Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ACT 2005 - SECT 14

    (1)     The commission has the following functions:

        (a)     encouraging the resolution of complaints made under this Act, and assisting in their resolution, by providing an independent, fair and accessible process for resolving the complaints;

        (b)     encouraging and assisting users and providers of disability services, health services, services for children and young people, and services for older people, to make improvements in the provision of services, particularly by encouraging and assisting service users and providers to contribute to the review and improvement of service quality;

        (c)     encouraging and assisting people providing disability services, health services, services for children and young people and services for older people, and people engaging in conduct that may be complained about under this Act, to develop and improve procedures for dealing with complaints;

        (d)     promoting community discussion, and providing community education and information, about—

              (i)     this Act and related Acts; and

              (ii)     the operation of the commission; and

              (iii)     the procedures for making complaints;

        (e)     identifying, inquiring into and reviewing issues relating to the matters that may be complained about under this Act;

        (f)     reporting to the Minister, and other appropriate entities, about each inquiry and review mentioned in paragraph (e) or advising the Minister and other appropriate entities about the inquiry and review;

Note     The commission may make a report to other appropriate entities by a third-party report.

        (g)     referring to the public advocate under section 51A advocacy matters about individual children or young people for whom the chief executive under the Children and Young People Act 2008 has parental responsibility;

        (h)     advising the Minister about any matter in relation to this Act or a related Act;

              (i)     collecting information about the operation of this Act and related Acts, and publishing the information;

        (j)     exercising any other function given to the commission under this Act or another Territory law.

Note     The following Acts give the commission functions:

              •     Discrimination Act 1991

              •     Health Professionals Act 2004

              •     Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997

              •     Human Rights Act 2004 .

    (2)     To remove any doubt, the Minister may, but need not, present advice mentioned in subsection (1) (f) to the Legislative Assembly.

Note     A report under s 87 must be presented to the Legislative Assembly.