Victorian Charter of Human Rights

The Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) entered into full force on 1 January 2008.  The Victorian Charter enshrines a body of civil and political rights derived from the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.




The HRLRC’s work in relation to the Victorian Charter is listed below.

Supreme Court: Charter Rights Should be Construed Broadly and by Reference to International and Comparative Jurisprudence (30 July 2010)

Landmark Supreme Court Decision on Right to Humane Treatment in Detention and Prisoner Access to Healthcare (13 July 2010)

Right to Life: Submission on Investigation of Police Related Deaths (18 June 2010)

Supreme Court Orders Speedy Trial to Determine Prisoner’s Eligibility to Access IVF Treatment under Victorian Charter (5 May 2010)

Court of Appeal Gives Landmark Ruling on Victorian Charter of Rights (17 March 2010)

Right to Freedom of Expression Incorporates Positive Right to Freedom of Information (16 March 2010)

Human Rights Safeguards Needed under Severe Substance Dependence Treatment Bill (Jan 2010)

Parole Boards exempted from the Victorian Charter for a further four years (Dec 2009)

Police Powers: Summary Offences and Search Legislation Must be Amended to Ensure Human Rights Compatibility (Nov 2009)

Housing Rights and the Meaning of ‘Public Authority’: Metrowest Housing v Sadi (Oct 2009)

Submission on the 5-year Review of the ACT Human Rights Act (Oct 2009)

Interpretation and Limitations: HRLRC Amicus Intervention in Momcilovic v R (July 2009)

Privacy Rights: Submission to VLRC Inquiry into Surveillance in Public Places (June 2009)

Policing: Chief Commissioner of Police v Coroner Bryant (June 2009)

Mental Health: Kracke v Mental Health Review Board & Ors (April 2009)

Case Studies: How a Human Rights Act can Promote Dignity and Address Disadvantage

Prisoners’ Rights: Submission on draft Corrections Regulations 2009 (Vic) (Feb 2009)

Articles, Materials and Commentary on Victorian Charter

Mental Health: Submission to Review of Mental Health Act 1986 (Vic) (Feb 2009)

Equality: Submission on draft Model Spent Convictions Bill (Jan 2009)

Lord Bingham – ‘Dignity, Fairness and Good Government: The Role of a Human Rights Act’, Speech by Senior Law Lord to Human Rights Law Resource Centre (9 December 2008)

Mental Health: Submission on Review of Victorian Mental Health Strategy (July 2008)

Equality: Submissions to Equal Opportunity Act Reviews (May, April and Jan 2008)

Sir Gerard Brennan – ‘The Constitution, Good Government and Human Rights’, Paper delivered at Human Rights Law Resource Centre Seminar (12 March 2008)

Charter of Rights: Report of WA Human Rights Act Inquiry (Dec and Aug 2007)

Indigenous Rights: Land Management and Cultural Practices (Oct 2007)

Prisoners’ Rights: Use of Force and the Interception and Censorship of Correspondence (Sept 2007)

Lord Robert Walker – ‘What Difference can a Human Rights Charter Make?’ (15 August 2007)

Prisoners’ Rights: ‘High-Risk Offenders’ – Submission on Post-Sentence Supervision and Detention (Feb 2007)

Civil Justice: Relevance of the Victorian Charter of Rights to Civil Justice (Dec 2006)

Civil Justice: Submission to VLRC regarding Amicus Curiae (Nov 2006)

Charter of Rights: A Charter of Rights for Tasmania (Nov 2006)