History shows Australian laws have left minorities marginalised. A Human Rights Act would help fix that
Michael Kirby
Instead of inquiries and apologies, a bill of rights could give people access to justice and ensure governments are held to account
May 2024
Federal Human Rights Act could help prevent policy failures like robodebt, parliamentary inquiry says
Proposed act would mean rights must be considered when making laws but opposition rejects ‘excessive restrictions’ it could impose
Human Rights Act will be safe with a Labour government
Letters: James Toon, who helped develop the act in the 1990s, responds to an article by Shami Chakrabarti on the pressing need for equal treatment
The big idea
The big idea: why we need human rights now more than ever
In an age of climate crisis and AI, equal treatment is nothing less than essential
February 2024
What does Queensland’s Covid-19 mandates ruling mean for other vaccines and other states?
The state’s supreme court found the vaccine rules for police were unlawful and those for paramedics were ineffective. Here’s what the judgment means
A civilised country would not have made Shamima Begum stateless
Letters: Readers respond to the recent court of appeal ruling that upheld the UK government’s decision to strip the 24-year-old of British citizenship
Tories’ Rwanda safety bill is an abuse of the rule of law
The House of Lords’ powerlessness to stop the Rwanda bill shows its limits
Russia hands out first convictions in connection with anti-LGBT law
January 2024
Politics live with Andrew Sparrow
Rwanda bill live: legislation passes third reading as rightwing rebellion recedes – as it happened
The third reading of the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) bill passed by 320 votes to 276, a majority of 44
December 2023
Politics live with Andrew Sparrow
MPs back Rwanda bill in boost to Rishi Sunak despite rebellion by rightwing MPs – as it happened
Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill passes its first Commons vote but only after rebellion by a collection of rightwing Tory MPs
Sunak’s bill aims to block UK human rights law to save Rwanda scheme
Emergency legislation stops short of leaving European convention on human rights and will infuriate Tory hard right
Tories face ‘electoral oblivion’ unless Rwanda flights go ahead, says Braverman
Tory MPs lobby to change legislation as splits emerge over Rwanda policy
Minister seeking advice from lawyers who helped defeat Rwanda scheme
November 2023
Sunak risks ripping up Good Friday agreement over Rwanda, senior Tories say
Concerns echo White House remarks that blocking human rights laws could undermine Northern Ireland peace process
Rights and freedom
Political attack on human rights is a ‘dangerous’ assault on UK democracy, says HRW director
Exclusive Yasmine Ahmed says government actions regarding asylum seekers, climate activists and pro-Palestine protesters are starting to ‘look very much like authoritarianism’
Sunak could block Human Rights Act to force through Rwanda asylum plan
Politics live with Andrew Sparrow
Jess Phillips quits Labour frontbench as Keir Starmer suffers major rebellion over Gaza ceasefire – UK politics as it happened
Thousands of lone child asylum seekers left in limbo by Home Office, data shows
