PWDA joins 106 organisations and experts calling for an inquiry into Human Rights Act for NSW
Wednesday 22 October 2025
PWDA joins more than 100 organisations and individuals to endorse an open statement calling on all NSW Parliamentarians to support the establishment of a public inquiry into a Human Rights Act for New South Wales.
On Thursday 23 October 2025, the Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP, will introduce a private member's Human Rights Bill. Human Rights Act for NSW – an alliance of 90 peak and community organisations working across NSW says the Bill puts forward a model that reflects long-standing laws already successfully operating in other states and is calling on the parliament to refer it for a comprehensive community consultation.
There has never been a better time for an inquiry into a Human Rights Act for NSW. Everyone in NSW should have the opportunity to have their say on how best to legally protect the dignity, security and interests of everyone in our State.
NSW is lagging behind. Human Rights Acts have already been passed in the Australian Capital Territory (2004), Victoria (2006) and Queensland (2019). Recent major inquiries at the federal level and in South Australia have both recommended that parliaments address gaps in the human rights protections afforded to people by introducing a comprehensive Human Rights Act.
The NSW Labor Platform, taken to the last election and endorsed again in 2024, unequivocally supports a 'community consultation into the introduction of further legislation to better protect the human rights of NSW residents.' When notice of the private member's bill was given in March this year, the NSW Attorney General, the Hon Michael Daley MP, stated that the government is 'open to considering the issue and working constructively' on the proposal.
Megan Spindler-Smith (they/them/Mx), Acting CEO, People With Disability Australia (PWDA) said: "We need a human rights approach that ensures people with disability are not forgotten or left behind when we talk about human rights. PWDA welcomes the Greens introduction of a Bill for a New South Wales Human Rights Act. An Act under which we are equal and fully protected is the right way forward for our community. Existing human rights frameworks in New South Wales do not provide adequate protection or stop the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation people with disability have endured for far too long. When our rights are breached there must be consequences. It is critical the NSW Anti-Discrimination Commission is resourced to enforce new protections and ensure effective supports for all people in New South Wales."
The full statement and a list of the endorsing organisations and individuals is available here.
A list of case studies that evidence the benefits that Human Rights Acts are delivering in the ACT, Victoria and QLD is available below.
Case studies that evidence the benefits of the Human Rights Acts operating in Queensland, the Australian Capital Territory and Victoria
Charter rights protect man's home in Victoria
A Victorian man with physical disabilities and limited mobility continued to live in his family home after his mother had been admitted to an elderly care unit and placed under a financial administration order. In order to prevent the home being sold, the man's advocate raised the right to property under the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act. In consideration of this right, an agreement was reached so that the man could continue living in the house as a tenant paying rent.
Human rights law reopens domestic violence case in Victoria
The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act was used in a matter relating to the payment of rent and repairs to a property. The woman involved had been forced to flee the property due to domestic violence. The advocate successfully used the Charter in arguing for the reopening of the matter after the limitation period had expired to protect the woman's rights.
Accessible transport win after human rights complaint in Queensland
A woman with mobility issues made a complaint to the Queensland Human Rights Commission about the limited number of accessible parking spots at a bus terminal and being issued with a number of fines for parking in other places. She said that on two occasions the bus driver refused to engage the ramp, requiring her to struggle up and down the bus stairs. The complaint was resolved on the basis that the transport service agreed to conduct an internal review of its policies and procedures about the use of ramps, and to provide a copy to all bus drivers employed by it. Employees were also required to attend training on the Anti-Discrimination Act and the Human Rights Act, and an internal training module on human rights and improving services to people with disability was introduced.
Aged care resident's freedom of movement upheld in the ACT
A man living in an ACT residential aged care facility relied on a wheelchair to move around. Staff at the facility became concerned the man was a danger to himself and others when using his chair so they removed the batteries so the chair would not work. The man's advocate asserted that this breached his right to freedom of movement protected by the ACT's Human Rights Act. In response, and in recognition of the man's rights, the facility worked with the man and his advocate to find other, less restrictive, ways to ensure he was able to move about freely but safely. This included support for him to use the footpaths safely so he could travel from his home to the nearby shops when he wanted t
