The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights was established in 2012. Its main function is to examine all bills and legislative instruments for compatibility with human rights, and to report to both Houses of Parliament on its findings (see the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011).

The resolution of appointment governing the committee's operation, as agreed to by both Houses in the same terms, is available here.

The committee's Guide to Human Rights provides a guide to the key human rights considered by the committee when examining legislation.

The committee's consideration of bills and legislative instruments from 2012 to present are listed in the committee's Indexes of Bills and Legislative Instruments. Note, this does not include bills and legislative instruments that the committee is yet to consider.

In August 2022 the committee celebrated its 10 year anniversary.

The committee is next scheduled to meet on 20 November 2024.

Current Inquiry

PJCHR mailing list

To subscribe to the committee's mailing list, please send an email to human.rights@aph.gov.au with 'Subscribe PJCHR Mailing List' as the subject line.

Committee Secretariat contact:

Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights
PO Box 6100
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Phone: 02 6277 3823
human.rights@aph.gov.au