Queensland’s state government has chosen not to adopt recommendations that were aimed at treating crime victims with respect and ensuring their rights to sufficient housing and protection from gender-based violence. These suggestions were part of a review of the state’s Human Rights Act, led by renowned human rights lawyer Susan Harris-Rimmer. The review, which outlined 70 recommendations, was given to the previous Labor government in September 2024 but published only today. Among the recommendations was the proposal to add new rights like the ‘right to adequate housing’, ‘right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment’, and ‘right to live free from gender-based violence’ to the Act. Other recommendations included banning the holding of children in adult-only police facilities or with adult inmates, and ensuring victims of violent crime are treated with respect and in a trauma-informed manner. In a parliamentary statement, Attorney General Deb Frecklington acknowledged the government’s decision not to implement these recommendations, citing that they do not align with the government’s current stance on victims’ rights. The Labor Party had previously spoken out against the Liberal National Party’s (LNP) “adult crime, adult time” laws, which reportedly directly discriminated against children, limiting protections from cruel or degrading treatment. Critics, including Griffith University human rights law professor Sarah Joseph, argue that the government’s rejection of these recommendations shows a lack of prioritization for human rights in Queensland. The decision, along with an earlier announcement to indefinitely pause major reforms to the state’s anti-discrimination laws, has raised concerns about the government’s commitment to upholding human rights and protecting citizens from harm and discrimination.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/26/lnp-refuses-to-implement-queensland-human-rights-act-review-recommendations