Canberrans could soon be able to bring human rights complaints and concerns directly to the ACT Human Rights Commission instead of going through the courts following changes to the law.
Announced by the Minister for Human Rights, Tara Cheyne, the promised changes to the ACT Human Rights Act 2004 are aimed at strengthening the culture of human rights across Government and the community.
Human Rights Commissioner, Helen Watchirs welcomed the move.
“An accessible complaints pathway will boost the protection of rights, particularly for our most vulnerable,” Dr Watchirs said.
“People will no longer have to go to court if they believe their human rights have been breached,” she said.
“Clearly, court action is out of reach for most people.”
Dr Watchirs said the Commission, along with a wide range of community organisations, advocacy groups and members of the public, had long advocated for the Act to be amended to include a human rights complaints pathway.
“Both Victoria and Queensland have accessible human rights complaints mechanisms,” she said.
“We hope too that one of the real benefits of a human rights complaints pathway will be bringing public authorities and service providers together with the clients and people affected by their policies and decisions, and then coming up with restorative responses to those concerns.”
