Australian Capital Territory Current Acts Australian Capital Territory Current Acts(see s 3)
Note 1 The Legislation Act
contains definitions and other provisions relevant to this Act.
Note 2 For example, the Legislation Act
, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:
• Act (see s 7)
• emergency service
• entity
• foreign country
• individual
• may (see s 146)
• Minister (see s 162)
• proceeding
• public employee
• public service
• statutory instrument (see s 13).
"act", for part 5A (Obligations of public authorities), includes fail to act and propose to act.
"commission" means the human rights commission.
"conduct" includes omission.
"court" includes the following:
(a) the ACAT;
(b) an entity prescribed by regulation.
"declaration of incompatibility"—see section 32.
"engage "in conduct means—
(a) do an act; or
(b) omit to do an act.
"function of a public nature"—see section 40A.
"human rights"—see section 5.
"ICCPR" means the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
"ICESCR" means the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
"international law" includes—
(a) the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and other human rights treaties to which Australia is a party; and
(b) general comments and views of the United Nations human rights treaty monitoring bodies; and
(c) declarations and standards adopted by the United Nations General Assembly that are relevant to human rights.
"public authority"—see section 40.
"Territory law" means an Act or statutory instrument.
Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law but are set out in the endnotes.
Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001
, part 11.3 are annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel's Office.
Uncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details of these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are underlined in the legislation history and amendment history.
If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.
The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.
|
A = Act |
NI = Notifiable instrument |
|
AF = Approved form |
o = order |
|
am = amended |
om = omitted/repealed |
|
amdt = amendment |
ord = ordinance |
|
AR = Assembly resolution |
orig = original |
|
ch = chapter |
par = paragraph/subparagraph |
|
CN = Commencement notice |
pres = present |
|
def = definition |
prev = previous |
|
DI = Disallowable instrument |
(prev...) = previously |
|
dict = dictionary |
pt = part |
|
disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative |
r = rule/subrule |
|
Assembly |
reloc = relocated |
|
div = division |
renum = renumbered |
|
exp = expires/expired |
R[X] = Republication No |
|
Gaz = gazette |
RI = reissue |
|
hdg = heading |
s = section/subsection |
|
IA = Interpretation Act 1967 |
sch = schedule |
|
ins = inserted/added |
sdiv = subdivision |
|
LA = Legislation Act 2001 |
SL = Subordinate law |
|
LR = legislation register |
sub = substituted |
|
underlining = whole or part not commenced |
|
|
mod = modified/modification |
or to be expired |
Human Rights Act 2004 A2004-5
notified LR 10 March 2004
s 1, s 2 commenced 10 March 2004 (LA s 75 (1))
remainder commenced 1 July 2004 (s 2)
as amended by
Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2005
A2005-41 sch 1 pt 1.7 (as am by A2006-3
amdt 1.3)
notified LR 1 September 2005
s 1, s 2 commenced 1 September 2005 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.7 commenced 1 November 2006 (s 2 (3) (as am by A2006-3
amdt 1.3) and see Human Rights Commission Act 2005
A2005-40, s 2 (as am by A2006-3
s 4) and CN2006-21
)
Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2006
A2006-3 amdt 1.3
notified LR 22 February 2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 22 February 2006 (LA s 75 (1))
amdt 1.3 commenced 23 February 2006 (s 2)
Note This Act only amends the Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2005
A2005-41
