Compared to other states and territories which have enacted Human Rights Acts, human rights are seriously exposed to abuse in NSW. The absence of human rights protections means that our state’s residents are falling through the cracks, and this has a real human cost on people’s day to day lives. Emerging overlapping crises have further exposed the limitations of current human rights protections. In the face of these overlapping challenges, the need for a Human Rights Act for NSW has never been greater.
We recommend that NSW Parliament enacts the Human Rights Bill 2025 (NSW). A Human Rights Act will strengthen protections of the human rights of NSW residents, improve the wellbeing of the NSW community, and support public entities in making better decisions.
What the Bill Protects
NSW can be a leader of human rights in Australia by passing this Bill, which protects a greater range of human rights, including civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights. The Bill will protect:
- Recognition and equality before the law and freedom from discrimination
- Freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief
- Freedom of opinion and expression
- Right to peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
- Rights of First Nations Peoples
- Right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment
- Right to a fair trial and rights in criminal proceedings
- Economic, social and cultural rights
No Rights Without Remedy
A Human Rights Act for NSW would protect the rights of individuals and communities and provide them with a means to access justice and redress if these rights are breached. The Bill establishes an independent cause of action for breaches of human rights and allows for monetary damages to be awarded. By passing this Bill, NSW would become the most advanced jurisdiction in Australia in relation to justice for human rights abuses.
Read our full submission.
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