Queensland Consolidated Acts

HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 2019

- As at 20 September 2023 
- Act 5 of 2019 

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

           Long Title

           Preamble—

   PART 1 - PRELIMINARY

           Division 1 - Introduction

   1.      Short title
   2.      Commencement
   3.      Main objects of Act
   4.      How main objects are primarily achieved
   5.      Act binds all persons

           Division 2 - Interpretation

   6.      Definitions
   7.      Meaning of human rights
   8.      Meaning of compatible with human rights
   9.      Meaning of public entity
   10.     When function is of a public nature

   PART 2 - HUMAN RIGHTS IN QUEENSLAND

           Division 1 - Preliminary

   11.     Who has human rights
   12.     Human rights are in addition to other rights and freedoms
   13.     Human rights may be limited
   14.     Human rights are protected

           Division 2 - Civil and political rights

   15.     Recognition and equality before the law
   16.     Right to life
   17.     Protection from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
   18.     Freedom from forced work
   19.     Freedom of movement
   20.     Freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief
   21.     Freedom of expression
   22.     Peaceful assembly and freedom of association
   23.     Taking part in public life
   24.     Property rights
   25.     Privacy and reputation
   26.     Protection of families and children
   27.     Cultural rights—generally
   28.     Cultural rights—Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples
   29.     Right to liberty and security of person
   30.     Humane treatment when deprived of liberty
   31.     Fair hearing
   32.     Rights in criminal proceedings
   33.     Children in the criminal process
   34.     Right not to be tried or punished more than once
   35.     Retrospective criminal laws

           Division 3 - Economic, social and cultural rights

   36.     Right to education
   37.     Right to health services

   PART 3 - APPLICATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN QUEENSLAND

           Division 1 - Scrutiny of new legislation

   38.     Statements of compatibility
   39.     Scrutiny of Bills and statements of compatibility by portfolio committee
   40.     Scrutiny of non-Queensland laws by portfolio committee
   41.     Human rights certificate for subordinate legislation
   42.     No effect on application of laws

           Division 2 - Override declarations

   43.     Override by Parliament
   44.     Statement about exceptional circumstances
   45.     Effect and expiry of override declaration
   46.     Re-enacting override declaration
   47.     No effect on validity

           Division 3 - Interpretation of laws

   48.     Interpretation
   49.     Referral to Supreme Court
   50.     Intervention by Attorney-General
   51.     Intervention by commission
   52.     Notice to Attorney-General and commission
   53.     Declaration of incompatibility
   54.     Effect of declaration of incompatibility
   55.     Giving copies of declaration of incompatibility
   56.     Action by Minister on declaration of incompatibility
   57.     Action by portfolio committee on declaration of incompatibility

           Division 4 - Obligations on public entities

   58.     Conduct of public entities
   59.     Legal proceedings
   60.     Entity may choose to be subject to obligations

   PART 4 - QUEENSLAND HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

           Division 1 - Functions and powers of commission and commissioner under this Act

   61.     Functions
   62.     Powers

           Division 2 - Human rights complaints

              Subdivision 1 - Preliminary

   63.     Meaning of human rights complaint

              Subdivision 2 - Making and referring human rights complaints

   64.     Who may make human rights complaint to commissioner
   65.     Requirements for making human rights complaint to commissioner
   66.     Referral entity may deal with or refer human rights complaint
   67.     Form of human rights complaint

              Subdivision 3 - Dealing with human rights complaints

   68.     Preliminary inquiries
   69.     Commissioner must refuse to deal with particular complaint
   70.     Commissioner may refuse to deal or to continue to deal, or defer dealing, with complaint
   71.     Notice about refusing to deal, or deferring dealing, with complaint
   72.     When complaint lapses
   73.     Commissioner may refer human rights complaint to other entities
   74.     Commissioner may enter into arrangements with other entities
   75.     Dealing with human rights complaint under Anti-Discrimination Act 1991
   76.     Acceptance of human rights complaint by commissioner
   77.     Dealing with human rights complaint—generally
   78.     Commissioner may ask or direct relevant entity to give information

              Subdivision 4 - Conciliation of human rights complaints

   79.     Commissioner may conduct conciliation conference
   80.     Purpose of conciliation
   81.     Attendance at conciliation conference
   82.     Attendance by complainant
   83.     Representation
   84.     Use of interpreters and other persons
   85.     Conduct of conciliation conference
   86.     Confidentiality of conciliation conference
   87.     Conciliation does not affect other rights

              Subdivision 5 - Action on dealing with human rights complaint

   88.     Report about unresolved human rights complaint
   89.     Notice about resolved human rights complaint
   90.     Commissioner may publish information

           Division 3 - Reporting requirements

   91.     Annual report
   92.     Other reports
   93.     Report containing adverse comment
   94.     Attorney-General to table reports

   PART 5 - GENERAL

   95.     First review of Act
   96.     Further review of Act
   97.     Reporting requirements for certain public entities
   98.     Information request for reports
   99.     Giving of information protected
   100.    Anonymity
   101.    Proceedings for offences
   102.    Address for service
   103.    No address for service advised
   104.    Approved forms
   105.    Regulation-making power

   PART 6 - SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

   106.    Act does not affect laws about termination of pregnancy
   107.    Act does not affect native title rights and interests
   108.    Application of Act—generally
           SCHEDULE 1