What difference would an Australian Human Rights Act make?

Drinks with Hugh de Kretser

Hosted by Dr Marianne Broadbent

Human rights are standards that governments around the world have agreed to meet so that everyone can live a safe, free and dignified life. Human rights belong to all of us, no matter who we are or where we live. Human rights are about being treated fairly, treating others fairly and being able to choose how we live our lives. When human rights are respected, our lives are better and our communities are stronger, healthier, safer and more prosperous.

Australia helped to draft the landmark Universal Declaration of Human Rights and has ratified all the major human rights treaties. But we haven’t properly protected human rights in our domestic laws. We have no national Human Rights Act. This is one of the missing foundations of our democracy. 

We are delighted to welcome Hugh de Kretser to Melbourne Forum who will outline what a Human Rights Act is, why we need one and the difference it would make to our lives and our society.

Hugh de Kretser commenced his five-year term as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission on 30 July 2024. For more than two decades, Hugh has played a critical role in advancing human rights in Australia. Before joining the Commission, he was the CEO of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, the first formal truth-telling process into historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Nations people in Victoria. He previously worked as the Executive Director of the Human Rights Law Centre and the Executive Officer of the Victorian Federation of Community Legal Centres. Hugh has also served as a Commissioner of the Victorian Law Reform Commission and a Director of the Sentencing Advisory Council. He has held a range of not-for-profit board, governance and advisory positions. He worked as a community lawyer in Melbourne’s outer western suburbs and started his legal career advising companies on employment and anti-discrimination law.

Please join Hugh and your fellow members for this timely conversation.