Did you know that your basic human rights, like the right to housing, healthcare, education, and a healthy environment, are not currently protected by law in Australia?
Human rights are the fundamental freedoms and protections that belong to all of us, so that:
- Everyone is treated equally, regardless of our sexuality, race, gender, age, or beliefs.
- Everyone has a place to call home.
- Everyone can see a doctor regardless of their bank account balance.
- Everyone receives a good education regardless of their postcode.
With a Human Rights Act, the government would need to respect human rights when making decisions, and everyone could take action when their human rights were denied.
Without a Human Rights Act, there’s almost nothing Australians can do if their human rights are denied. Because of this, powerful people continue to abuse human rights.
Housing:
In Australia today, pensioners are living in their cars, and single parents and their children are couch surfing as house and rental prices skyrocket. With a Human Rights Act, the government would have to treat housing as a human right when designing policies. In Finland, a human-rights based housing strategy reduced homelessness by nearly 70%. A Human Rights Act would also provide people with the ability to challenge forced evictions and inaccessible housing.
Healthcare:
People in Australian can no longer afford to access to healthcare. Politicians have promised to restrict access to reproductive healthcare, and in the last year at least two public hospitals in Australia banned abortions. A Human Rights Act will ensure you can see a doctor and get the help you need – and if the government denies you your right to healthcare, you can take them to court.
Healthy environment:
Bushfires, floods, and droughts continue to wreak havoc across the country. Around the world, people are using Human Rights Acts to challenge governments approving fossil fuel projects in court. Powerful people will continue to fuel the climate crisis, unless the right to a healthy environment is protected in our laws.
Hear from Hayden, Isabella, and Roman whose experiences are sadly echoed by so many across Australia.
The time is now. A Human Rights Act would make a meaningful improvement to all our lives. A Human Rights Act that protects all rights will mean everyone, everywhere can live with the dignity and respect they deserve.
By legislating a national Human Rights Act, we can create better lives for ourselves and for those around us. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has the power to protect and defend all our human rights. Call on him to legislate a Human Rights Act now.