Thanks to the actions of thousands of Amnesty supporters calling for a Federal Human Rights Act, we’re one step closer to a future where all human rights are protected in Australia’s laws!
In the first 100 days of the Albanese government, Attorney General Michelle Rowland has confirmed that the government is “carefully considering” adopting a Human Rights Act.
This announcement follows months of campaigning and advocacy by dedicated change-makers, after which the Parliamentary inquiry recommended in May 2024 to legislate a Human Rights Act.
Michelle Rowland has shared that as the recommendations impact all of government, “thorough consideration is required…to ensuring the rights and freedoms of all Australians are respected and protected”.
Your support has been instrumental
When Parliament resumed last month, we returned to Canberra along with our friends from the Human Rights Law Centre to meet with MPs across the political spectrum.
At these meetings and over the last few weeks, we’ve shared your support with them – the petitions you’ve signed and the actions you’ve taken – to show them why Australians are calling for the government to legislate a Human Rights Act.
Pictured left to right: Nikita White, Strategic Campaigner at Amnesty International Australia, Caitlin Reiger, CEO of the Human Rights Law Centre and Daney Faddoul, Campaigner Manager at the Human Rights Law Centre.
Around the country, there’s progress on the campaign to protect human rights in laws:
- SA: Earlier this year in May, a South Australian inquiry recommended that the State legislate a Human Rights Act.
- ACT: More recently, an inquiry in the ACT supported legislating a right to housing within the ACT’s Human Rights Act which would help ensure everyone in the ACT has somewhere safe and secure to call home.
There was overwhelming support for both the SA and ACT inquiry’s recommendations – backed by the Liberal party, Labor party and the Greens!
In April 2025, Moreton Bay Council in Queensland tried to evict people sleeping rough at Eddie Hyland Park – a move that advocates quickly challenged under Queensland’s Human Rights Act. Last Friday, Queensland’s Supreme Court ordered the council not to evict the people as they face “serious risk of harm.”
“… the Human Rights Act provides protections to all citizens, including the homeless, and I consider it to be wrong not to protect vulnerable applicants from the potential loss of their homes in the midst of winter.”
Justice Paul Smith
In more good news, in NSW, the Greens have introduced a Human Rights Act Bill to Parliament. Attorney General Daley said the NSW Government is “open to considering the issue and working constructively” with the Greens on the Bill.
Ensuring dignity and respect for all
Human Rights Acts across the country would mean that everyone could live with the dignity and respect they deserve.
These are promising steps forward, helping to ensure everyone has a right to housing, healthcare, a healthy environment, education and more, and we’re only here because of committed Amnesty supporters. Thank you.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about a Human Rights Act.
