On 26 March 2025 the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights tabled its Report 3 of 2025, which provides an analysis of the human rights compatibility of recently introduced bills and legislative instruments, and its Annual Report 2024.
Please note - the committee's website now publishes its report entries in a more user-friendly and accessible way. You can access individual report entries via this new system (by clicking on the title of each entry below) or view the full report here.
Migration (Public Interest Criterion 4022—Code of Behaviour) Instrument 2025
- The committee considers that requiring certain visa holders to sign an enforceable code of behaviour, noting subsequent enforcement of the code may result in visa cancellation, immigration detention or reduction in income support, significantly risks impermissibly limiting multiple human rights. The committee has recommended that: in the event the minister enforces the code that they consider the committee’s concerns, and human rights implications of the instrument; and that a statement of compatibility with human rights be prepared in relation to this legislative instrument. The committee further recommended that the code of behaviour be reviewed and that such a review closely consider the committee’s comments and be made publicly available on completion.
- During the reporting period of 2024, the committee assessed a total of 175 bills and 1 352 legislative instruments, commenting on 23 per cent of bills and 3 per cent of instruments. The most commonly engaged human rights identified in legislation substantively commented on during the reporting period included the right to privacy, freedom of expression and the right to an effective remedy. The proportion of legislation substantively commented on, and the rights engaged by legislation in 2024, broadly reflect trends observed in the committee’s operation from 2012-2023. In addition to its regular scrutiny work, the committee undertook three inquiries during 2024.