{"id":229812,"date":"2019-02-27T19:59:15","date_gmt":"2019-02-27T09:59:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=229812"},"modified":"2020-07-29T11:07:21","modified_gmt":"2020-07-29T01:07:21","slug":"qld-passes-human-rights-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/02\/27\/qld-passes-human-rights-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"Qld Passes Human Rights Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Queensland Attorney-General Yvette D\u2019Ath<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

February 27, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

The State Government has enshrined 23 human rights in a Bill passed in State Parliament on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Attorney-General Yvette D\u2019Ath said the legislation was about protecting people\u2019s rights.<\/p>\n

\u201cQueensland\u2019s Human Rights Act is about a better Queensland \u2013 modern, fair and responsive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

The new Act mirrors similar acts in force in Victoria and the ACT, but includes several rights they omit.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Mrs D\u2019Ath 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cA 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Ms D’Ath said the new Act honoured an election commitment.<\/p>\n

“We are advancing the rights of Queenslanders and providing better services,” she said.<\/p>\n

“This legislation underscores that we must put people first in all that we do \u2013 in our actions and our decisions, and in our interactions with one another.”<\/p>\n

The Bill protects 23 human rights:<\/strong><\/p>\n