Recommendations Recommendation 1 Recommendation 2 Australia establishes a National Human Rights Framework Implementing the 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: The National Human Rights Framework should: 1. 2. 3. 4. comprehensive and effective protection of human rights in legislation through the introduction of a national Human Rights Act 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 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 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. • set out commitments over a 10 year period, with two 5 year implementation plans • be adequately, appropriately and sustainably resourced • include mechanisms for community engagement and participation in the framework’s operation • set measurable targets • identify how the framework interacts with other national frameworks, agreements and plans • include a monitoring, evaluation and learning framework with public reporting at regular intervals, in line with the commitments. Recommendation 3 A National Human Rights Act The Commission recommends that the Australian Government enact a Human Rights Act. Further, the Commission recommends that an Exposure Draft Bill be developed based on the Commission’s model Human Rights Act. FREE & EQUAL: Revitalising Australia’s Commitment to Human Rights 11