New South Wales is one step closer to a Human Rights Act, with the NSW parliament unanimously supporting the establishment of a Community Services Committee Inquiry into the Human Rights Bill 2025.
The Bill was introduced by the Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP, in October 2025.
The announcement comes after the Human Rights Act for NSW - an Alliance of more than 120 legal and community organisations, religious bodies and trade unions - has spent years campaigning for an inquiry into the introduction of a Human Rights Act for NSW.
NSW has fallen significantly behind comparable jurisdictions when it comes to legally protecting fundamental rights. Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory and Queensland have enacted Human Rights Acts. Comparable democracies - Canada, New Zealand, the UK - also have well developed local Human Rights Acts.
The absence of a Human Rights Act in NSW currently leaves residents with some of the weakest legal protection of their human rights anywhere in the Western democratic world.
This inquiry gives NSW the chance to identify gaps in existing rights protections, learn from other jurisdictions and put in place a law that protects all of NSW communities- no matter their background, identity or location.
A Human Rights Act would set certain rights in legislative stone, meaning the government would have to check its legislation does not unreasonably impede those rights before it passes laws and public authorities would have to act consistently with those rights when making decisions. It would also provide people in NSW with pathways to seek just and practical solutions if their human rights are breached.
Kerry Weste, Chair of the Human Rights Act Alliance and Vice President at Australian Lawyers for Human Rights: “We commend the Parliament for establishing this Inquiry to examine how we can improve human rights protections across our state. For people in NSW basic rights remain largely unprotected under existing legislation, leaving us lagging seriously behind other jurisdictions. This consultation, with the entire NSW community, 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. It will 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.”
Sarah Marland, Executive Director, Community Legal Centres NSW: This is very welcome news for the people of New South Wales who will finally get the opportunity to let the government know about their experiences of human rights violations and how their fundamental rights can best be protected in law. A community-informed Human Rights Act for NSW would have a profound impact on the lives of people accessing the services of community legal centres, who come up against so many barriers in their everyday lives.
Giancarlo de Vera, Chief Executive Officer, BEING - Mental Health Consumers: “Mental health consumers across NSW celebrate the leadership shown by the Legislative Council by establishing this important inquiry into improving human rights protections. 1 in 2 mental health consumers feel their human rights are respected, with 1 in 3 mental health consumers experiencing cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment, 1 in 5 not exercising choice and agreeing to treatment out of fear of being treated against their consent, and more than 90% have experienced discrimination.
Community consultation is the necessary first step in correcting the self-evident systemic issues with our state’s mental health system, and will provide an important opportunity for our elected leaders to understand why human rights protections matter so much to mental health consumers everywhere, and how such protections will support the shift toward a more equitable and fairer rights-based mental health system.”
Megan Spindler-Smith, Acting Chief Executive Officer, People with Disability Australia: "This inquiry is a critical opportunity to design a Human Rights Act that delivers real protections in practice. The Disability Royal Commission exposed the scale of violence, abuse and exclusion experienced by people with disability, and the failure of existing systems to prevent that harm. This must now translate into a framework that prevents harm before it occurs, embeds accountability in everyday decision-making, and provides clear, accessible pathways for people to challenge rights violations when they occur."
Blake Alan Cansdale, National Director, ANTAR: “The establishment of this inquiry is an important step toward stronger human rights protections in NSW. For too long, the human rights of Aboriginal peoples in New South Wales have been treated as optional. A Human Rights Act would help change that by embedding fairness, dignity and accountability into how governments make laws, develop policy and deliver services. This inquiry must centre the voices of First Nations peoples and other communities most affected, ensuring any future law reflects lived experience - not just legal theory.”
Timothy Roberts, President, NSW Council for Civil Liberties: This is an important next step in providing the comprehensive approach to human rights in the state of New South Wales. The breadth of civil society supporting and calling for this inquiry reflects the unifying potential of a human rights act and each of the 120+ organisations a part of the alliance should be congratulated on their leadership.”
Claudia Robinson, Chair of ALHR's Human Rights Act(s) Committee: "The establishment of an inquiry is a fantastic next step towards improving human rights protections in NSW. A Human Rights Act would give people in NSW a clear, accessible way to have their rights considered in everyday decision‑making. It would help ensure that government agencies, public authorities and lawmakers take human rights into account from the outset of law and policy making. This inquiry is an opportunity for NSW to modernise its human rights framework and ensure that everyone has their rights recognised and upheld."
Nikita White, Amnesty International Campaigner: "Amnesty welcomes this inquiry. It’s important that the people of New South Wales are given an opportunity to have a say on how the government should protect and respect their human rights. With inclusive consultation a Human Rights Act for NSW will help create a future where everyone can enjoy their human rights - making their lives, and their community's lives, better.”
Caitlin Reiger, Chief Executive Officer, Human RIghts Law Centre: “Everyone benefits from having human rights at the heart of their laws. It is great news that the New South Wales Parliament recognises the importance of enforceable human rights standards and is exploring a Human Rights Act. NSW and national civil society organisations have been calling for a Human Rights Act for years. People in NSW are missing out from the benefits and protections that people in Victoria, Queensland and the ACT have every day. A Human Rights Act would prevent people being evicted unjustly from public housing, ensure everyone can access medical treatment, and ensure children can go to public schools regardless of their bank balance.”
Jackie Mead, Chief Executive Officer, Knowmore Legal Service: Knowmore commends the NSW Parliament for commencing an inquiry into a Human Rights Act. This is a significant step forward to a future where the fundamental human rights of everyone in our community are better recognised, protected and enforced.
As a community legal service dedicated to supporting victims and survivors of child abuse, we see everyday the lifelong impacts of human rights violations against the youngest people in our society. We welcome the opportunity for the people of NSW to participate in this inquiry and help to shape critical human rights protections for future generations.
Cara Varian, Chief Executive Officer, NSW Council of Social Service: “The approval of this Inquiry is a landmark victory for the people of NSW. It marks the moment where our collective advocacy transforms into a concrete legislative roadmap. We are now one step closer to a NSW Human Rights Act that guarantees the essentials—safety, health, housing, and security—for everyone, regardless of the political tide. Today, we aren't just celebrating a procedural win; we are celebrating the beginning of a reality where human rights are a legal requirement, not a policy afterthought.”
Contact:
Amber Plum ap@jcp.com.au 0407914508
Indre McGlinn, indre@clcnsw.org.au, 0434 462 229