There is a backlog of 18 human rights cases going back to 1998 which have yet to be heard by tribunals, Senator Neville Tyrell revealed yesterday.

But he told the Senate the Department of Human Affairs was addressing it by introducing payments to board members with $48,000 budgeted this year.

He hoped this will increase the number of board members which will then allow more than one board to run at one time.

A further $78,000 has been budgeted for a pilot mediation scheme to settle disputes in their early stages and reduce the need for boards.

Sen. Tyrell also revealed there are five cases against Government and quasi-Government bodies outstanding.

Yesterday?s debate also touched heavily on race with Opposition Senator Bob Richards saying the Commission for Unity and Racial Equality and the Human Rights Commission helped protect against institutionalised racism.

But he said further protection was needed for those who ran their own businesses to make sure they didn?t lose out when contracts were awarded.

This was where his party?s ministry of race relations and economic empowerment could help, suggested Sen. Richards.

Senate leader Kim Swan accused religious leaders of fomenting racial strife from the pulpit in the lead up to elections.

He said: ?I have seen too many elections come and go where race is used. It contravenes good biblical scripture.?

He said everybody should be allowed a different political view without being called an ?Uncle Tom?.

The PLP had used race in lieu of an election platform which had appeared at the eleventh hour, said Sen. Swan.

He said the problem of racism could not be tackled with such political polarisation still rampant.

?We can only do something about it when we collectively start to do something about it.

?No Government, PLP or UBP, has a franchise on what it is to be black.?

See Senate Report, Page 6