Human Rights Act 2019

It is unlawful for a public entity—

to act or make a decision in a way that is not compatible with human rights; or

in making a decision, to fail to give proper consideration to a human right relevant to the decision.

Subsection (1) does not apply to a public entity if the entity could not reasonably have acted differently or made a different decision because of a statutory provision, a law of the Commonwealth or another State or otherwise under law.

Also, subsection (1) does not apply to a body established for a religious purpose if the act or decision is done or made in accordance with the doctrine of the religion concerned and is necessary to avoid offending the religious sensitivities of the people of the religion.

This section does not apply to an act or decision of a private nature.

For subsection (1)(b), giving proper consideration to a human right in making a decision includes, but is not limited to—

identifying the human rights that may be affected by the decision; and

considering whether the decision would be compatible with human rights.

To remove any doubt, it is declared that—

an act or decision of a public entity is not invalid merely because, by doing the act or making the decision, the entity contravenes subsection (1); and

a person does not commit an offence against this Act or another Act merely because the person acts or makes a decision in contravention of subsection (1).