The Federal Government has been criticised for its lack of commitment to a major review of the country’s human rights performance.
Overnight, the Labor government gave its response to the United Nations Human Rights Council Universal Periodic Review (UPR), accepting just 38% of its recommendations.
Every five years, the UN undertakes a UPR of every member state to examine the human rights records of each country.
Of the 332 recommendations made by the UPR to Australia, the Albanese government accepted just 128, the lowest rate of acceptance by an Australian government since the UPR process began.
The lack of commitment has been criticised by the Australian Human Rights Commission, with Acting Commission President Dr Anna Cody saying the report highlighted some serious issues the country needed to address.
“The government has only agreed to recommendations for reforms that are already in place or underway, essentially ignoring over 200 recommendations for new reforms which would markedly improve the rights, health and safety of our First Peoples, people with disability, women, children, people from diverse cultural backgrounds, LGBTIQA+ people and people in detention,” she said.
“This means the gap between our international commitments and our domestic practice is growing rather than narrowing, jeopardising our standing as a leader in human rights, particularly in our region.”
Crucially, none of the recommendations made for LGBTIQ+ rights have been accepted by the government, a move that was slammed by Wentworth MP Allegra Spender.
“They rejected every single recommendation made on LGBTQIA+ rights. That is shameful,” she said.
Spender said the recommendations include ending the religious schools exemption to discriminate against the LGBTQIA+ community, something she has been fighting for since being elected.
“Our community deserves better. I am proud to stand with you and will not stop pushing for laws that protect every Australian from discrimination, no matter their gender, sexuality or faith,” she said.
Equality Australia also expressed their disappointment, with International Advisor Savanh Tanhchareun saying LGBTQI+ people were the only group for which the government did not accept a single recommendation.
“No other marginalised group has seen recommendations about their lives being wholly ignored like this in the government’s response,” he said.
“The message seems to be that the government thinks there is nothing left to do for the LGBTIQ+ community in Australia.”
The Greens also criticised Labor for its response, saying the government had been handed a roadmap to fix its human rights failures but rejected it.
“LGBTIQA+ Australians are still living with legal exemptions that allow discrimination, and Labor have said with this response that they are ok with that. Thankfully the Greens introduced a bill for a LGBTQIA+ Commissioner this week that is a chance to go some way to addressing this issue,” said Greens justice spokesperson Senator David Shoebridge.
“Reading the response you see a government who will accept a recommendation that costs them nothing and reject every one that requires spending political capital to achieve real change.”
In a statement, the Government said it believed everyone was entitled to respect and that Australia had made significant progress in advancing LGBTQ+ rights.
“The Albanese Government believes everyone is entitled to respect, dignity and equality before the law and the opportunity to participate in society, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.
“Australia has made significant progress in advancing the rights of LGBTIQA+ Australians and remains committed to continuing that work.”
