This Bill provides major opportunities to further promote and protect human rights in Queensland and QCOSS commends the substantial work and consultation that has gone into the development of the consultation draft. We particularly welcome a number of positive developments reflected in the consultation draft including the shift towards proactive measures, the expansion of protected attributes, incorporation of concepts of intersectionality, and longer timeframes to make a complaint under the Act.

We encourage close engagement with submissions highlighting improvements on drafting and technical aspects of the Bill, which will help to ensure the goals and objectives in establishing a new Act can be effectively realised. The Bill should be supported by a comprehensive communications and engagement strategy and investment that seeks to raise awareness, educate and ensure people can access their rights.