2.1: Human Rights
Welcome growing interest in adopting nationwide human rights laws and continue to contribute to this debate. Other Information:
The ACT Government welcomes growing interest in adopting nationwide human rights laws and will continue to contribute to this
debate. We are keen to ensure that the ACT’s human rights legislation, the first in Australia, remains relevant and that the
Territory is at the forefront of developments in this important area of law. Part of this commitment is the future review
of the Discrimination Act 1991. The Human Rights Commission provides an independent, fair and accessible process for dealing
with complaints about discrimination, health services, disability services, community services, and services for older people,
children and young people. The commission also promotes service improvement and works to develop awareness of human rights
in government and the community. The ACT Government has recently moved to extend a human rights culture in the ACT by providing
a direct right of action and imposing a duty to comply on public authorities. We have also changed the interpretive rules
so that a human rights approach must prevail unless this would defeat the purpose of underlying legislation. The ACT Government
has also established a unique opt-in clause for non-public bodies. The ACT Government will further consider adopting the International
Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as well as environment-related rights at the time of the five-year review
of the Human Rights Act 2004 in order to continue to enhance the human rights culture in the ACT.
Indicator(s):
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