NSW Human Rights Obligations for Public Authorities

Human Rights Bill 2025

Private Member's Bill

23 Oct 2025: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

civil liberties government accountability human rights legal complaints privacy public authority

Introduced by: Jenny Leong MP (GRN)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Public authorities cannot act or make decisions that clash with human rights; they must give proper consideration to relevant human rights.
Victims of human rights breaches can lodge complaints with the Human Rights Commission; they can also bring proceedings in the Tribunal or the Court.
Members of Parliament must present a statement explaining if a proposed Bill is compatible with human rights.
Ministers must state if a recommended statutory rule is compatible with human rights; they must justify any limitations the rule imposes.
Public authorities must include human rights complaint data and policy reviews in their annual reports.
Parliament must appoint a Joint Committee on Human Rights to examine legislation.
It is a criminal offence to refuse to give information to the Commissioner under a formal notice.
It is a criminal offence to disclose the identity of someone in a human rights complaint if the Commissioner has banned that disclosure.

News articles and press releases

Human Rights Bill 2025

Ms JENNY LEONG, Member for Newtown — 2025-10-23

Part 2, division 2 of the bill sets out the particular rights that would be protected under the law of New South Wales if the bill were passed, which include economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. As set out from proposed section 14 to section 44, this bill seeks to protect the right to recognition and equality before the law and freedom from discrimination; the right to life; the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment; the distinct cultural, spiritual, political, social and economic rights of First Nations peoples; rights of children; protection of families, in all their forms; the right to privacy and reputation; freedom of movement; freedom of thought, conscience, religion and opinion.