Human Rights Amendment Act 2008
A2008-3
notified LR 17 March 2008
s 1, s 2 commenced 17 March 2008 (LA s 75 (1))
ss 7-9 commenced 1 January 2009 (s 2 (1))
remainder commenced 18 March 2008 (s 2 (2))
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Legislation Amendment Act 2008
A2008-36 sch 1 pt 1.30
notified LR 4 September 2008
s 1, s 2 commenced 4 September 2008 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.30 commenced 2 February 2009 (s 2 (1) and see ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2008
A2008-35, s 2 (1) and CN2009-2
)
Human Rights Amendment Act 2012
A2012-41
notified LR 29 August 2012
s 1, s 2 commenced 29 August 2012 (LA s 75 (1)
remainder commenced 1 January 2013 (s 2)
Human Rights Amendment Act 2016
A2016-5
notified LR 25 February 2016
s 1, s 2 commenced 25 February 2016 (LA s 75 (1))
remainder commenced 26 February 2016 (s 2)
Public Sector Management Amendment Act 2016
A2016-52 sch 1 pt 1.36
notified LR 25 August 2016
s 1, s 2 commenced 25 August 2016 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.36 commenced 1 September 2016 (s 2)
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2017
A2017-5 sch 1 pt 1.4
notified LR 23 February 2017
s 1, s 2 commenced 23 February 2017 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.4 commenced 2 March 2017 (s 2 (3))
Human Rights (Workers Rights) Amendment Act 2020
A2020-13
notified LR 13 May 2020
s 1, s 2 commenced 13 May 2020 (LA s 75 (1))
remainder commenced 14 May 2020 (s 2)
Legislation (Legislative Assembly Committees) Amendment Act 2022
A2022-4 sch 1 pt 1.12
notified LR 30 March 2022
s 1, s 2 commenced 30 March 2022 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.12 commenced 6 April 2022 (s 2)
Human Rights (Complaints) Legislation Amendment Act 2023
A2023-53 pt 2, sch 1
notified LR 11 December 2023
s 1, s 2 commenced 11 December 2023 (LA s 75 (1))
ss 4-7, s 9, sch 1 commenced 12 December 2023 (s 2 (1))
pt 2 remainder commenced 11 June 2024 (s 2 (2) and LA s 79)
Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Act 2024
A2024-43
notified LR 17 September 2024
s 1, s 2 commenced 17 September 2024 (LA s 75 (1))
remainder commenced 17 March 2025 (s 2 and LA s 79)
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2024
A2024-49 pt 8
notified LR 17 September 2024
s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 11 June 2024 (LA s 75 (2))
pt 8 taken to have commenced 11 June 2024 (s 2 (1) and see Human Rights (Complaints) Legislation Amendment Act 2023
Preamble
preamble am
A2016-5
Commencement
s
2 om LA s 89 (4)
What are human
rights?
s 5 sub A2012-41
Rights apart from
Act
s 7 ins A2012-41
Recognition and equality before the
law
s 8 am A2023-53
amdt 1.1
Protection from torture and cruel, inhuman
or degrading treatment etc
s 10 am A2023-53
amdt 1.1
Protection of the family and
children
s 11 am A2016-5
Privacy and
reputation
s 12 am A2023-53
amdt 1.1
Freedom of
movement
s 13 am A2023-53
amdt 1.1
Freedom of thought, conscience, religion and
belief
s 14 am A2023-53
amdt 1.1
Freedom of
expression
s 16 am A2023-53
amdt 1.2
Right to liberty and security of
person
s 18 am A2023-53
amdt 1.2, amdt 1.3
Rights in criminal
proceedings
s 22 am A2023-53
amdt 1.4
Compensation for wrongful
conviction
s 23 am A2023-53
amdt 1.5
Right not to be tried or punished more than
once
s 24 am A2023-53
amdt 1.6
Retrospective criminal
laws
s 25 am A2023-53
amdt 1.7
Cultural and other rights of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples and other
minorities
s 27 hdg sub A2016-5
s 7; A2023-53
amdt 1.8
Economic, social and cultural
rights
pt 3A hdg ins A2012-41
s 6
pt
3A hdg note sub A2024-43
Right to
education
s 27A ins A2012-41
s 6
am
A2023-53
amdt 1.8
Right to work and other work-related
rights
s 27B ins A2020-13
s 4
am
A2024-43
Right to a healthy
environment
s 27C ins A2024-43
Limits on human
rights
pt 3B hdg ins A2012-41
Human rights may be
limited
s 28 am A2008-3
s 4; A2012-41
