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People with disability living in New South Wales could soon have their rights enshrined in a state based Human Rights Act.
On Thursday, the Member for Newtown Greens MP, Jenny Leong, will introduce a private member’s Human Rights Bill, which is based on successful implementations of similar legislations in other states including the ACT, Queensland and Victoria, according to the Human Rights Act for NSW alliance.
Over 100 organisations and individuals have backed the move via a collaborative statement released this morning, calling on all state politicians to support the establishment of a public inquiry into a Human Rights Act for New South Wales.
People with Disability Australia’s Deputy CEO, Megan Spindler-Smith, argues that existing human rights frameworks in New South Wales do not provide adequate protection or stop the violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation experienced by the disability community.
We need a human rights approach that ensures people with disability are not forgotten or left behind when we talk about human rights. An Act under which we are equal and fully protected is the right way forward for our community.
Megan Spindler-Smith
The effectiveness of Human Rights Acts in jurisdictions such as the ACT, have already proven successful. A prime example of this is the experience of an individual living in a residential facility who had the battery taken out of his wheelchair due to the staff’s safety concerns, according to the Human Rights Act for NSW alliance.
“The man’s advocate asserted that this breached his right to freedom of movement protected by the ACT’s Human Rights Act,” the statement read. “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.”
Community Legal Centres NSW Executive Director, Sarah Marland, believes Human rights should be “at the heart” of government, from the development of legislation to the everyday decision-making that can profoundly impact an individual’s quality of life.
Amnesty’s polling has shown that 75% of people support protecting everyone’s human rights in law. We call on the NSW government to legislate a Human Rights Act so people in NSW can challenge human rights abuses, right wrongs, and create a fairer future for everyone.
Sarah Marland
As for now, Greens MP Ms Leong is calling on NSW parliament to refer the Bill for a comprehensive community consultation.
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