101 cases
of how Human Rights ACTS make our lives better
No matter who we are or where we are, our lives are better when we all treat each other with fairness and respect and when we can all enjoy our rights and freedoms. Human Rights Acts and Charters promote respect for human rights and give people power to take action if their rights are breached.
The 101 cases set out here highlight the benefits Human Rights Acts and Charters have brought to people in the ACT, Victoria and Queensland. These cases also highlight the need for a national Human Rights Act, as well the need for Acts or Charters in states and territories which do not yet have them.
We designed this resource to inspire people to use Human Rights Acts and Charters where they exist in Australia; and to join with others in calling for a national Human Rights Act and Charters in every state and territory.
Click here to add your name to the call for a Human Rights Act.
CASE STUDIES
Aboriginal children jailed in adult prison: Human Rights Act in action
Bendigo mosque and freedom of religion: Human Rights Act in action
Will Ingram and the right to equality: Human Rights Act in action
Queensland and the right to housing: Human Rights Act in action
The right to education for children seeking asylum: Human Rights Act in action
Victorian pandemic laws: Victorian Charter of Rights in action
101 Cases
Human Rights Acts and Charters Make Our Lives Better.
Here are 101 cases showing how
Case 12: Single mother secures priority place on housing assistance register
A single mother waiting for public housing was removed from the housing assistance register because her income exceeded the new threshold.
Case 30: Addressing the over-imprisonment of Aboriginal women in prison
Aboriginal women are the fastest growing prisoner group in Victoria and are significantly over-represented compared with non-Aboriginal women.
Case 44: Aboriginal children returned to the care of their grandmother
Four Aboriginal siblings were placed in protective care because of concerns for their safety. At first, the children were placed in a non-Aboriginal home and separated from one another.
Case 52: Protecting a single mother of three from homelessness
The Ministry of Housing tried to evict a single mother from public housing after it was found that her boyfriend was growing marijuana on the premises.
Case 59: Single mother with a disability avoids having her daughter being removed from care
A single mother with cerebral palsy was at risk of having her daughter being removed from care by child protection authorities.
Case 68: Family provided with appropriate secure housing
A woman from a refugee background was living with her children in public housing.
Case 74: Guardianship revoked due to incompatibility of decisions with human rights
A woman with a cognitive disability contested the decision of her guardian to have her moved into a residential facility where no workers spoke her language, understood her cultural and religious beliefs or would prepare food in a way which was required by her religion.
Case 77: Family of seven protected from homelessness
A family of seven had experienced great difficulty in receiving financial support and secure housing since arriving in Australia.
Case 80: Eviction of family prevented using fair hearing and other arguments
The Director of Housing applied to evict a family living in public housing.
Case 92: Human rights focus in advocating for people in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic
The human rights of people in prison were significantly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Case 94: Child with a disability exempted from detention in hotel quarantine
A family detained in hotel quarantine in Queensland complained to the Queensland Human Rights Commission about the impact of the detention on their child who has autism spectrum disorder.