residents and a final resolution

 

 

people signed this week
Signatures: 494Next goal: 500
people signed this week
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