February 27, 2019
The State Government has enshrined 23 human rights in a Bill passed in State Parliament on Wednesday.
Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said the legislation was about protecting people’s rights.
“Queensland’s Human Rights Act is about a better Queensland – modern, fair and responsive,” she said.
“The primary aim of the legislation is to ensure that respect for human rights is embedded in the culture of the public sector, and that public functions are exercised in a principled way that is compatible with human rights.”
The new Act mirrors similar acts in force in Victoria and the ACT, but includes several rights they omit.
As part of the Act’s introduction, the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission will be renamed the Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC) and given oversight of the Act’s implementation.
Mrs D’Ath said the QHRC conciliation function would be the first of its kind in Australia and play an important role in educating and informing the community about human rights and the Act.
“A dispute resolution function for the Commission will provide an accessible, independent and appropriate avenue for members of the community to raise human rights concerns with public entities, with a view to reaching a practical resolution,” she said.
The QHRC will be able to seek relief or remedy for decisions that breach human rights, but has no power to order the payment of damages.
Ms D’Ath said the new Act honoured an election commitment.
“We are advancing the rights of Queenslanders and providing better services,” she said.
“This legislation underscores that we must put people first in all that we do – in our actions and our decisions, and in our interactions with one another.”
The Bill protects 23 human rights:
- 1. Recognition and equality before the law
- 2. Right to life
- 3. Protection from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
- 4. Freedom from forced work
- 5. Freedom of movement
- 6. Freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief
- 7. Freedom of expression
- 8. Peaceful assembly and freedom of association
- 9. Taking part in public life
- 10. Property rights
- 11. Privacy and reputation
- 12. Protection of families and children
- 13. Cultural rights — generally
- 14. Cultural rights of Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders
- 15. Right to liberty and security of person
- 16. Humane treatment when deprived of liberty
- 17. Fair hearing
- 18. Rights in criminal proceedings
- 19. Children in the criminal process
- 20. Right not to be tried or punished more than once
- 21. Retrospective criminal laws
- 22. Right to education, and
- 23. Right to health services.
The Act amends 20 existing Acts, but provisions note it does not override Commonwealth laws, and some rights – such as freedom of assembly for outlaw bikers – are limited.
Mrs D’Ath said the vast majority of the 280 submissions regarding the Bill supported its introduction.
“I would like to thank the stakeholders and members of the public who took the time to provide submissions and attend hearings,” she said.
“A special mention and thank you goes to the stakeholders who have been advocating for a Human Rights Act for many years; without their tenacity we would not be where we are today.”
The new Act will come into force on July 1.
It will be reviewed in 2023 when consideration will be given to whether rights should be included.
- A copy of the new Act can be obtained online (560kb PDF)
This is a sad day for Queensland and its people. Welcome to the Soviet United Nations’ State of Queensland.
We read, “The State Government has enshrined 23 human rights in a Bill passed in State Parliament on Wednesday. Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath said the legislation was about protecting people’s rights.”
No doubt, the intention is that the people whose rights are to be most protected will be Marx, Freud, and their followers, and the advocates of all sorts of perversion and heathenism, at the expense of Jesus Christ, Christians, Christianity, and our Christian Constitution will be re-interpreted as Multicultural, as is commonly being done already.
The source of this wisdom is not the Bible or the Australian Constitution, but primarily, as I mentioned, Marx and Freud, and more recently, the United Nations, which can all be traced back to the Devil himself, and he has many advocates in high places today.
“The new Act mirrors similar acts in force in Victoria and the ACT, but includes several issues they omit. As part of the Act’s introduction, the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Commission will be renamed the Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC) and given oversight of the Act’s implementation.”
Just a rebadging of the infamous QHRC! We have seen already some of the abuses dumped on law-abiding Victorian citizens, who have done no more than speak up for what is right and true. Hang on for the ride, Queensland!
We are told, “The Act amends 20 existing Acts, but provisions note it does not override Commonwealth law”.
‘Pull the other one’! Like most modern legislation, it rides roughshod over our Commonwealth Constitution, defies our Christian and Protestant heritage enshrined in that Constitution by its vital link to the United Kingdom, and worst of all, flies in the face of the Word of God.
Please tell me if I’m wrong but I thought Christianity was already multicultural.
The idea of a catholic (no capital C) universal church. Pentecost, speaking in tongues, Matthew 28:19.
Wasn’t that part of the original idea that disrupted society: Gentiles / Jews, Slaves / Free, Men / Women. Galatians 3:28.
Silly me. I didn’t understand that Christianity was limited to Protestants who spoke English. Aramaic-speaking Jews probably wouldn’t have been invited to the party.
In response to “World Citizen”, my comments referred to a ‘Multiculturalism’ which is really multi-religion.
We would have to be very gullible to assume that the ‘Multiculturalism’ being promoted in Australia is merely the sharing of different foods and fashions. In reality, it is the adamant assertion that all religions, including witchcraft, are equal – that is what is being promoted; that is what our changing laws are establishing, and it is all at the expense of Christianity.
The Bible quote from Galatians 3 is about Christians, not a mixed multitude: “26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus….. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Paul’s statement to the Christian Church at Galatia is very exclusive; it is not about ‘Multicultural’ religion.
Personally, Trevor, I’m glad your rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression will now be protected by law. I always get a good laugh reading them. I’m sure many other people do, too.
Excellent delivered commitment from the Palaszczuk Labor Government. Yet another in an already great ratio of deliveries, showing how “good” government actually performs from campaign to governance.
Criticising a Human Rights Legislation that protects ALL of us in Qld is astounding, frankly, especially on a biased viewpoint of a particular faith. Australia at the core is secular, with Constitutional freedoms of faith AND worship. These factors alone exclude such criticisms for what THEY reflect.
Well done Qld Labor on delivering for all.