The Voice referendum has nothing to do with the misnomer, ‘Uluru statement from the heart’. It has been United Nations policy since 2012

National Human Rights Action Plan 2012

A C H I E V I N G A J U S T A N D S E C U R E S O C I E T Y
Each section begins with a short summary of
the major measures being undertaken, followed
by a descriptive table setting out the relevant
priority area, a detailed description of the action,
the agency or jurisdiction undertaking it, and a
performance indicator and/or timeline.
In developing this Action Plan, the Australian
Government engaged the community more
extensively than it has in the past. Workshops
with NGOs were convened around Australia and
submissions were sought on a scoping paper,
the Baseline Study and an exposure draft of the
Action Plan. An independent web presence was
also established. Discussions were held with
state and territory governments on actions they
are undertaking within their own jurisdictions.
Input was received from Victoria, South Australia,
Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian
Capital Territory. New South Wales, Queensland
and Western Australia elected not to contribute.
The Action Plan prioritises Australian Government
actions, taking into account available resources
and focusing on practical outcomes. Australian
governments already have in place a range of
programs and laws to strengthen human rights
protections and improve opportunities for all
Australians. This Action Plan sets out these major,
ongoing strategies. The Action Plan also contains
actions the Australian Government has initiated
in the course of developing the Action Plan.
These include:
• work to lay the foundations for the launch
of a National Disability Insurance Scheme,
which will provide people with disability with
access to care and support services they need
over the course of their lifetime, including
funding of $1 billion for the first stage from the
Australian Government
• establishing a new National Children’s
Commissioner within the Australian Human
Rights Commission
• ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention
Against Torture
• investigating ways that the justice system can
address the needs of people with a mental
illness and/or cognitive disability (including
intellectual disability and acquired brain injury)
• undertaking a review of reservations under the
seven core international human rights treaties

the $3.7 billion Living Longer Living Better

aged care reform package to create a flexible

and seamless system that provides older

Australians with more choice, control and

easier access to a full range of services, where

they want it and when they need it

• reviewing federal legislation for any barriers to

older people participating in productive work

• an Act of Recognition acknowledging the

unique and special place of Australia’s First

Peoples, as an important step towards holding

a successful referendum to change the

constitution to recognise Indigenous people.

• working with the states and territories on the

regulation of sterilisation of women and girls

with disability

• ensuring accessible communications for people

with disability in the event of an emergency.

• implementing the National Anti-Racism

Partnership and Strategy, led by the Australian

Human Rights Commission, and

The Australian Government will lodge this new

National Human Rights Action Plan with the United Nations.

• ensuring accessible communications for people

with disability in the event of an emergency.

The Plan sets out a monitoring

arrangement that involves progress reporting to

coincide with the Australian Government’s next

Universal Periodic Review report planned for 2015