Review of Queensland's human rights and anti-discrimination framework
On 11 June 2026, the Queensland Government announced a review of Queensland’s human rights and anti-discrimination framework. There are three parts to the Review:
- a strategic review of the Queensland Human Rights Commission (Part A)
- a further review of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Part B)
- a review of the uncommenced provisions of the Respect at Work and Other Matters Amendment Act 2024 amending the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Part C).
The Review is being led by the Honourable Peter Flanagan KC.
Terms of Reference
View the Terms of Reference (PDF, 310.8 KB).
The Review process
Overview
2026 | 2027 |
Activity | Dates | |
|---|---|---|
Research and preliminary stakeholder meetings | Jun–Aug 2026 | |
Drafting of Discussion Paper | Aug–Sep 2026 | |
Release of Discussion Paper and call for submissions | 30 Sep 2026 | |
Consultation period | Oct 2026 | |
Consideration of submissions and feedback | Nov 2026–Jan 2027 | |
Drafting of Final Report | Feb–Mar 2027 | |
Delivery of Final Report | 31 Mar 2027 | |
Submissions
The Review will be accepting submissions following the release of the Discussion Paper. Anyone can make a submission, either relating to issues in the Discussion Paper or other matters within the Terms of Reference. Further details as to how to make a submission will be provided in the Discussion Paper.
Consultation
The Review will consult with the Queensland Human Rights Commission and staff, government departments, courts, legal professionals, industry groups and organisations with an interest in human rights and anti-discrimination matters.
Consultation meetings with key stakeholders and peak bodies will also be held.
Matters not relevant to this Review
The Review will be conducted in accordance with the authorising legislation and the Terms of Reference. It is not the purpose of this Review to examine how the Queensland Human Rights Commission handled any one individual complaint, including conciliation, referral or inquiry outcomes.
Final Report
The Final Report with recommendations will be given to the Attorney-General by 31 March 2027, however, it will not be made public until it is tabled in Parliament by the Attorney-General in accordance with the requirements under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991.
The Reviewer
The Honourable Peter Flanagan KC was admitted as a barrister of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1982 and appointed Queen’s Counsel in 2002.
Mr Flanagan was appointed a judge of the trial division of the Supreme Court of Queensland in June 2014 and was the President of the Mental Health Court from February 2020 to June 2022. In July 2022, he was elevated to the Queensland Court of Appeal where he served until July 2025.
Prior to Mr Flanagan’s appointment to the Supreme Court, he was counsel assisting to Commissions of Inquiry including the Parliamentary Judges Commission of Inquiry (1988–89), the Cooke Commission of Inquiry (1989–91), and the Queensland Health Payroll System Commission of Inquiry (2012–13).