Centring human rights in Australia’s laws

The Human Rights Law Centre’s Engagement Director Thomas Feng said that Human Rights Acts in Victoria, Queensland and the ACT has already improved people’s lives, strengthened government decision-making, and given ordinary people a way to act when their rights are breached.

“The Human Rights Act campaign has hosted two events in Melbourne to highlight the difference a national Human Rights Act could make and why we need federal legislation to ensure these protections apply to everyone, no matter where they live.”

At Australian Progress’ recent Progress 2026 conference, the Human Rights Act campaign presented a panel discussion featuring the Human Rights Law Centre, Amnesty International, Women With Disabilities Australia, and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation.

“An Australian Human Rights Act would benefit people in areas such as housing, health, and education. Three in four people in Australia support an Act, and now is the time for more organisations and partners to join the 158 partner organisations across civil society in calling on the Federal Government to make a national Act a reality,” said Thomas.

The Human Rights Law Centre also partnered with The Wheeler Centre to host a forum titled Human Rights in Victoria - Past, Present and Future. Marking the 20th anniversary of the Victorian Charter of Human Rights, the panel featured former Australian Human Rights Commission President Gillian Triggs, former Victorian Attorney-General Rob Hulls, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service CEO Nerita Waight, and Human Rights Law Centre CEO Caitlin Reiger.

“It is clear from the conversation that the Victorian Charter has improved people’s lives for the past twenty years, and that it could be strengthened even further to include the right to housing, and First Nations rights. Human rights protections should not be dependent on your postcode, and that is why we need a national Human Rights Act.”

To learn more about the Human Rights Act campaign visit humanrightsact.org.au