South Australia is one step closer to a future where people’s rights are protected and respected following an inquiry that has recommended that the State legislate a Human Rights Act.
Right now, the South Australian Parliament, Departments, and service providers, don’t have to respect human rights when drafting laws, designing policies, and delivering services. When people suffer human rights abuses, there’s no avenue for them to seek justice. Without these protections, marginalised communities are left especially vulnerable.
Human Rights Acts make real differences to everyday people. People use these laws to ensure they can access healthcare, their family has somewhere safe to sleep, and their children receive an excellent education.
One step closer to human rights protection
Following a sixteen-month inquiry, the Social Development Committee of the South Australian Parliament tabled a report on 29 April 2025 recommending that the government legislate a Human Rights Act.
The report also recommends that the South Australian Government transition the Equal Opportunities Commission to a Human Rights Commission and conducts a comprehensive consultation with the South Australian Community on the model of Human Rights Act to be adopted.
A total of 147 submissions were sent to the Committee during the inquiry, 88% of which supported legislating a Human rights Act.
“My Dad recently passed away last August after suffering from complications related to advanced Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases in an aged care facility.… We had to witness the decline in the quality and quantity of food provided, the little extras like afternoon tea disappear, the numbers of carers and nursing staff to patient ratio decline to dangerous levels
.… The Aged Care Charter had no legal teeth. It was pure rhetoric for us to defend Dad’s rights, and the rights of the other residents. It offered no recourse for a cause of action, resolution or remedy. However, as part of a Human Rights Act (SA), there would be the capacity for those who have had their rights removed, ignored, silenced, or violated, to stand up and have their voice heard in court where the benefit would be widespread and restore dignity, at the very least, to those who were once voiceless and invisible.”
– Submission 56
“…as part of a Human Rights Act (SA), there would be the capacity for those who have had their rights removed, ignored, silenced, or violated, to stand up and have their voice heard in court where the benefit would be widespread and restore dignity, at the very least, to those who were once voiceless and invisible.”
– Submission 56
Amnesty International Australia made a submission to the inquiry and presented at an inquiry hearing
Tim Green, President, Amnesty International Australia’s Activist Leadership Committee in South Australia, presented at the inquiry and shared his experiences reaching out to and speaking with various communities that are affected by human rights issues in South Australia.
Amnesty International Australia Activist, Tim Green, said: “I have mainly been thinking about refugee communities so far, but these same issues also affect people with disabilities, people in residential aged care, the queer community as well, which I am a member of and have worked with quite a lot.
“The South Australian government taking a kind of explicit stand on having enshrined human rights, the impact can’t be understated in my opinion, just in how it communicates interest in the welfare of these different groups that have been historically disregarded in a lot of cases.”
Tim Green, President, Amnesty International Australia’s Activist Leadership Committee in South Australia
What now?
It’s now up to the South Australian government to accept the Committee’s recommendation.
Amnesty International Australia joins South Australian civil society and calls for the government to accept the Committee’s recommendation and to legislate a Human Rights Act.
Amnesty International Australia calls on the @PMalinauskasMP Government protect human rights in South Australia’s laws following the tabling of the Social Development Committee’s report recommending the government legislate a Human Rights Act.
— Amnesty International Australia 🕯 (@amnestyOz) May 1, 2025
A Human Rights Act will help ensure South Australia is a place where human rights are protected, where people can challenge human rights abuses, and where there is justice for those whose rights are abused.
Amnesty International is a global movement of more than 10 million people who take injustice personally. We are campaigning for a world where human rights are enjoyed by all – and we can only do it with your support.
Act now or learn more about a Human Rights Act.