Interpretation of laws and human
rights
s 30 sub A2008-3
Notice to Attorney-General and
commission
s 34 hdg sub A2005-41
amdt
1.101
s 34 am A2005-41
amdts
1.102-1.104
sub A2008-3
s 6
am
A2023-53
Consideration of legislation by relevant
Assembly committee
s 38 hdg sub A2023-53
Obligations of public
authorities
pt 5A hdg ins A2008-3
Meaning of public
authority
s 40 om A2005-41
amdt
1.105
ins A2008-3
Meaning of function of a public
nature
s 40A ins A2008-3
Public authorities must act consistently
with human rights
s 40B ins A2008-3
s 7; A2012-41
s 8
am
A2016-5
s 8; A2023-53
s 8; A2024-49
Legal proceedings in relation to public
authority actions
s 40C ins A2008-3
s 7
am
A2023-53
s 9; ss renum R15 LA; A2023-53
s 10; ss renum R16 LA; A2024-43
s 7, s 8; ss renum R17
LA
s (8)-(10) exp 1 October 2028 (s
40C (10))
Other entities may choose to be subject to
obligations of public authorities
s
40D ins A2008-3
Miscellaneous
pt
6 hdg orig pt 6 hdg om A2005-41
amdt
1.105
(prev pt 7 hdg) renum A2005-41
amdt 1.107
Miscellaneous
pt
7 hdg renum as pt 6 hdg
Review of effect of territory laws on human
rights
s 41 om A2005-41
amdt
1.105
ins A2005-41
amdt
1.106
am A2017-5
amdt 1.9, amdt 1.10
Review of amendments made by Human Rights
(Healthy Environment) Amendment Act
2024
s 43 exp 1 January 2007 (s 43
(3))
ins A2012-41
s 9
exp
1 January 2016 (s 43 (3))
ins A2024-43
s
9
exp 1 October 2028 (s 43
(4))
Review of
Act
s 44 exp 1 January 2010 (s 44
(2))
Legislation amended—sch
2
s 45 om LA s 89 (3)
ICCPR source of human
rights
sch 1 am A2016-5
ICESCR source of human
rights
sch 2 om LA s 89
(3)
ins A2012-41
s 10
am
A2020-13
s 5; A2024-43
Dictionary
dict am
A2008-3
s 8; A2016-52
amdt 1.102; A2017-5
amdt
1.11
def act ins A2008-3
s 9
def
commission ins A2005-41
amdt
1.108
def court sub A2008-36
amdt
1.351
def ICESCR ins A2012-41
s
11
def function of a public nature
ins A2008-3
s 9
def
human rights commissioner om A2005-41
amdt
1.109
def public authority
ins A2008-3
Some earlier republications were not numbered. The number in column 1 refers to the publication order.
Since 12 September 2001 every authorised republication has been published in electronic pdf format on the ACT legislation register. A selection of authorised republications have also been published in printed format. These republications are marked with an asterisk (*) in column 1. Electronic and printed versions of an authorised republication are identical.
|
Republication No and date |
Effective |
Last amendment made by |
Republication for |
|---|---|---|---|
|
R1 |
1 July
2004– |
not amended |
new Act |
|
R2 |
1 Nov
2006– |
A2006-3 |
|
|
amendments by A2005-41
|
as amended by A2006-3 |
|
|
R3
2 Jan
2007
2 Jan
2007–
17 Mar 2008
A2006-3
|
|
commenced expiry
R4
18 Mar
2008
18 Mar
2008–
31 Dec 2008
A2008-3
|
|
amendments by A2008-3
|
|
R5
1 Jan
2009
1 Jan
2009–
1 Feb 2009
A2008-36
|
|
amendments by A2008-3
|
|
R6
2 Feb
2009
2 Feb
2009–
1 Jan 2010
A2008-36
|
|
amendments by A2008-36
|
|
R7*
2 Jan
2010
2 Jan
2010–
31 Dec 2012
A2008-36
|
|
commenced expiry
R8*
1 Jan
2013
1 Jan
2013–
1 Jan 2016
A2012-41
|
|
amendments by A2012-41
|
|
R9
2 Jan
2016
2 Jan
2016–
25 Feb 2016
A2012-41
|
|
expiry of provision (s 43)
R10
26
Feb 2016
26 Feb
2016–
31 Aug 2016
A2016-5
|
|
amendments by A2016-5
|
|
R11
1
Sept 2016
1 Sept
2016–
1 Mar 2017
A2016-52
|
|
amendments by A2016-52
|
|
R12
2 Mar
2017
2 Mar
2017–
13 May 2020
A2017-5
|
|
amendments by A2017-5
|
|
R13
14
May 2020
14 May
2020–
5 Apr 2022
A2020-13
|
|
amendments by A2020-13
|
|
R14
6 Apr
2022
6 Apr
2022–
11 Dec 2023
A2022-4
|
|
amendments by A2022-4
|
|
R15
12
Dec 2023
12 Dec
2023–
10 June 2024
A2023-53
|
|
amendments by A2023-53
|
|
R16
11
June 2024
11 June
2024–
16 Mar 2025
A2023-53
|
|
amendments by A2023-53
|
|
R16
(RI)
17 Sept 2024
11 June
2024–
16 Mar 2025
A2023-53
|
|
reissued for retrospective amendments by A2024-49
|
|
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Australian Capital Territory 2025