The Australian Human Rights Commission’s model for a Human Rights Act

Join us for an engaging lecture by Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM, the President of the Human Rights Commission. President Croucher will discuss the proposed federal Human Rights Act model, which the Commission released in March 2023.

The aims of the proposed Human Rights Act model are to enhance transparency and accountability in government decision-making. It is expected that through the Act, governments will be required to fully consider human rights in their decisions, laws, policies, and practice, thereby promoting a more just and equitable society. During its launch, Professor Croucher highlighted the significance of having a Human Rights Act in Australia, stating that it is the “central missing piece of government accountability.”

This lecture provides a unique opportunity to gain insights into the proposed Act and its potential implications for Australia.

Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM FAAL FRSA FACLM (Hon) commenced a seven-year term as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission on 30 July 2017.

Prior to joining the Commission, Rosalind was President of the Australian Law Reform Commission (2009–2017) and Commissioner (2006–2009), where she led a number of significant law reform inquiries. She has lectured and published extensively, principally in the fields of equity, trusts, property, inheritance, legal history and increasingly in public policy. In 2011 she was recognised as one of the 40 ‘inspirational alumni’ of UNSW, where she gained her PhD. In 2014 Croucher was acknowledged for her contributions to public policy as one of Australia’s ‘100 Women of Influence’ in the Australian Financial Review and Westpac awards; and for her ‘outstanding contribution to the legal profession’ was awarded the Australian Women Lawyer’s award. In 2015 she was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for ‘significant service to the law as an academic, to legal reform and education, to professional development, and to the arts’; and in 2016 Macquarie University conferred on her the title of Emeritus Professor. Both Macquarie University and the University of New South Wales have awarded her an honorary LLD.