Right to healthy environment reviews underway

19 November 2025

Did you know that the right to a healthy environment is now protected by law in the ACT?

In March 2025, the new right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment became one of the human rights protected in the ACT Human Rights Act. The ACT is the first Australian state or territory to take the step of protecting this right in law.

In response, the Commission is now conducting a series of reviews on the right to a healthy environment. The reviews are aimed at engaging the Canberra community and ACT government agencies about the new right, and how to realise it.

The first review will focus on clean air.

For more information:

Response to the Board of Inquiry’s final report into the ACT Criminal Justice System

We acknowledge the Board of Inquiry’s important work in facilitating public discourse about the criminal justice system.
Translating rights into child and youth-friendly language

Jodie and her team are currently visiting schools across the ACT to talk to students about human rights.
Commission welcomes pathway for human rights complaints

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.
Specialised legal support for sexual assault victim-survivors welcomed

Victim Support Act and Women’s Legal Centre ACT have been selected to jointly run one of  three pilots across Australia, to provide a specialised and trauma-informed legal service for sexual assault victim-survivors.
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