We support better human rights protections for people living with mental illness and problematic alcohol and other drug use.
2016 Parliamentary Inquiry
In 2015–16, the Queensland Parliament Legal Affairs and Safety Committee held a Human Rights Inquiry into whether Queensland should have a Human Rights Act.
As part of its inquiry, the Parliamentary Committee held public hearings in June 2016. The transcript of proceedings includes statements by the Queensland Mental Health Commissioner who attended the hearings.
The Parliamentary Committee tabled its report Inquiry into a possible Human Rights Act for Queensland on 30 June 2016.
Our submission
The Commission’s submission to the Parliamentary Committee, A Human Rights Act for Queensland focused on the need to better protect the human rights of all Queenslanders, and particularly people living with mental illness and problematic alcohol and other drug use.
Discussion paper
The Commission initially developed a Background Paper on A Human Rights Act for Queensland canvassing the views of people who experience mental illness, and the implications and opportunities of a Human Rights Act.
As part of our research, we invited two people with lived experience of mental illness to share their views and experiences of human rights and healing.
Human Rights Bill 2018
A Human Rights Bill 2018 was tabled in the Queensland Parliament in October 2018. In November 2018 the Queensland Parliament commenced an Inquiry into the Human Rights Bill 2018.
Our submission on the Human Rights Bill 2018 affirms protection of human rights is fundamental to supporting recovery of people living with mental health problems, mental illnes, and alcohol and other drug use.
Respect for human rights and dignity is one of the guiding principles of the Shifting Minds strategic plan.
Strengthening human rights protections is a key focus area given that people with a lived experience in mental illness and problematic alcohol and other drug use are more likely than other Queenslanders to have their human rights violated through:
- the use of seclusion and restraint
- indefinite detention
- the loss of personal and parental rights.
The Strategic Plan includes the following priority actions:
- Promoting and monitoring least restrictive practices in policy and legislation, reduce restrictive practice, and improve responses to human rights complaints.
- Align the Mental Health Act 2016 with the proposed Queensland human rights legislation.
