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The first annual human rights assessment has wasted no time in delivering a stark verdict on Australia’s human rights record, warning that governments are failing to safeguard democratic foundations and their people adequately.
Australia’s human rights record has been confronted with a stark assessment, with the first annual human rights report delivering a blunt message that governments are not doing enough to protect democratic foundations or their people.
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has released its landmark Australian Human Rights Assessment 2026, describing it as a “human rights health check” to assess how well Australia is protecting and advancing human rights across the country.
The review called on authorities and governments at all levels across Australia to take urgent action to strengthen public trust in democracy and promote greater national unity, stressing they “should be doing more”.
When launching the assessment last week, commission president Hugh de Kretser acknowledged that while Australia ranks among the safest and most stable countries globally, these advantages are far from equally distributed among its people.
“Australia has done a lot well on human rights. We live in one of the safest, most stable, and prosperous countries on the planet. But that safety, stability, and prosperity are not shared equally,” de Kretser said.
“We need to improve on many issues, including racism, violence, inequality, the erosion of protest rights, housing, and climate change. We have a strong foundation to respond, but we must act now.”
De Kretser warned that Australia’s “social fabric is fraying” and called for a renewed commitment to the human rights values that are integral to Australian identity for rebuilding trust and uniting the nation.
“Right now, our social fabric is fraying. Human rights values are Australian values; fairness, equality, respect, dignity, freedom, and looking out for one another. A stronger commitment to human rights will help restore trust and bring us together,” de Kretser said.
Through this annual assessment, he aims to spark meaningful reform and ignite a national conversation on safeguarding fundamental rights in law and policy, ultimately ensuring stronger protection for all.
“Human rights are the key to living well. Societies that protect human rights are stronger, healthier, safer, and more prosperous,” de Kretser said.
“We’ve launched this annual assessment because good information on human rights progress and regress is essential to better protecting people’s rights. It helps Australians to see where we are doing well, where we need to improve, and where action is needed.”
He added: “We want this ‘human rights health check’ to prompt action to help bring us closer to a nation where everyone can enjoy their human rights and live in safety, freedom and prosperity.”
One of the report’s key recommendations is the introduction of a national Human Rights Act, a measure that has long been advocated for by various groups calling on the government to take action.
Through listening to this call, de Kretser stressed that such a law would not only protect Australians’ rights in law but also build a culture of respect, empower people to stand up for their rights, and restore trust in government, driving greater national unity.
“This reform would protect people’s rights in Australian law, build a culture that respects human rights, and give people power to act if their rights are breached. It would strengthen trust in government and promote cohesion,” de Kretser said.
