Amnesty International Australia has made a submission to the independent review of Queensland’s Human Rights Act 2019.
Amnesty believes that the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) has helped build a culture of human rights and promoted a dialogue about human rights since it began operation in January 2020. Parliament and Departments have centred human rights in their decision making processes, trained public servants in human rights standards, and consulted with communities. People across Queensland have used the Act to stay in their homes with their families, to raise their children, to ensure their homes are accessible, and to fight for climate justice.
The Act can be made stronger by adding a participation duty so that people have a say in matters that impact them, a direct and independent cause of action that will allow people to take human rights matters to court, protecting the rights to housing and to a healthy environment, and removing the override provision, among other changes.
These changes will move us closer to a future where everyone’s human rights are protected and respected in Queensland.
Human Rights Acts prevent human rights abuses by requiring public entities to consider human rights when making decisions, and they empower people with a tool with which everyone can fight for their human rights, and hold those in power to account. Learn more about what we do and our campaign for a federal Human Rights Act.
