Tomorrow is deadline on human rights plan

The deadline for public comments on the Australian Government’s proposed National Human Rights Plan is tomorrow, Wednesday, February 29.

The plan was developed in response to the review of Australia’s human rights by the United Nations as part of its Universal Periodic Review in 2011.

As part of the plan, the Government intends to introduce federal legislation to prohibit discrimination on the basis of a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity which will apply consistently throughout Australia.

The Attorney-General’s Department will coordinate a review of how and why the Australian government collects sex and gender data and will work with relevant government agencies and state and territory governments to develop a nationally consistent approach to the process of legally changing sex.

As part of the Universal Periodic Review, the Australian Government was urged to reform the Marriage Act to include all couples, but it refused to do so.

An exposure draft of the National Human Rights Action Plan can be found on the Attorney-General’s website at www.tinyurl.com/78rcugu

Email comments on the draft plan to [email protected]

Pictured – Attorney General Robert McClelland.