Greens NSW spokesperson for Human Rights and Member for Newtown Jenny Leong MP has today given notice of a Private Member’s Bill to establish a Human Rights Act in NSW and welcomed comments from the Attorney General that NSW Labor is “open to considering the issue and working constructively” with The Greens.

A Human Rights Act would provide a holistic alternative to a patchwork approach to reform and ensure stronger legal protections for fundamental rights such as housing, freedom of protest, and education. 

Greens NSW Human Rights spokesperson and Member for Newtown Jenny Leong MP said: 

"The NSW Government cannot be trusted when it comes to protecting and promoting human rights for people in our state - which is why it is time for the Parliament to act and why we are today giving notice of a Bill to introduce a Human Rights Act for NSW. 

“From decimating our right to protest to extending hate speech protections for only a select few and ramming through bail laws that disproportionately impact First Nations kids, the NSW Government is playing fast and loose with our human rights - and playing straight into the hands of the right-wing fringe who wants to promote division and erode our democracy. 

“Our communities deserve better than ad hoc, reactive reform that offers nothing beyond more criminalisation, more policing and more political spin: we need a NSW Human Rights Act that clearly sets out and protects equality and dignity for everyone - including rights to essentials like housing and education.  

“The Attorney-General's response in Question Time today that he and the government are “open to considering the issue” is a welcome first step. Over the coming months I look forward to working alongside the Attorney General and the broad coalition of civil society organisations who support a Human Rights Act for NSW and with parliamentary colleagues across the chamber to deliver on this long-overdue reform.” 

“As the political landscape tilts increasingly to the authoritarian right, a proactive vision for defending and extending human rights is more urgent than ever - that’s why the Greens are taking the first step today to enshrine protection for civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights in NSW law." 

The NSW Liberal National Government has come under fire in questions from Greens MP’s Jenny Leong and Sue Higginson for their refusal to allow UN inspectors access to NSW prisons.

NSW is the only jurisdiction in Australia blocking the United Nations The Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment access to prisons.  

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Natasha Maclaren-Jones obfuscated the questions put to them in Question Time, demonstrating a disturbing avoidance of scrutiny and accountability.

Greens Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP has urged the NSW Parliament to practice anti-racism, particularly in regards to discussions of foreign affairs.

In late 2020 the NSW Liberal/National Police Minister, with the support of NSW Labor introduced the deeply flawed Mandatory Disease Testing Bill 2020. The Greens strongly oppose the bill on the basis that it does not come close to achieving its stated aim of protecting frontline workers from contracting blood-borne diseases and created unacceptable risks for certain communities - further vilifying and isolating certain people in our community. 

The Greens absolutely oppose the "disgraceful" Drug Supply Prohibition Order Pilot Scheme Bill 2020. This bill creates a pilot scheme for drug prohibition orders which will apply in the Bankstown Police Area Command and the Coffs‑Clarence, Hunter Valley and Orana Mid-Western police districts for two years. Under the scheme police will be able to seek an order for a person who has been convicted of a serious drug offence. If the order is made police can stop, search and detain people without a warrant. It is clear that this is a bad bill.

There are fears that hundreds of refugees living in community detention could be left homeless, after the Federal Government cut housing and income support. We have written to the NSW Premier, urging her to raise concerns with the Federal Government, as it will be NSW health, housing and community support agencies who will be left to deal with the social and economic impacts of this decision.

The Greens NSW oppose One Nation’s Education Amendment Bill in the strongest terms. 

There is no place for transphobia in our school system and this attempt to make it official school policy, risking the health, wellbeing, safety and education of trans and gender diverse kids and teachers is nothing short of disgraceful.

Our right to peaceful protest in a central part of our democracy.

Greens Member for Newtown, Jenny Leong MP has asked the Minister for Health to develope a COVID Safe Plan specifically for peaceful protests, similar to those in place for businesses and major events.

Former Federal Labor Leader turned NSW One Nation MP Mark Latham has introduced a Bill in to the NSW Parliament to amend the Anti-Discrimination Act - this Bill is now the subject of an inquiry.

The NSW Anti-Discrimination Act is well overdue for a review, but this Bill does not offer the solutions we need, instead it promoted to rights of some people over many others.

Unlike domestic students in NSW, international students are not eligible for travel concessions. 

In 2006, this was determined to be racial discrimination, but still today the practice continues.

For decades students, student organisations, universities and community groups have been campaigning for international students to be able to have equal access to travel concessions as their local counterparts.

Now is the time for us to finally fix this - and end this discrimination in our laws.

Urge the Premier to support the Bill to grant international students travel concessions - SIGN THE PETITION HERE.