Parliamentary Scrutiny and the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights
The legal obligation to respect, protect and fulfil human rights applies to all arms of government – legislative, executive and judicial – and directly engages the parliament. Notwithstanding Australia’s international legal obligations, however, the Commonwealth has not established formal domestic mechanisms to ensure comprehensive parliamentary scrutiny of human rights.
On 5 March 2010, therefore, the Centre made a Submission to the Inquiry into the future direction and role of the Senate Scrutiny of Bills Committee, entitled 'Parliamentary Committees and the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights'.