Human Rights Act 2004
Human Rights Act 2004 | Acts
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Acts
Human Rights Act 2004
Human Rights Act 2004
Number A2004-5
Status In Force
Notes
Under the Human Rights Act 2004 , section 31 international law and the judgments of foreign and international courts and tribunals relevant to a human right may be considered in interpreting a human right (see also dict, def
international law ). The accessibility of this material to the public is one of the criteria for deciding whether to consider the material and the weighting to be given to it. Material on the ACT legislation register is taken to be accessible to the public. Various human rights conventions and convenants are published on the legislation register.
Various declarations of incompatibility are published on the legislation register.
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R17 (current) 17 March 2025
R16 (RI) 11 June 2024 - 16 March 2025
R16 11 June 2024 - 16 March 2025
R15 12 December 2023 - 10 June 2024
R14 6 April 2022 - 11 December 2023
R13 14 May 2020 - 5 April 2022
R12 2 March 2017 - 13 May 2020
R11 1 September 2016 - 1 March 2017
R10 26 February 2016 - 31 August 2016
R9 2 January 2016 - 25 February 2016
R8* 1 January 2013 - 1 January 2016
R7* 2 January 2010 - 31 December 2012
R6 2 February 2009 - 1 January 2010
R5 1 January 2009 - 1 February 2009
R4 18 March 2008 - 31 December 2008
R3* 2 January 2007 - 17 March 2008
R2 1 November 2006 - 1 January 2007
R1 1 July 2004 - 31 October 2006
As notified 1 July 2004
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Current law
Regulations & instruments
Point-in-time versions
Law history
Current version
Notes
Uncommenced amendments by Human Rights (Housing) Amendment Act 2025 .
Uncommenced expiry of provisions.
Effective
Files/Formats
Version
Published
Notes
17 March 2025
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R17
17 March 2025
Republication for amendments by A2024-43
Administering Minister and Directorate
Minister for Human Rights - Justice and Community Safety Directorate
Legislative instruments
Legislative instruments under the Act and its subordinate laws
Name
Status
Classifier
Type
Under
Effective
Year and No
Human Rights (Private Entity) Declaration 2009
None
Notifiable instruments
s 40D
1 July 2009
NI2009-239
Human Rights (Private Entity) Declaration 2010 (No 2)
None
Notifiable instruments
s 40D
1 March 2010
NI2010-59
Human Rights (Private Entity) Declaration 2010 (No 1)
None
Notifiable instruments
s 40D
1 March 2010
NI2010-68
Human Rights (Private Entity) Declaration 2012
None
Notifiable instruments
s 40D
8 May 2012
NI2012-230
Human Rights (Private Entity) Declaration 2012 (No 2)
None
Notifiable instruments
s 40D
1 June 2012
NI2012-276
Human Rights (Private Entity) Declaration 2012 (No 3)
None
Notifiable instruments
s 40D
1 January 2013
NI2012-621
Human Rights (Private Entity) Declaration 2013
None
Notifiable instruments
s 40D
10 December 2013
NI2013-531
Human Rights Commission (Acting Victims of Crime Commissioner) Appointment 2025 (No 3)
None
Appointment
Notifiable instruments
s 18D
12 July 2025 - 13 January 2026
NI2025-327
Point-in-time versions
Enter a date to find a version from 1 July 2004 onwards :
The following table lists 18 point in time versions. You can skip this and jump to the next tab .
