Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework

The Australian Government is currently reviewing the effectiveness and scope of Australia's 2010 Human Rights Framework and the National Human Rights Action Plan. In particular, CoMHWA is interested in supporting the Human Rights Commission's position on creating a Human Rights Act. You can read more about this position in the Commission's 2-page briefing here.

As part of our submission to this inquiry, we want to hear from you about how you think Human Rights policy and law can best meet the needs of mental health consumers. 

Your insights will help shape our submission. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Systemic Advocacy team at sysadvocacy@comhwa.org.au. Thank you for your time and input.
1.Do you think that Australia should follow the recommendations of the Australian Human Rights Commission to develop a national Act of Parliament to enshrine Human Rights?
2.Why/why not?
3.On a scale of 1-10 (where ‘1’ is not important at all and ‘10’ is extremely important) how much of a priority/important do you think it is for Australia to establish a national list of Human Rights?
4.On a scale of 1-10 (where 1 represents ‘Not at all’ and 10 represents ‘In every instance’) to what extent do you think that an Australian Human Rights Act would help prevent injustice in society?
5.Please list up to five rights or freedoms that you think are most important for consumers of mental health to have enshrined in a possible Human Rights Act.
6.Do you think that the Australian Human Rights Commission should be made independent from government and be placed in charge of enforcing government compliance with the mandates of a Human Rights Act? Feel free to include a reason below.
7.Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your view of a possible Australian Human Rights Act that you think the inquiry should know about?