Submission to the Social Development Committee of the Parliament of South Australia - Inquiry into Potential for a Human Rights Act for South Australia

A submission to the South Australian Parliament Social Development Committee's Inquiry into the Potential for a Human Rights Act for South Australia. This submission makes 16 recommendations in support of a Human Rights Act for South Australia. It argues that a Human Rights Act for South Australia is overdue, and that current human rights protections in South Australia are fragmented and ineffective. We recommend that South Australia would join Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory in developing a comprehensive legislated human rights framework with a specific Human Rights Act to best ensure South Australia maintains effective and democratic governance for all South Australians. Such a reform would place human rights at the heart of lawmaking, the enforcement of laws and government decision-making, helping to achieve a fairer South Australia. This would protect civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights that are essential for all South Australians to flourish in freedom, equality and dignity. Such a regime of protection, would serve to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of all, consistent with South Australia's existing governmental structures, institutional frameworks and democratic values.