Members |
Mr Ian Goodenough MP, Chair |
Moore,
Western Australia, LP |
Mr Graham Perrett MP, Deputy Chair |
Moreton,
Queensland, ALP |
Senator Claire Chandler |
Tasmania, LP |
Senator Patrick Dodson |
Western
Australia, ALP |
Mr Steve Georganas MP |
Adelaide,
South Australia, ALP |
Senator Nita Green |
Queensland,
ALP |
Ms Celia Hammond MP |
Curtin,
Western Australia, LP |
Senator Nick McKim |
Tasmania, AG |
Senator David Van |
Victoria, LP |
Dr Anne Webster |
Mallee,
Victoria, Nats |
Secretariat[1]
Anita Coles, Committee Secretary
Zoe Hutchinson, Principal Research Officer
Cristy Clark, Principal Research Officer
Charlotte Fletcher, Principal Research Officer
Laura Sweeney, Principal Research Officer
Andrew McIntyre, Senior Research Officer
Stephanie Lum, Legislative Research Officer
External legal adviser
Associate Professor Jacqueline Mowbray
PO Box 6100
Parliament
House
Canberra ACT
2600
Phone: 02
6277 3823
Fax: 02 6277
5767
Email: human.rights@aph.gov.au
Website: http://www.aph.gov.au/joint_humanrights/
Committee information
Under the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 (the Act), the committee is required to examine bills, Acts and legislative
instruments for compatibility with human rights, and report its findings to
both Houses of the Parliament. The committee may also inquire into and report
on any human rights matters referred to it by the Attorney-General.
The committee assesses legislation against the human rights
contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR)
and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
(ICESCR); as well as five other treaties relating to particular groups and
subject matter.[2] A description of the rights most commonly arising in legislation examined by
the committee is available on the committee's website.[3]
The establishment of the committee builds on Parliament's
established tradition of legislative scrutiny. The committee's scrutiny of
legislation is undertaken as an assessment against Australia's international
human rights obligations, to enhance understanding of and respect for human
rights in Australia and ensure attention is given to human rights issues in
legislative and policy development.
Some human rights obligations are absolute under
international law. However, in relation to most human rights, prescribed
limitations on the enjoyment of a right may be permissible under international
law if certain requirements are met. Accordingly, a focus of the committee's
reports is to determine whether any limitation of a human right identified in
proposed legislation is permissible. A measure that limits a right must be prescribed
by law; be in pursuit of a legitimate objective; be rationally
connected to its stated objective; and be a proportionate way to
achieve that objective (the limitation criteria). These four criteria
provide the analytical framework for the committee.
A statement of compatibility for a measure limiting a right
must provide a detailed and evidence-based assessment of the measure against
the limitation criteria.
Where legislation raises human rights concerns, the
committee's usual approach is to seek a response from the legislation
proponent, or draw the matter to the attention of the proponent and the
Parliament on an advice-only basis.
More information on the committee's analytical framework and
approach to human rights scrutiny of legislation is contained in Guidance
Note 1, a copy of which is available on the committee's website.[4]
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