Australia’s first bill of rights: The Australian capital territory’s Human rights act

Australia’s first bill of rights, the Australian Capital Territory’s (ACT’s) Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT), came into force on 1 July 2004. This chapter describes the background to the ACT Human Rights Act, the first year of its operation and considers its value as a model for improving the protection of human rights in Australia. Jon Stanhope, Leader of the Opposition Labor Party in the ACT, made an election promise that, if his party were elected, he would appoint a committee to consult with the community on whether the ACT should adopt a bill of rights. The Human Rights Act proposed by the Consultative Committee covered most of the rights contained in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Australia’s 'exceptionalism’ with respect to the protection of human rights has been somewhat reduced by the introduction of the ACT Human Rights Act.