The alliance comprises 90 organisations and 25 individuals
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights has joined a coalition of organisations and individuals calling for a public inquiry into a Human Rights Act for NSW.
The group addressed an open statement to the NSW parliament, pointing out that Victoria, Queensland and the ACT have all incorporated human rights into Acts of Parliament.
“For more than 20 years, these laws have been delivering meaningful improvements in people’s lives through fairer laws, policies and practices in governments’ day-to-day dealings with the community in areas like health, housing, and education”, the alliance wrote in the statement. “Recent major inquiries at the federal level and in South Australia have both recommended that states address gaps in the rights protections afforded to people by introducing a comprehensive Human Rights Act”.
The group indicated that the inquiry should examine how a Human Rights Act would effectively clarify the internationally recognised human rights available to all. It also needed to determine how the Act could drive the upholding and protection of human rights in the process of drafting, effecting and reviewing laws, regulations or policies.
“Importantly, it should consider how to ensure that everyone in NSW has accessible pathways to resolve disputes about their rights and effective remedies if their rights have been breached”, the coalition wrote. “We have reflected deeply on learnings from other jurisdictions, and we are ready to share our detailed proposals for a Human Rights Act that is effective and does not hinder the government’s ability to respond to immediate community needs”.
In March, Jenny Leong, MP for Newtown, issued a notice for a bill to establish a Human Rights Act for NSW. NSW attorney general Michael Daley said the government was open to such a proposal.
“This bill is now due to be introduced imminently, and we call on all NSW Parliamentarians to support the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry into the Bill. This will enable a comprehensive community-wide consultation on a Human Rights Act for NSW”, the group wrote.
Other signatories of the open statement include Community Legal Centres NSW, Justice and Equity Centre, NSW Society of Labor Lawyers, Human Rights Law Centre, Australia Democracy Network, National Justice Project, Redfern Legal Centre, Trans Justice Sydney, Pride in Law, Australian Lawyers Alliance, Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT and The Australian Centre for Disability Law.
Individual signatories include barristers, members of the academe and human rights advocates.
