Submissions and advice
Below are links to submissions we provided to inquiries, and human rights-related advice to MLAs.
The Commission regularly provides legal advice and submissions on how the Human Rights Act should be applied in different circumstances. Our human rights advice and scrutiny helps ensure that ACT laws and policies do not adversely affect particular groups in the community, or people’s human rights in general.
ACT government agencies also regularly consult us as they develop policies and laws, and this advice similarly helps ensure that ACT laws are compatible with human rights.
2025
- Submission to ACT Government consultation on bail decision-making reforms, June 2025
- Inquiry into Human Rights (Housing) Amendment Bill, May 2025
- Advice to Andrew Braddock MLA, Territory Records (Executive Records) Amendment Bill, April 2025
- Submission to the ACT Greens discussion paper on housing as a human right, March 2025
- Submission on electronic monitoring in the ACT, January 2025
2024
- Inquiry into the Truth and Justice Commission Bill September 2024
- Guidance note on the rights of unconvicted detainees
- Guidance paper on the rights of unconvicted detainees
- Review of Queensland’s Human Rights Act, July 2024
- Follow up submission to UN Special Rapporteur on Environment, 28 June 2024
- Inquiry into the Administration of Bail in the ACT, May 2024
- Inquiry into a human rights act for South Australia, February 2024
2023
- Inquiry into the Parentage (Surrogacy) Amendment Bill, December 2023
- Inquiry into the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill, December 2023
- Achieving consistency in laws for financial enduring power of attorney, November 2023
- Public consultation on Children and Young People Amendment Bill, November 2023
- Consultation on Digital ID Bill and Associated Rules, October 2023
- Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Bill, November 2023
- Inquiry into Australia's human rights framework, July 2023
- AHRC youth justice and child wellbeing reform, June 2023
- Inquiry into age of criminal responsibility, June 2023
- Review of Integrity Commission Act, June 2023
- Inquiry into Modern Slavery Amendment, May 2023
- Inquiry into penalties for minor offences and vulnerable people, April 2023
- Public consultation on voluntary assisted dying, April 2023
- Evaluation of elder abuse national plan, April 2023
- ACT's heritage arrangements, March 2023
- Independent review of Integrity Commission Act, March 2023
- AFP review of spit hoods, February 2023
2022
- Reforms to sharing information about people at risk from domestic violence, October 2022
- Developing a charter of rights for parents and families involved with ACT Child Protection Services, October 2022
- Human rights as a principle in external merits review, child protection, September 2022
- Recognising the human right to a healthy environment, September 2022
- Public exposure draft, Residential Tenancies Legislation Amendment Bill, September 2022
- Inquiry into abortion and reproductive choice in the ACT, August 2022
- Terrorism (Extraordinary Temporary Powers) Amendment Bill, May 2022
- Rights Without Remedy petition, supplementary submission, May 2022
- Memorialisation through public commemoration, April 2022
- No Rights Without Remedy petition, April 2022
- Healthy prison review of AMC, March 2022
- Consultation on policing services agreement, February 2022
- Reforms to the Discrimination Act, January 2022
- Inquiry into the Public Health Amendment Bill 2021 (No 2), January 2022
2021
- Supplementary submission on COVID pandemic response, November 2021
- Consultation on improving residential tenancies and ending no-cause evictions, October 2021
- Feedback on mandatory COVID vaccinations for health care workers, October 2021
- COVID pandemic response, September 2021
- Managing COVID risks in AMC, letter to Attorney-General, Shane Rattenbury and Minister for Corrections, Mick Gentleman, September 2021
- Open letter calling for the COVID select committee to be re-convened to provide scrutiny of emergency responses, September 2021
- Position paper on vaccine passports, September 2021
- Letter to Health Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith on the need for human rights statements for public health directions, September 2021
- Consultation on raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility, August 2021
- Follow up letter to Minister for Business and Better Regulation, Tara Cheyne and Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith raising continuing concerns about use of data collected by the check in CBR app, June 2021
- Advice to Elizabeth Lee MLA about the about the Crimes (Family Violence) Legislation Amendment Bill 2021, May 2021
- Review of Mental Health (Secure Facilities) Act, cover letter and table, May 2021
- First letter to Minister for Business and Better Regulation, Tara Cheyne and Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith raising concerns about mandating use of the check in CBR app, March 2021