Greens Call For Human Rights Act In NSW

Greens NSW spokesperson for Human Rights and Member for Newtown Jenny Leong has today given notice of a Private Member’s Bill to establish a Human Rights Act in NSW.

Leong also welcomed comments from the Attorney General that NSW Labor is “open to considering the issue and working constructively” with The Greens. 

The goal of the Human Rights Act is to provide a “holistic alternative to a patchwork approach to reform,” according to a media release by The Greens. The Human Rights Act would also work to ensure stronger legal protection for rights such as housing, protest, and education.

In 2022, the NSW Labor Platform included support for “a community consultation into the introduction of further legislation to better protect the human rights of NSW residents when law is interpreted and applied.”

However, this goal has not been advanced yet, even after two years of a Labor government.

“The NSW Government cannot be trusted when it comes to protecting and promoting human rights for people in our state – which is why it is time for the Parliament to act and why we are today giving notice of a Bill to introduce a Human Rights Act for NSW,” said Leong.

The call to establish a Human Rights Act in NSW is supported by more than 48 legal and peak bodies in NSW. This includes the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, the Human Rights Law Centre, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, Community Legal Centres NSW, the NSW Bar Association, and the Amnesty International NSW Legal Network. 

Leong said she is looking forward to “working alongside the Attorney General and the broad coalition of civil society organisations who support a Human Rights Act for NSW and with parliamentary colleagues across the chamber to deliver on this long-overdue reform.”

NSW gov playing “fast and loose” with human rights

NSW would not be the first state to enact a Human Rights Act, they already exist in Victoria and Queensland.  The ACT has had a Human Rights Act for over twenty years. There is also a current inquiry in the South Australian parliament into a potential Human Rights Act for South Australia. 

“From decimating our right to protest to extending hate speech protections for only a select few and ramming through bail laws that disproportionately impact First Nations kids, the NSW Government is playing fast and loose with our human rights,” said Leong. 

She continues, “As the political landscape tilts increasingly to the authoritarian right, a proactive vision for defending and extending human rights is more urgent than ever.”