National Human Rights Consultation

On June 15 the Government completed its consultation on human rights and ways to protect and promote them in Australia in the future.

The independent Consultation Committee consulted broadly with the Australian public, looking for answers to three key questions

• Which human rights and responsibilities should be protected and promoted?
• Are human rights sufficiently protected and promoted?
• How could Australia better protect and promote human rights

They also asked whether Australia should have a Bill or a Charter of Rights. However, the Committee’s terms of reference specifically excluded the option of a constitutionally entrenched bill of rights.

The National LGBT Health Alliance thinks it is essential that issues relating to sexuality, sex and gender diversity are addressed in the report and its recommendations. Read our submission to this consultation, and a briefing we provided to the Human Rights Consultation Committee when we met with them on September 10th 2009.

The Committee will report to the Australian Government on the issues raised and the options identified for the Government to consider to enhance the protection and promotion of human rights.  The Committee is to set out the advantages and disadvantages (including social and economic costs and benefits) and an assessment of the level of community support for each option it identifies.

The Committe's report is due to be completed by 30 September 2009.