Why Supporting a Human Rights Act Is More Important Now Than Ever

6 February 2026

If we want a fairer, more inclusive and resilient Australia, we must defend the right to speak up even, and especially, when it makes those in power uncomfortable.

Over the past few months, a lot of ASU members have been deeply concerned about what we’re seeing here in Australia and around the world.

We’ve seen the horrific terror attack targeting Jewish communities in Bondi. There have been threats against mosques in Sydney and an attempted terrorist attack against First Nations people in Perth. In addition to this, we see the ongoing wars, conflict and genocide overseas.

And at the same time, we’re seeing governments try to restrict people’s ability to come together peacefully to call for peace, justice, dignity and safety.

Australia has a long and proud history of protest.

Protest helped win the eight-hour working day, women’s right to vote, the apology to the Stolen Generations, LGBTQIA+ rights, environmental protections.

These changes didn’t happen by accident, they happened because ordinary people spoke up.

Protest, and protest movements, are fundamental to our democracy. Without the right to peacefully protest, we are not a democracy.

That’s why the ASU NSW/ACT has been leading calls to protect the right to protest since anti-protest laws were introduced in New South Wales in 2022.

The ASU is a proud signatory to the Australian Democracy Network’s Declaration of Our Right to Protest which sets out clear principles to protect this fundamental democratic right.

We’re also supporting calls for a Human Rights Act, in NSW and federally, alongside organisations like Amnesty International, the Human Rights Law Centre, ACOSS, NATSILS, PWDA, Vinnies, Uniting, Anglicare, community legal centres, and more than 140 others.

A Human Rights Act would make sure the values we all share, fairness, dignity, respect and compassion,  are at the heart of every government decision.
Including decisions about health, housing, education, and protecting the right to protest.

It would also help combat antisemitism, Islamophobia, and discrimination of any kind by protecting the rights of all our diverse communities.

Everyone, and every community, benefits from a Human Rights Act. Our society would be more inclusive and safer, and our democracy stronger. 

In times like these, it’s easy to feel trapped in a cycle of anger,despairand hopelessness in reaction to what we are witnessing.

The campaign for a Human Rights Act is about standing up and defending our shared values as trade unionists: solidarity, democracy, fairness and inclusion. 

We’ll be sharing more information about the campaign for a Human Rights Act over the coming weeks. 

We encourage all members to learn more about how positive human rights protections can make our society stronger.

You can find out more about the campaign for an Australian Human Rights Act here.

Add your voice to a call for an independent review of police violence at the Sydney protest–email your MP here.

You can find out more about the campaign for a NSW Human Rights Act here.

You can find out more about supporting global justice & union solidarity by joining APHEDA here.