In December 2025, Amnesty International Australia conducted polling to determine how Australians feel about a Human Rights Act.
The results are in: Three in four Australians support the legislation of a Human Rights Act!
This polling is consistent with both previous research Amnesty Australia has conducted and with polling by the Human Rights Law Centre, which also demonstrated strong support for a Human Rights Act.
The key findings
- Three in four people in Australia (76%) support legislating a Human Rights Act (image 1)
- 87% of Greens, 82% of Labor, 79% of Independent, 79% of Minor Party, 71% of Liberal, and 72% of National voters support legislating an Act (image 2)
- Queenslanders are the most likely to support the idea (84%) (image 3)
- 81% of millennials support legislating an Act (image 4)
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4
Notably, 3 in 5 people believe the right to vote, to privacy, freedom of speech, right to free or low-cost healthcare, and to work and equal pay at work, were important to them, and many Australians believe Australia already has a Human Rights Act, particularly younger Australians.
So, why do we need a Human Rights Act?
Everyone should be able to enjoy their rights, like being able to receive quality health care regardless of their bank account balance, and every child receiving a great education regardless of their postcode. But sadly, that is not the reality for everyone in Australia, as shown in the Disability, Aged Care, and Robodebt Royal Commissions.
A Human Rights Act would ensure that the values of fairness, respect, and equality are at the heart of government laws, policies, and decisions. It will benefit the whole community by:
- Ensuring everyone understands their rights by consolidating protections and building respect for human rights,
- Preventing human rights abuses by requiring public authorities to consider human rights when making decisions, and
- Providing a powerful tool for ordinary people to challenge injustices through complaints, the courts and tribunals.
“People need that tool now more than ever. It would allow people to create better lives for themselves and for those around them, where everyone can enjoy their rights to housing, healthcare, a healthy environment, and more.”
Nikita White, Amnesty International Australia Campaigner
Australia remains the only Western liberal democracy in the world without a Human Rights Act
In May 2024, the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights recommended that the government legislate a Human Rights Act as part of seventeen recommendations to improve the federal human rights framework.
Amnesty is one of over 100 organisations calling on the Albanese government to accept the Committee’s recommendations and to legislate a Human Rights Act.
Every day, with support from the Amnesty movement, we push closer to a world where all of our rights are protected in law; where our government considers and respects human rights, and where we can take action if our rights are abused.
With a Human Rights Act, people can create better lives for themselves and their communities.
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 our human rights campaigns.
