On 21 April 2010, the Attorney-General launched Australia’s Human Rights Framework which outlines a range of key measures to further protect and promote human rights in Australia.

The Framework acts on the key recommendations of the National Human Rights Consultation Committee and complements a number of actions the Government is already taking to encourage greater inclusion and participation in our community.

The Framework is based on five key principles and focuses on:

• reaffirming a commitment to our human rights obligations
• the importance of human rights education
• enhancing our domestic and international engagement on human rights issues
• improving human rights protections including greater parliamentary scrutiny, and
• achieving greater respect for human rights principles within the community.

Specifically, the Framework demonstrates the Government’s commitment to positive and practical action in relation to human rights through a number of key commitments, including:

• investing over $12 million in a comprehensive suite of education initiatives to promote a greater understanding of human rights across the community
• establishing a new Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights to provide greater scrutiny of legislation for compliance with our international human rights obligations
• requiring that each new Bill introduced into Parliament is accompanied by a statement of compatibility with our international human rights obligations
• combining federal anti-discrimination laws into a single Act to remove unnecessary regulatory overlap and make the system more user-friendly, and
• creating an annual NGO Human Rights Forum to enable comprehensive engagement with non-government organisations on human rights matters.

These changes are designed to have broad effect and will enhance the understanding of, and respect for, human rights across the Australian community.

Human rights and the public sector

Australia’s Human Rights Framework contains measures that are aimed at enhancing understanding and respect for human rights across the public sector and ensuring appropriate recognition of human rights issues in legislative and policy development.

The Framework education and training program for the Commonwealth public sector comprises a range of resources and guidance materials that will:

• assist public sector officials to understand human rights obligations
• strengthen the capacity of legal and policy officers to develop policies, programs and legislation that are consistent with human rights, and
• provide guidance to administrative decision-makers on relevant human rights considerations to take into account.

General human rights training for the Commonwealth public sector commenced in Canberra in August 2011. This half-day training course will provide a short and simple introduction to human rights, where they come from and what they mean for the work of government. 

The course is being delivered in partnership with the Australian Centre for Human Rights Education, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and will run until October 2011.

Information about the training Program and other human rights resources available for the public sector is available from the Human rights and the public sector page or contact the humanrightseducationsection@ag.gov.au.

Australia’s Human Rights Framework – Education Grants

Under Australia’s Human Rights Framework – Education Grants Program, the Australian Government will provide funding to non-government organisations to prepare and deliver human rights education programs to the Australian community.

The Government will fund a range of community organisations to develop or deliver programs that are appropriately targeted and address information needs of different groups. Grants will be made available for a range of programs, including one-off events, short-term activities or longer-term programs running over one to three years.

Information about the grants program and applying for funding is available from the Education Grants page.

Consolidation of Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws

As a key part of Australia’s Human Rights Framework, the Government is seeking to consolidate Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws into a single Act.

The project will focus on delivering a better regulatory framework through reducing inconsistency and improving the clarity of anti-discrimination legislation. This will provide more certainty for business, help reduce regulatory costs to government, business and the community and remove barriers to greater inclusion and participation in society for individuals.

A discussion paper has been launched to seek a broad range of views to inform the development of policy for the project.

The discussion paper and more information about the consolidation project can be found on the Consolidation of Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws page.

Australia’s new National Human Rights Action Plan

One of the principles of the Australia's Human Rights Framework is enhancing Australia’s domestic and international engagement on human rights issues. The Government is developing a new National Human Rights Action Plan, working with our State and Territory counterparts to outline future action for the promotion and protection of human rights.

The Action Plan will be developed throughout 2011 in consultation with State and Territory Governments, non-government organisations and the Australian people. 

The Australian Government will initially work with the State and Territory Governments to develop an exposure draft of the Action Plan. A draft report on the status of human rights in Australia will also be developed. Both are expected to be released for public comment in April 2011. 

Information about the Action Plan is available from the National Human Rights Action Plan page.

Improved scrutiny of legislation for compatibility with international human rights obligations.

On 2 June 2010, the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Bill 2010 was introduced into Parliament. The Bill provides for the creation of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and the requirement for Statements of Compatibility for new Bills and legislative instruments.

The changes will affect the way that new policies and legislation are developed. You can find answers to questions about the process on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Please contact the Human Rights Policy Branch to request a hard copy of the Framework or if you have any questions about the new scrutiny arrangements that are not answered in the FAQs:

Human Rights Policy Branch
Attorney-General's Department
3-5 National Circuit
BARTON ACT 2600

Telephone: (02) 6141 3415

Email: humanrights@ag.gov.au