There are very few avenues in Australia to challenge human rights abuses. Instead, those who experience them are left without any way to defend and protect their rights or hold to account those who abuse them.

This is because Australia is the only liberal democracy without a Human Rights Act, that protects our human rights in law. Unlike Victoria, Queensland and the ACT, NSW does not have a state Human Rights Act. That leaves NSW residents with less ability to defend their rights than almost anyone else in the Western world.

Right now, NSW human rights protections are found in a range of laws that don’t protect all of our rights, and even pits them against each other.

This enables governments and powerful corporations to disregard our human rights when they create laws, implement policies, and deliver services.

Enshrining our human rights in law would safeguard them, and give us the tools to fight for them when they’re disrespected. They would also make public authorities consider human rights when they make policy, thus preventing potential human rights abuses before they occur.

The ACT, Queensland and Victoria all protect the rights of their citizens with a Human Rights Act. Now we have the chance to make this happen for NSW.

Notice has been given to the NSW Parliament that a Human Rights Bill will be introduced into the NSW Parliament in the next few months. The NSW Government has indicated that it is no longer opposed to a Human Rights Bill for NSW. Now is the time to put pressure on the parliament and let the Premier know that you want your human rights protected by law.