1. Introduction: Towards a revitalised Human Rights Framework for Australia 1.1 Overview This chapter outlines the actions necessary for the Australian Government to meet its obligations to respect, protect and fulfil human rights in a revitalised Human Rights Framework. It recommends a National Human Rights Framework for Australia so that we can achieve an effective system of human rights protection for 21st century Australia. Recommendation The proposed national framework has 8 key action areas (set out in recommendation 1), which are each described in detail in the subsequent chapters of this report. The chapter also sets out key accountability mechanisms for the national framework (set out in recommendation 2). 1 Australia establishes a National Human Rights Framework The Commission recommends that the Australian Government introduce a National Human Rights Framework. The Framework should include the following, inter-related, actions: 1. comprehensive and effective protection of human rights in legislation through the introduction of a national Human Rights Act 2. modernised federal discrimination laws that shift the focus from a reactive model that responds to discriminatory treatment to a proactive model that seeks to prevent discriminatory treatment in the first place 3. an enhanced role for Parliament in protecting human rights, through reform to the processes for parliamentary scrutiny and the introduction of new oversight mechanisms for Australia’s human rights obligations 4. a National Human Rights Indicator Index to independently measure progress on human rights 5. an annual statement to Parliament on human rights priorities is made by the Government 6. a national human rights education program 7. a sustainable National Human Rights Institution, the Australian Human Rights Commission, to support the Framework 8. support for vibrant and robust civil society organisations to protect human rights. 14 FREE & EQUAL: Revitalising Australia’s Commitment to Human Rights