Alliance of more than 100 organisations calls for Inquiry into Human Rights Bill 2025 (NSW)
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has led an open statement signed by more than 117 organisations and experts calling on the NSW Parliament to establish an inquiry into a Human Rights Act.
Together with the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, ALHR co-convenes the Human Rights Act for NSW Alliance (HRA4NSW) – a group of more than 100 organisations campaigning for a Human Rights Act.
NSW is currently lagging behind other states. Human Rights Acts have already been passed in the Australian Capital Territory (2004), Victoria (2006) and Queensland (2019). Recent major inquiries at both the federal level and in South Australia have recommended that state and territory parliaments address gaps in human rights protections by introducing comprehensive Human Rights Acts.
On Thursday 23 October 2025 the Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP, introduced the private member’s Human Rights Bill 2025 (NSW). The Bill, which is based on the laws already operating in other parts of Australia, presents an important opportunity for the Minns Government to deliver on NSW Labor’s Platform commitment to conduct a community consultation into legislation to better protect the human rights of NSW residents.
A statutory Human Rights Act for NSW would provide essential protections for the internationally recognised fundamental rights and freedoms of all people in the state. It would help ensure that decisions made by public authorities are fair, transparent, and respectful of human dignity and it would provide accessible solutions for people if their human rights are breached.
Kerry Weste, HRA4NSW Campaign Co-Convenor and Vice President of ALHR said:
“An inquiry into a Human Rights Act for NSW will enable the NSW Parliament to show people that it is committed to uniting the community behind values that we all share.”
“It’s time for NSW to have a long overdue conversation about creating an essential framework that enables everyone who is involved in formulating our laws and policies and delivering services to engage in a positive, collective effort to realise greater freedom, dignity and equality for all of us.”
Claudia Robinson, Co-Chair of ALHR’s Human Rights Act(s) Committee said:
“This Bill represents a landmark opportunity for an inquiry that can begin the process of bringing NSW in line with other jurisdictions such as the ACT, Victoria and Queensland, who already have Human Rights Acts. These laws have proven to be effective tools for improving public administration, enhancing transparency, and fostering a culture of respect for human dignity.”
“A Human Rights Act in NSW would not only fill a critical gap in legal protections but also send a powerful message about our shared values as a society. We urge all members of the NSW Parliament to support the Bill’s referral to a select committee for inquiry so that everyone in NSW can join the conversation about putting dignity at the heart of the work of government.”
Joint HRA4NSW Media Release here
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