Effective
Files/Formats
Version
Published
Notes
17 March 2025
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R17
17 March 2025
Republication for amendments by A2024-43
11 June 2024 - 16 March 2025
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R16 (RI)
17 September 2024
Reissued for retrospective amendments by A2024-49
Republication for amendments by A2023-53
11 June 2024 - 16 March 2025
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R16
11 June 2024
Republication for amendments by A2023-53
Does not include retrospective amendments by A2024-49 (see reissued republication)
12 December 2023 - 10 June 2024
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R15
12 December 2023
Republication for amendments by A2023-53
6 April 2022 - 11 December 2023
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R14
6 April 2022
Republication for amendments by A2022-4
14 May 2020 - 5 April 2022
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R13
14 May 2020
Republication for amendments by A2020-13
2 March 2017 - 13 May 2020
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R12
2 March 2017
Republication for amendments by A2017-5
1 September 2016 - 1 March 2017
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R11
1 September 2016
Republication for amendments by A2016-52
26 February 2016 - 31 August 2016
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R10
26 February 2016
Republication for amendments by A2016-5
2 January 2016 - 25 February 2016
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R9
2 January 2016
Republication for expiry of provision (s 43)
1 January 2013 - 1 January 2016
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R8*
1 January 2013
Republication for amendments by A2012-41
2 January 2010 - 31 December 2012
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R7*
2 January 2010
Republication for commenced expiry
2 February 2009 - 1 January 2010
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R6
2 February 2009
Republication for amendments by A2008-36
1 January 2009 - 1 February 2009
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R5
1 January 2009
Republication for amendments by A2008-3
18 March 2008 - 31 December 2008
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R4
18 March 2008
Republication for amendments by A2008-3
2 January 2007 - 17 March 2008
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R3*
2 January 2007
Republication for commenced expiry
1 November 2006 - 1 January 2007
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R2
1 November 2006
Republication for amendments by A2005-41 as amended by A2006-3
1 July 2004 - 31 October 2006
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R1
1 July 2004
Republication for new Act
1 July 2004
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As notified
10 March 2004
Bill and Explanatory statement
The bill and explanatory statement for this Act are accessed from Human Rights Bill 2003 .
Notification statement
The Human Rights Act 2004 has been passed by the Legislative Assembly and is notified under the Legislation Act 2001.
Notified: 10 March 2004 (Parliamentary Counsel)
Act as notified
Date notified
Effective
Files/Formats
Notes
10 March 2004
1 July 2004
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Commencement
Provision
Commencement date
Commencement method
s 1, s 2
10 March 2004
LA s 75 (1)
remainder
1 July 2004
s 2
Expiries
Provision
Expiry date
Expiry method
s 40C (8)-(10)
commences 1 October 2028
s 40C (10)
s 43
commences 1 October 2028
s 43 (4)
s 43
1 January 2016 (midnight)
s 43 (3)
s 44
1 January 2010 (midnight)
s 44 (2)
s 43
1 January 2007 (midnight)
s 43 (3)
Amendments
For section-by-section amendment annotations, see the amendment history in the endnotes in the current version of this law.
Year and number
Amending law
Amending provision
Commencement date
A2017-5
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2017
sch 1 pt 1.4
2 March 2017
A2016-52
Public Sector Management Amendment Act 2016
sch 1 pt 1.36
1 September 2016
A2016-5
Human Rights Amendment Act 2016
ss 4-9
26 February 2016
A2012-41
Human Rights Amendment Act 2012
ss 4-11
1 January 2013
A2008-36
ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal Legislation Amendment Act 2008
sch 1 pt 1.30
2 February 2009
A2008-3
Human Rights Amendment Act 2008
ss 4-6
18 March 2008
A2008-3
Human Rights Amendment Act 2008
ss 7-9
1 January 2009
A2005-41
Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2005
sch 1 pt 1.7
1 November 2006
A2020-13
Human Rights (Workers Rights) Amendment Act 2020
s 4, s 5
14 May 2020
A2022-4
Legislation (Legislative Assembly Committees) Amendment Act 2022
sch 1 pt 1.12
6 April 2022
A2023-53
Human Rights (Complaints) Legislation Amendment Act 2023
ss 3-7, s 9, sch 1
12 December 2023
A2023-53
Human Rights (Complaints) Legislation Amendment Act 2023
s 8, s 10
11 June 2024
A2024-43
Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Act 2024
ss 4-10
17 March 2025
A2024-49
Justice and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2024
pt 8
taken to have commenced 11 June 2024
A2025-24
Human Rights (Housing) Amendment Act 2025
s 4, s 6, s 7
commences 1 January 2027
A2025-24
Human Rights (Housing) Amendment Act 2025
s 5
commences 1 January 2029
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Acknowledgement of Country
Copyright 2001 ACT Government. All rights reserved.
Approved website under the Legislation Act 2001 (ACT).
Last updated at 22 July 2026 00:15:05 AEST
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Official source: https://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/2004-5