Human Rights Obligations for Public Authorities
Human Rights Bill 2025
Private Member's Bill1st House
2nd House
Law
Introduced by: Jenny Leong (GRN)
Links to official parliament websites
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.
Topics
civil liberties government accountability human rights legal complaints privacy public authority