20 September 2023

The Commission welcomes the introduction of legislation that provides for a new accessible complaints pathway about alleged breaches of human rights by public authorities in the ACT.

Currently, community members can bring complaints about breaches of human rights obligations by public authorities to the Supreme Court. However, this is not an accessible pathway for most people.

Community members who believe their human rights have been breached by an ACT public authority will now be able to raise those concerns with the Commission and use its free and accessible conciliation process to have those concerns addressed.

The types of outcomes that can result from conciliations at the Human Rights Commission include apologies, changes in policies and procedures, and staff training.

In cases where a resolution cannot be reached through conciliation, the Commission will be able to make recommendations to the public authority about any actions they should take to ensure their acts and decisions are compatible with human rights.

Thie new human rights complaint pathway enhances the current complaint jurisdictions the Commission administers including complaints about health services, and health practitioners,  sexual harassment and vilification, services for older people, disability services, services for children and young people, Victims of Crime Charter of rights complaints, vulnerable people complaints about abuse, neglect or exploitation of people 60 + years old or adults with a disability, health records, retirement villages,  tenancy and occupancy matters, sexuality and gender identity conversion practices, discrimination in areas like education, housing, employment and the provision of goods and services.

The Commission provides a one stop shop for many Canberrans to raise concerns about issues that affect their daily lives and participation in public life.

The new human rights complaint process will allow Canberrans to raise their concerns with public authorities in the ACT about alleged breaches of human rights and so enhance the culture of human rights in the ACT.

The new complaints pathway is expected to commence six months after the Human Rights (Complaints) Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 is passed by the Legislative Assembly.

Statement by the ACT Minister for Human Rights, Tara Cheyne.