2. Context for reform A summary of the key commitments made in the framework mapped against the 5 principles is set out in Figure 4. Figure 4: Australia’s Human Rights Framework – key actions FRAMEWORK IN ACTION Reaffirm • The Government reaffirms its commitment to promoting awareness and understanding of human rights in the Australian community and respecting the seven core United Nations human rights treaties to which Australia is a party. Educate • The Government will enhance its support for human rights education across the community, including primary and secondary schools. • The Government will provide funding of $2 million over 4 years to NGOs for the development and delivery of community education and engagement programs to promote a greater understanding of human rights. • The Government will provide an additional $6.6 million over 4 years to the Australian Human Rights Commission to enable it to expand its community education role on human rights and to provide information and support for human rights education programs. • The Government will invest $3.8 million in an education and training program for the Commonwealth public sector, including development of a human rights toolkit and guidance materials for public sector policy development and implementation of Government programs. • The Government will consider appropriate recognition of the need for public servants to respect human rights in policy making in any revision of the APS Values or Code of Conduct. Engage • The Government will continue to engage with the international community to improve the protection and promotion of human rights at home, within our region and around the world. • The Government will develop a new National Action Plan on Human Rights, working with our State and Territory counterparts and NGOs, to outline future action for the promotion and protection of human rights. • The Government will bring together the NGO Forums on Human Rights hosted by the Attorney‑General and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to ensure the forums provide a comprehensive consultation mechanism for discussion about domestic and international human rights issues. Protect • The Government will introduce legislation to establish a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights which will provide greater scrutiny of legislation for compliance with Australia’s international human rights obligations under the seven core UN human rights treaties to which Australia is a party. • The Government will introduce legislation requiring that each new Bill introduced into Parliament, and delegated legislation subject to disallowance, be accompanied by a statement which assesses its compatibility with the seven core UN human rights treaties to which Australia is a party. Respect • The Government will review legislation, policies and practices for compliance with the seven core UN human rights treaties to which Australia is a party. • The Government will develop exposure draft legislation harmonising and consolidating Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws to remove unnecessary regulatory overlap, address inconsistencies across laws and make the system more user-friendly. • The Government will include the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission as a permanent member of the Administrative Review Council. FREE & EQUAL: Revitalising Australia’s Commitment to Human Rights 37