Make a Submission to the Parliamentary inquiry into a NSW Human Rights Act by 3 July 2026!
NSW is one step closer to a Human Rights Act, with the Community Services Committee of the NSW Parliament currently holding a parliamentary inquiry into the private members Human Rights Bill 2025.
“For people in NSW basic rights remain largely unprotected under existing legislation, leaving us lagging seriously behind other jurisdictions. This Inquiry is a chance for a consultation with the entire NSW community. It offers us a chance to come together and have a very unifying conversation about returning dignity and power to everyday people, and helping government officials to make fair and caring decisions. A Human Rights Act for NSW can help us face big challenges like the cost of living crisis, housing crisis, domestic violence, equitable timely access to healthcare and inclusive education for all children.”
This is a once in decades opportunity to tell our parliamentarians that we want our state to legally protect human rights for all NSW residents.
It is absolutely critical that as many people and organisations as possible make a submission to the review.
We know from polling conducted by Amnesty International Australia that 78% of people in NSW support a Human Rights Act but we need to make our voices heard - this is our opportunity to do that!
You do not have to be a human rights expert to make a submission - in fact - it is really important that the Inquiry hears about the lived experiences and perspectives of everyday people and community organisations from throughout NSW.
We are here to support you to make your voice heard!
Simply combine information from the below resources with your expertise, lived experience or personal views in order to ensure the Committee receives lots of compelling submissions from the community in support of a Human Rights Act for SA.
Submissions are due by 5.00pm on 3 July 2026 and should be uploaded here or emailed to: communityservices@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Step 1: Remember these key submission writing tips
Explain who you are and why human rights are important to you.
Be specific to your issues – you don’t need to cover legal technicalities, or talk about all human rights – speak to the rights most important to you.
Real-word examples will shine through - talk about your experiences or those of your loved ones or stakeholders. Use case studies from placed that have a Human Rights Act to show why we deserve that protection too. We have links to lots of case studies below.
No need to re-invent the wheel – speak from experience, and up-cycle existing annual reports, submissions etc.
It doesn’t need to be long - even submissions of a few pages can be very powerful and compelling!
Step 2: Use our easy submission guide and template: adapt it to suit your priorities:
*[A copy of the Human Rights Act for NSW submission guide will be available to download here in PDF and Word soon.]
Step 3: check out these resources and see if they help with writing your submission:
To assist you in making a submission, here are some very useful resources, including where you can find many case studies that show how Human Rights Acts are working to deliver concrete benefits in people’s everyday lives.
You don’t need to use all of these resources. Find the ones that you find most helpful to the story you want to tell the Committee:
Human Rights Act for NSW Alliance Key Principles for a Human Rights Act https://humanrightsfornsw.org/benefits-of-a-human-rights-act
Human Rights Act for NSW Alliance website: https://humanrightsfornsw.org/
Human Rights Act for NSW Alliance Case Studies:
Case Studies Booklet: https://alhr.org.au/wp/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/HRA4NSW-Case-Studies-March-26-R.pdf
website case studies: https://humanrightsfornsw.org/benefits-to-particular-groups-1
Human Rights Law Centre 101 Cases Website, where you watch short videos and search for case studies by right, beneficiary and location: https://www.humanrightsact.org.au/101-cases
Federal Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Report: Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework: https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/committees/reportjnt/RB000210/toc_pdf/InquiryintoAustralia'sHumanRightsFramework.pdf
South Australian Parliament’s Social Development Committee Report: Inquiry into the Potential for a Human Rights Act for South Australia: https://www.rightsnetworksa.com/_files/ugd/8cf77c_5aa0ef008b43418b8269ee397754844e.pdf
Australian Human Rights Commission Free and Equal Human Rights Act Messaging Guide 2024: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/622feda0bf4f7d3815edc83c/t/663d5f5ed874305c91747029/1715298187890/MESSAGE+GUIDE+-+Human+Rights+Message+Guide+-+FINAL.pdf
BEING – Mental Health Consumers, Wayahead, and Mental Health Carers NSW Advocacy Toolkit: Protecting Rights, Protecting Mental Health: https://being.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Advocacy-Toolkit_Protecting-Rights-Protecting-Mental-Health.pdf
Campaign for an Australian Human Rights Act fact sheets which include the below listed fact sheets: https://www.humanrightsact.org.au/resources/factsheets
Get in touch if you need more support
We are here to help.
If you have any questions or you need further support to make a submission, please do not hesitate to email the Human Rights Act for NSW Alliance: humanrightsactfornsw@gmail.com