Campaign for a national Human Rights Act
Every person should be able to see a doctor regardless of our bank balance. Every child should get a quality education regardless of their postcode. It’s time to build a fairer Australia where our human rights are protected.
The Human Rights Law Centre leads the national campaign to create an Australian Human Rights Act to ensure human rights are properly protected in law at the national level.
We work with communities, a coalition of 130 civil society organisations, and legal and human rights experts to build support and momentum for a national Act. Our campaign:
- harnesses the expertise, reach and voice of community partners;
- brings communities together with a positive vision for an Act;
- drives legal policy research and development; and
- uses the media for positive social change; and builds political support for an ACT.
An Australian Human Rights Act will ensure the values we all share – like fairness, respect, dignity and compassion – are always at the heart of all government decisions, laws and policies. It will clearly articulate our human rights and freedoms so that every person in Australia knows their rights and understands what we value and prioritise as a community. A Human Rights Act will also provide a powerful tool to challenge injustice and means if someone has their rights violated.

Australia’s human rights record under scrutiny through 2025-26 UN Universal Periodic Review
The Human Rights Law Centre is currently co-ordinating Australian civil society organisations to review and scrutinise Australia's human rights record in 2025-26.
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101 cases: How Charters of Human Rights make our lives better
An online resource to build support for charters of rights. 101 cases: How Charters of Human Rights make our lives better shows the human impact of ensuring our rights are fully protected in law.
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Healthy environment becomes a human right in the ACT
In August 2024, the Human Rights Law Centre welcomed news that the ACT Government enshrined the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment in the Territory’s Human Rights Act.
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