Report finds ‘clear need’ for an Australian Human Rights Act. What difference would it make?
This week, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights reported on its Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework. By majority, it recommended the federal government introduce an Australian Human Rights Act.
This week, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights reported on its Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework. By majority, it recommended the federal government introduce an Australian Human Rights Act.
This represents a generational milestone to greatly improve human rights protections for Australia. It remains to be seen whether the federal government will accept this main recommendation, but is a significant development.
Where did it come from?
- This put the question of whether we should have an Australian Human Rights Act back on the political agenda.
- It recommended a new national human rights framework with an Australian Human Rights Act as its “centrepiece”.
Why an Australian Human Rights Act?
- Human rights acts already exist in three states and territories – the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Queensland.
- Every Australian deserves to have their human rights respected and protected, including at the federal level.
- Access to human rights protection should not depend on where a person lives or which level of government carries the responsibility.
What did the parliamentary inquiry report say?
- It said these showed human rights legislation “could help embed a rights-respecting culture” and “has not led to overwhelming litigation”.
- The report made 17 recommendations, including the enactment of an Australian Human Rights Act that broadly reflects the commission’s model.
- The report recommended strengthening scrutiny by government and parliament of policy and legislation for compatibility with human rights.
- By contrast, a minority of the committee recommended an Australian Human Rights Act not be introduced.