Queensland Human Rights Commissioner

Overview

Expressions of interest are called to fill the position of the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner.

Functions under the Human Rights Act 2019 (HR Act)

• to deal with human rights complaints under Part 4 of the HR Act;
• if asked by the Attorney-General, to review the effect of Acts, statutory instruments and the common law on human rights and give the Attorney-General a written report about the outcome of the review;
• to review public entities' policies, programs, procedures, practices and services in relation to their compatibility with human rights;
• to promote an understanding and acceptance, and the public discussion, of human rights and this Act in Queensland;
• to make information about human rights available to the community;
• to provide education about human rights and the HR Act;

The Queensland Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory body established under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (the AD Act).

Statutory functions under the AD Act

• to inquire into complaints and, where possible, to effect conciliation;
• to carry out investigations relating to contraventions of the AD Act;
• to examine Acts and, when requested by the Minister, proposed Acts, to determine whether they are, or would be, inconsistent with the purposes of the AD Act;
• to undertake research and educational programs to promote the purposes of the AD Act;
• to consult with various organisations to ascertain means of improving services and conditions affecting groups that are subjected to contraventions of the AD Act;
• to research and develop additional grounds of discrimination and to make recommendations for the inclusion of such grounds in the AD Act, when requested by the Minister;
• such functions as are conferred on the commission under another Act;
• such functions as are conferred on the commission under an arrangement with the Commonwealth under part 3;
• to promote an understanding and acceptance, and the public discussion, of human rights in Queensland;
• if the commission considers it appropriate to do so — to intervene in a proceeding that involves human rights issues with the leave of the court hearing the proceeding and subject to any conditions imposed by the court;
• such other functions as the Minister determines; and
• to take any action incidental or conducive to the discharge of the above functions.

Functions under the HR Act (additional)

• to deal with human rights complaints under Part 4 of the HR Act;
• if asked by the Attorney-General, to review the effect of Acts, statutory instruments and the common law on human rights and give the Attorney-General a written report about the outcome of the review;
• to review public entities' policies, programs, procedures, practices and services in relation to their compatibility with human rights;
• to promote an understanding and acceptance, and the public discussion, of human rights and this Act in Queensland;
• to make information about human rights available to the community;
• to provide education about human rights and the HR Act;
• to assist the Attorney-General in reviews of the HR Act under sections 95 and 96;
• to advise the Attorney-General about matters relevant to the operation of the HR Act; and
• another function conferred on the commission under the HR Act or another Act.

Queensland Human Rights Commission powers under the AD Act

• the powers given by the Act.
• the commissioner also has power to do all things that are necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of the commission's functions.
• if the commissioner, in exercising its powers, asks a person to give the commissioner a document or other material, the commissioner may include with the request a requirement that the giving of the document or other material be done within the time stated in the requirement.

Application details

• Applications to remain current for 12 months.
• Job Ad Reference: QLD/660469/25
• Closing Date: Friday, 17th October 2025
• Occupational group: Executive

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