Make a Submission to the Parliamentary inquiry into a NSW Human Rights Act by 3 July 2026!
Right now, we have a once in decades opportunity to tell our parliament that we want our human rights protected in law.
The Community Services Committee is currently holding a parliamentary inquiry into the private members Human Rights Bill 2025.
It is critical that as many individuals and organisations as possible make submissions in support of a Human Rights Act for our state.
Everyone in NSW deserves to to be treated with dignity, equality and respect but it will only happen if people speak up.
Victoria, the ACT and Queensland already have Human Rights Acts. NSW has been left behind for too long.
Polling by Amnesty International Australia shows that 78% of people in NSW support a Human Rights Act. Now we need to make our voices heard and this inquiry is our opportunity to do that!
You do not have to be a human rights expert to make a submission - in fact - it is vital that the Inquiry hears about the lived experiences and perspectives of everyday people and community organisations from across NSW.
We are here to support you to make your voice heard!
Use our submission guides below to help you get started. They will help you share your lived experience, your expertise, or simply your personal views about why human rights matter to you.
Submissions are due by 5.00pm on 3 July 2026.
They should be uploaded here or emailed to: communityservices@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Step 1: Use our submission guidance and template
This set of resources will help both individuals and organisations to make a submission.
Whether you have expertise or are writing a submission for the first time, these resources are designed to support you.
You don’t have to use all of these resources - just use what is most helpful to you!
Step 2: If you want to, you can also check out these further resources and see if they help with 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. Pick the ones that are most helpful to the story you want to tell the Committee:
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 on different rights that could be protected in a Human Rights Act: 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
You might also find this video about making a submission to a parliamentary inquiry helpful