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 2: Domestic violence survivor avoids eviction to homelessness
Tenants Queensland used the Queensland Human Rights Act to help a single mother who had experienced domestic violence to avoid eviction.
Case 4: Expectant mother holds on to her tenancy
Tenants Queensland assisted a single mother, who was 7 months pregnant, to respond to an application for termination of her tenancy due to a serious breach which was based on the conduct of her ex-partner who was involved in alleged illegal activity.
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 13: Supreme Court sets aside directions limiting the times a daughter can visit her mother
Mariem Omari, a mother with a cognitive disability was under a guardianship order. Her sons were her guardians.
Case 32: Blind woman able to access audiobooks in prison
A woman became blind in prison. After losing her vision, she couldn’t read books from the prison library. At the time, the library did not have any working audiobooks, so her mother bought some for her.
Case 34: A woman uses Charter to negotiate culturally appropriate crisis accommodation
A woman seeking assistance from a crisis accommodation service advised that, as a practising Muslim, she could not reside in a premises with men.
Case 35: Woman supported during investigation of injury incurred while in the care of disability service provider
Parents of a woman supported by a disability service provider noticed that their daughter, Shelly, had bruising around her chin.
Case 38: Tribunal refuses parents’ application for daughter with an intellectual disability to undergo permanent contraception
The parents of a 25-year-old woman with an intellectual disability applied to a tribunal for approval for their daughter to undergo permanent contraception.
Case 48: Improving Victoria’s plan to prevent violence against women 2010-2020
The Charter prompts authorities to view programs and policies from a human rights perspective.
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 57: Woman gains access to disability services
A woman with dual disability was not eligible to access services because neither of her disabilities, when considered separately, met the requirements of the relevant government departments.
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 69: Young woman with cerebral palsy provided with disability support services
A young woman with cerebral palsy was left in her home, alone and unable to leave, while waiting for the government to determine whether or not she was eligible for disability support services.
Case 70: Woman to receive urgent medical treatment
A woman was denied immediate medical assistance to treat contractures in her hand due to her being over 50 years of age.
Case 71: Tribunal matter reopened to protect victim of domestic violence
A tribunal matter regarding the payment of rent and repairs to a property was reopened despite falling outside of its limitation period.
Case 73: 96-year-old woman protected from eviction and homelessness
A 96-year-old woman was given a 60 day notice to vacate the home she had lived in for 21 years.
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 75: Young woman given the opportunity to find appropriate housing
A young woman with a refugee background was given a notice to vacate at the end of her three-month fixed-term tenancy agreement in transitional housing operated by a private provider.
Case 78: Charter assists in affording 66-year-old woman appropriate accommodation
A 66 year-old woman with mental health concerns had been applying for alternative accommodation as her public housing property was exacerbating her health conditions.