It should be no national secret that Australia is behind. Being the only liberal democracy without a Human Rights Act, our government has some catching up to do.
While all Australians would reap the benefits, this gap in legislation disproportionately impacts young people, who often do not have the resources necessary to protect their rights on their own.
Our government is failing its youth, and it has never been more apparent.
1. Children in food insecurity
Without a Federal Human Rights Act, children are completely subject to the living conditions within their households.
The 2024 Foodbank Hunger report revealed that close to half of all households in Australia with children experience food insecurity (42%), with 41% of single-parent households experiencing severe food insecurity. This means they are often skipping meals, reducing portion sizes, or even going entire days without eating.
This is the result of extreme government neglect. It is nothing short of appalling that Australia does not take action to ensure its children don’t go hungry.
Three meals a day is not a privilege. Dinner on the table is not a privilege. A full lunchbox is not a privilege. Food is equally a human right as it is a human necessity, and until we can deliver our children their most basic needs, we continue to fail as a democracy.
2. Living standards for young adults
Let’s not pretend food insecurity disappears once outside of the family home. If anything, financial struggles are exacerbated when young people try to manage the costs of living alone.
The University of Melbourne’s ‘Taking the Pulse of the Nation’ survey found that not only do 48% of Australians live paycheck to paycheck, but young people aged 18-24 are the most affected group.
New to the workforce, or studying, young people have a hard time ensuring themselves access to sufficient food, housing, and general living conditions.
The housing crisis has hit young people particularly hard. Of 51,238 rental listings in March 2025, not a single listing was affordable for someone on Youth Allowance.
While we make light of the typical student meal of a tiny cup noodle, young people are increasingly going without food because of the cost-of-living crisis. Young people juggling the financial burdens of being first-time renters, often while studying full-time, cannot have both a substantial meal and a roof over their heads.
The absence of a Federal Human Rights Act and housing policies that prioritise profit over people means that young Australians face homelessness or going without food and medical care.
3. The domestic and family violence crisis
Tragically, the current Australian reality is one of abandonment. Too many young adults and children in this country do not have somewhere safe to go when fleeing abusive homes. Arguably, the most at-risk demographic of young people are left endangered, in a state of limbo.
Family and domestic violence is the leading cause of homelessness in Australian women and girls, identified as a factor in almost half (45%) of the reported homelessness cases in 2024. They are at the forefront of this crisis.
When fleeing an unsafe home, people often don’t have the resources to secure alternative living arrangements. Less than half of the people who apply for crisis accommodation are approved. Many flee out of fear for their lives, often with little to no notice. But the crisis accommodation sector doesn’t have the funding to support all those fleeing.
In no world is it acceptable to present vulnerable Australians with a choice between abuse and homelessness.
Yet again, the lack of a Federal Human Rights Act means that the government doesn’t have to consider people’s human right to safety when making funding decisions.
A brighter future for Australian youth
Young Australians have been neglected for far too long. The pressure is now on the Labor Party – to keep their promises and make human rights a top priority.
With a Human Rights Act, we can ensure housing policies prioritise people over profit and funds sufficient crisis accommodation. It also means people will have a tool to challenge human rights abuses so we can create a fairer future, one where every child in Australia is fed, and where everyone has somewhere safe and secure to sleep.
A Federal Human Rights Act is long overdue, and we must hold our leaders accountable. Post-election, the political climate is disturbed and buzzing with opportunities for meaningful change. More than ever, the time to advocate is now.
This article was written by Isabelle Milic.
Our blogs are written by Amnesty International staff, volunteers and other interested individuals to raise awareness and encourage action around human rights issues. They do not necessarily represent the views of Amnesty International.
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.
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