Qld politics: A-G knocks back 70-point plan for human rights

A report into the state’s approach to human rights commissioned by the previous Labor government has been dismissed by the new Attorney-General.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington in Parliament

Calls to overhaul the Queensland government’s approach to human rights by forcing ministers to reinforce their commitment to them and establishing a new expert unit have been rejected by the Attorney-General.

Griffith University professor Susan Harris Rimmer’s 136-page review of the Human Rights Act, headlined Placing People at the Heart of Policy, included 70 wide-ranging recommendations.

Prof Rimmer recommended improved training of human rights within government and analysing and responding to the public service’s knowledge of them.

She also recommended ministers “explicitly reinforce in their dealings with departments and agencies their expectation that they should act compatibly with human rights”.

It was suggested an eight-person Human Rights Unit be established as a permanent unit within the Department of Justice and Attorney-General to provide a centralised focus of expertise on human rights that could be used by other government entities.

Notably, Prof Rimmer also recommended the Human Rights Act be amended to include new rights to adequate housing, to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment and to live free from gender-based violence.

Improving the rights of victims of crime was also suggested, which Prof Rimmer said should ensure they were treated with courtesy, compassion, respect and dignity by investigatory and prosecuting agencies.

Professor Susan Harris Rimmer

All 70 recommendations were rejected by Attorney-General Deb Frecklington, who noted the report was finalised prior to the election of the LNP government.

“Its recommendations relating to victims’ rights do not have regard to the government’s positive agenda on victims’ rights,” she said.

“Significant enhancements to the rights of victims have already been legislated in the Making Queensland Safer Act 2024, and the government continues to prioritise the rights of victims as we deliver on our commitments made to Queenslanders at the election.

“The Crisafulli government thanks Professor Susan Harris Rimmer and her team for its review and report.

“The government has agreed not to implement the report’s recommendations.”

Prof Rimmer also called for the parliament’s ability to override the Human Rights Act be removed.

“The override power is unnecessary and sends a message that rights are less important than other political or policy goals,” she said.

“This is particularly the case in a state with a unicameral parliament and where the two overrides to date were undertaken with inadequate public consultation and scrutiny.”

Originally published as Qld politics: A-G knocks back 70-point plan for human rights