1. Introduction: Towards a revitalised Human Rights Framework for Australia 1.4 The key elements of a new National Human Rights Framework for Australia Recommendation 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. Recommendation 2 Implementing the National Human Rights Framework The National Human Rights Framework should: • 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. FREE & EQUAL: Revitalising Australia’s Commitment to Human Rights 21