ACT Human Rights Act Research Project

The ACT Human Rights Act Research Project is a joint project of the ANU and the ACT Government, supported by a grant from the Australian Research Council.

The project will document the impact of Australia’s first Bill of Rights - the ACT Human Rights Act 2004 - over its first five years. Our research will test the predictions of supporters and critics of bills of rights against the ACT experience. The results of the research will assist in the five year review of the ACT Human Rights Act and will make an important contribution to the national debate about a bill of rights.

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Please follow this link if you would like to subscribe to our email list for updates on cases and developments under the ACT Human Rights Act, and news on bills of rights issues throughout Australia. New subscriptions are subject to moderator approval, and this may take a couple of days, so we appreciate your patience.

What's New on the Site?

Most Recent Cases added to our Database

R v Porritt [2008] ACTSC 71 (7 August 2008)

Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd & Ors v ACT Human Rights Commission [2008] ACTAAT 19 (24 July 2008)

G and M v Armellin [2008] ACTSC 68 (24 July 2008)

Commonwealth of Australia v Davis Samuel Pty Ltd and Ors [2008] ACTSC 59 (12 June 2008)

Application for Bail by Rodrigues [2008] ACTSC 50 (14 May 2008)

Capital Property Projects (ACT) Pty Ltd v ACT Planning and Land Authority [2008] ACTCA 9 (21 May 2008)

In the Matter of an Adoption of D [2008] ACTSC 44 (15 May 2008)

R v DA [2008] ACTSC 26 (31 March 2008)

Griffin v The Queen [2008] HCATrans 72 (8 February 2008)

Latest media reports in our News section

Public roles, private lives [pdf], the Age, 4 August 2008 [word].

Read between the lines to get a grasp of French [pdf], Janet Albrechtsen, the Australian, 2 August 2008 [word].

Top clergy thank PM for change in policy [pdf] the Australian 30 July 2008 [word]

Let's restore a democratic right [pdf], the Advertiser, 26 July 2008 [word].

Rights Act not best for unborn: lawyer [pdf] the West Australian, 23 July 2008 [word].

Dud decision in court annoying on any number of counts [pdf], Crispin Hull, Canberra Times 19 July 2008 [word].

Wrong anti-rights case (letter)[pdf], Hilary Charlesworth, (response to James Allan) the Australian, 19 July 2008 [word].

Don't entrust liberty to madcap judges [pdf], James Allan, the Australian, 17 July 2008 [word].

A Victory only until the next time [pdf],
George Williams and Nicola McGarrity, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 July 2008 [word]

Condoms all round as annoying law dashed [pdf] Sydney Morning Herald, 16 July 2008 [word]

Push for constitutional reform slowly gathers momentum [pdf], Canberra Times, 14 July 2008 [word]

Don't trust politicians with your human rights [pdf], Sun Herald, 13 July 2008 [word]

Latest Publications

A. Byrnes & G. McKinnon, 'The ACT Human Rights Act 2004 and the Commonwealth Anti-Terrorism Act (No 2) 2005: A Triumph for Federalism or a Federal Triumph?' in Fresh Perspectives on the ‘War on Terror,’ eds. M. Gani & P. Matthew, ANU e press 2008, 361 -377.

McKinnon, G, Amendments to the Human Rights Act, ACT Law Society seminar, 16 April 2008
Powerpoint slides

McKinnon, G, 'Home Truths: Housing Rights under the Human Rights Act' (2008) 21(1) Parity 23.

McKinnon, G "Would a Bill of Rights Enhance Social Cohesion in Australia" in Jupp, J., Nieuwenhuysen, J., Dawson , E. (eds.) Social Cohesion in Australia . Melbourne : Cambridge University Press, 2007 p.191-203

Protecting Human Rights Conference, Uni of Melbourne, 25 September 2007

Working Paper 3. Giving Meaning to a Culture of Human Rights, Gabrielle McKinnon, September 2006

Lets talk about Rights: "Dialogue" Bills of Rights, Kim Pham, Report prepared for ANU Internship Program 2006.

What else can I find on this website?

This site has information about the progress of the ACT Human Rights Act, including up to date summaries of cases, news, and publications of the research project. It also has links to other useful resources.

Contact the Project
phone:(+ 61 2) 6125 7103
fax: (+ 61 2) 6125 1507
email: Gabrielle.McKinnon@anu.edu.au