Human rights

Queensland’s new Human Rights Act 2019 recognises 23 categories of human rights and acknowledges the responsibility of public sector employees to respect, protect and promote the human rights of all individuals.

EWOQ is committed to acting in a way that is compatible with our human rights obligations when we promote our services and interact with the community.

The Act commenced on 1 January 2020 and requires Queensland’s public agencies, including EWOQ, to act or make decisions that are compatible with these rights.

Section 97 of the Act also requires that EWOQ publish details of any:

• human rights actions taken during the reporting period
• human rights complaints received, including:
  – the number of complaints received
  – the outcome of the complaints
  – any other information prescribed by regulation relating to complaints
• review of policies, programs, procedures, practices or services undertaken in relation to our compatibility with human rights.

Since 1 January 2020, EWOQ has taken the following steps to further the objectives of the Act:

• Training has been provided to team members on how to identify and prevent human rights issues, and how to respond to a human rights complaint.
• A review has been commenced of certain policies, procedures and plans to ensure these documents promote and are compatible with human rights. Seven policies, procedures and plans were reviewed for compatibility with human rights during 2019-2020.
• A human rights working group has been created to handle issues concerning human rights.

EWOQ received no human rights complaints between 1 January 2020 and 30 June 2020.

See the official copy of the 2019-20 annual report, as tabled in the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, on the Queensland Parliament's tabled papers website.