Human Rights

Human rights

The Human Rights Committee represents the Law Society and its members on policy and practice issues arising in relation to the obligations of Australia and NSW under international and domestic human rights law, and to uphold the rule of law. Our priorities include:

  • Developing and commenting on law reform and legal policy proposals (including preparing submissions, and liaising with government and other stakeholders in this process)
  • Educating the legal profession about changes to the law, and providing guidance on practice and other issues
  • Exchanging information about issues arising in legal practice (such as recent case law) that may indicate a legal policy issue or concern

Learn more about committees
Current committee members
How to join a committee

Recent policy submissions

Letter to Members of the Legislative Council - Bail and Crimes Amendment Bill 2024 - 20 March 2024

Letter to Law Council of Australia – Modern Slavery Amendment (Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner) Bill 2023 – 18 January 2024

Letter to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee - Australian Human Rights Commission Amendment (Costs Protection) Bill 2023 - 10 January 2024

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Public sector whistleblowing stage 2 reforms Public Consultation Questions - 18 December 2023

Letter to the Department of Communities and Justice – Review of NSW’s Forced Marriage Protections – 1 December 2023

Letter to the Law Council of Australia – Review of Subdivision C of Division 3 of Part 2 of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (Citizenship Cessation Determinations) – 24 November 2023

Letter to Modern Slavery Committee – Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 – Question on notice – 24 November 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Independent Review of the National Legal Assistance Partnership - 13 October 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia – Consultation on the Draft Best Practice Principles and Standards for Skilled Migration Assessing Authorities – 13 October 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023 - 29 September 2023

Letter to NSW Law Reform Commission – Review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) – 29 September 2023

Letter to Modern Slavery Committee – Review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW) – 29 September 2023

Letter to Department of Customer Service – Improving NSW rental laws consultation paper – 18 August 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia – Consultation Paper: Amendments to the migration framework to support visa holders experiencing domestic and family violence – 12 July 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia – Review of Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill 2023 – 10 July 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia – Review of the Migration Amendment (Clarifying International Obligations for Removal) Act 2021 – 13 June 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Australias Humanitarian Program 2023-24 - 30 May 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia – National Human Rights Framework Review – 22 May 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - 2023 Workplace Reform Consultations - 15 May 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia – An appropriate cost model for Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws – 29 March 2023

Letter to Law Council of Australia - Privacy Act Review Report - 20 March 2023

Letter to LCA – Consultation on Skilled Migration Reform – 3 March 2023

Visit the Human Rights policy submissions archive

2024 Committee list

Mr Ali Mojtahedi (Chair), Ms Jade Tyrrell (Deputy Chair), W. Ahmed, K. Beirne, S. Calnan, S. Clarke, M. Coidan, S. Dhillon, R. Dominguez, A. Drayton, A. Duvall, S. Henderson, M. Iskander, E. Leong, A. Levin, K. McKenzie,  P. Novotna, S. Parsons, D. Pereira, J. Redfern, K. Renehan, C. Robinson, G. Rohan, N. Ruppert, A. Sinclair, A. Small, J Spence, G. Stribling.

How to join a committee
Law Society Committees have powers, authorities and tasks delegated by the Council. Consisting of dedicated volunteers, each committee focuses on a particular area of law, pooling together specialist skills and experience in order to scrutinise legislation, court decisions and other government policies.
There are three broad categories of committees:

  • Regulatory committees – perform statutory duties under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW)
  • Liaison committees – linked to other professions or organisations
  • Policy committees

By drawing on the insights of committees, the Law Society can meet its statutory duties and act as a major player in law reform and policy debates.

See the Law Society Committee webpage