1.2 Recommendations
The Commission’s model for a Human Rights
Act seeks to ensure appropriate consideration
of human rights upstream – namely, in a
preventative manner and in advance – by also
Upstream
consideration of rights
Statements of
compatibility with human
rights accompany all
legislative proposals
ensuring that there are protections and remedies
for when human rights are not appropriately
treated. The balance between upstream and
preventative measures and remedial elements is
summarised in the diagram below
Parliament assesses
human rights impact
e.g. PJCHR.
Human rights impact is
always considered by
Parliament when
considering legislative
proposals.
Public servants are
trained to identify human
rights breaches and to
ensure participatory
design of policy in HR.
AHRC reporting on
implementation of HRA
to promote best
practice.
• Human rights impacts
are identified.
• Where human rights
are limited,
justification for this is
provided.
Public servants have a
duty to consider HR and
to ensure effective
participation and equal
access to justice.
A Human Rights Act protects rights and freedoms in law (sourced from Australian legal
traditions and our international treaty obligations)
DOWNstream
consideration of rights
• Interpreted consistently with Australia’s binding treaty obligations.
• Subject to appropriate limitations.
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Where a person’s
human rights are
breached they have
a cause of action.
May seek
administrative review
of a decision.
May bring a complaint
to the AHRC.
In limited emergency
situations, and where a
complaint is unable to
be resolved, a person
may bring a court
action to address the
alleged breach of HR.
When applying the
interpretive clause, courts
may indicate that
legislation is not
compatible with HR
(must by referred by the
AG to Parliament to be
considered).