We have handed our official submission to the federal government’s Human Rights Consultation. The document was accompanied by more than 10,000 individual submissions that we gathered from ordinary people around Australia, representing voices not often heard in the heated public debates between lawyers and politicians.

We believe a Human Rights Act is the best way to guarantee national, uniform legal protection of the human rights of everyone living in Australia.

Our submission calls for a Human Rights Act that includes all rights – economic, social, cultural, civil and political – and protects the rights of all people in Australia. This echoes the recommendation made by the United Nations in May this year that the Australian Government include economic, social and cultural rights when considering submissions to the consultation process.

The submission recommends the Human Rights Act should incorporate Australia’s obligations under international law. It should also promote education and training for human-rights-based approaches.

“Our submission makes clear that we believe the best protection for human rights in Australia would be in the form of a Human Rights Act,” said Jenny Leong, Campaign Coordinator. “But we have also submitted to the government the views of 10,601 ordinary people who strongly support a human rights act.

“Schoolchildren, university students, professionals, people from diverse backgrounds and people in regional and rural communities -- we believe that their voices have not been heard clearly enough in the debate.”

The government’s Human Rights Consultation has received tens of thousands of submissions, by far the largest number ever made to a government process in this country.

A recent opinion poll we commissioned found that 81 per cent of people surveyed would support the introduction of a law to protect human rights in Australia.

The Nielsen survey results also showed that 85 per cent of those who support the introduction of human rights legislation believe its introduction should be a high or very high priority for the Australian Government.

“All rights are universal and must be protected equally,” said Jenny Leong. “This includes rights such as adequate housing, health and education, along with such rights as equality before the law, free speech and freedom of movement. In short, those that allow people to live in a society where their dignity and freedoms are respected.”

Australia is the only liberal democracy without overarching legal protection of human rights. We believe that Australia’s non-compliance with international obligations frequently leaves people vulnerable to rights violations.

For example, Australia automatically places juvenile asylum-seekers in detention, contravening the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child, while elements of our anti-terrorism legislation are not in accordance with the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The thousands of submissions we collected from the general public show overwhelming support for a Human Rights Act.

A few of those comments include:

“While our current laws provide some good protections, it is in an ad hoc way, with gaps and no overall vision, and can be suspended. We need a Human Rights Act!” Julie, ACT

“Australia should follow the rest of the world’s democratic nations and enshrine in legislation basic human rights that every Australian is entitled to. It will make it much easier to uphold these ideals and limit human rights abuses.” Leslie, NSW

“Human rights are sacred and need to be protected in both the developed and developing world. Countries that theoretically protect and promote human rights need to be held accountable and have checking procedures.” Alison, NSW

“Why are we one of the few Western countries which doesn’t have Human Rights legislation?” Bill, QLD

Read our full submission to the government Human Rights Consultation