From Australia Day in January 2026, other nations will start applying pressure in the UN Human Rights Council, under the quarterly Universal Periodic Review process, for Australia to legislate a Human Rights Act (HRA). Within Australia, Independent MPs like David Pocock and Andrew Wilkie, along with Teals and Greens – at least briefly back in some favour with Labor and the PM for backing environmental laws – will increase public support for a HRA ahead of a whispered deal deadline of 30 June…so 2026 is emerging as the Year of Human Rights for Australia.
Also in this issue
- ‘Health of our democracy depends on trust…and equality and fairness’: Behrendt;
- Rights committee calls for ‘fundamental review’ of Crimes Act 1914;
- Spooks on the prowl: more and tougher laws, new bouts of fear-raising;
- Who are the more likely assassins? Coy Burgess stays silent on prime candidates;
- TasPol: report reveals sorry tales…and doesn’t discuss major ongoing issues;
- Fightbacks against AI: ‘Creatives demand Human Writes’
- Poms to restrict jury right in pursuit of slicker trials?