Mr McCLELLAND (Attorney-General) (9:28 AM) —I move:

Introduction

The Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2010, together with the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Bill 2010, implements legislative elements of Australia’s Human Rights Framework, which was released on 21 April 2010.

The Commonwealth has a comprehensive and extensive framework for independent review of administrative decisions.

The Administrative Review Council is an independent body established to review and inquire into the Commonwealth administrative law system and recommend improvements that might be made to the system.

The proposed amendments will ensure an appropriate human rights perspective is integrated in the views of the Administrative Review Council by including the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission as an ex officio member of the council.

Much of the business of government is delivered through the Public Service, whose decisions are reviewable by administrative law. As part of promoting incremental change to enhance the responsiveness of our Public Service to the rights of citizens, it is appropriate to have human rights considerations taken into account in the further development of the administrative law framework.

In addition, the proposed amendments will integrate statements of compatibility into existing procedures for tabling legislative instruments.

This package of reforms, along with the other changes in the framework, will inform parliamentary consideration of human rights and enhance the understanding of and respect for human rights in Australia.

I commend the bill to the House.

Debate (on motion by Mrs Gash) adjourned.