Make a complaint about a human rights breach
Part of the Rights topic
You can make a formal complaint if you believe your human rights have been breached by a public entity in Queensland. Make your complaint directly with the public entity.
On this page
In short
You can use this service to:
- make a complaint about a rights breach by a public entity
- escalate your complaint to the Queensland Human Rights Commission (QHRC).
See how to make a complaint about a human rights breach for the full application process.
What you should know
Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person, regardless of their race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language or any other characteristic.
Read more about human rights.
The Human Rights Act 2019 (the Act) protects the fundamental rights of everyone in Queensland and is drawn from international human rights law.
In Queensland the Act must be upheld by public entities including:
- Queensland Government departments
- local councils
- public sector employees
- ministers
- private organisations performing public functions on behalf of the government.
If you believe a public entity has breached your human rights you are entitled to make a complaint.
You must first lodge a complaint directly with the public entity involved, before escalating your complaint to the QHRC.
Who can use this service
| You can make a complaint about a rights breach if: |
|---|
| Correct.you aryouyou are you believe a public entity has made a decision or acted in a way that breached your rights under the Human Rights Act 2019 |
| Correct.yyou can provide details about the decision or action and explain how it impacted your rights. |
| Don't use this service if: |
|---|
| Incorrect.your complaint is not related to a public entity Instead, seek legal advice or contact the relevant organisation directly. |
| Incorrect. you a reporting a criminal offence or emergency Instead, contact the Queensland Police Service or call Triple Zero (000) in an emergency. |
How to make a complaint about a human rights breach
Follow these steps to make a complaint about a rights breach.
Determine which public entity is responsible for the action or decision that you believe breached your rights.
Include detailed information about the action or decision that affected you.
Explain how you believe it has impacted your rights.
Visit the website of the public entity to find out their complaints process.
Submit your complaint to them directly.
The public entity has 45 business days to respond to your complaint.
If you don't receive a response within 45 days, or you believe the response is inadequate, contact the QHRC.
Provide details of your original complaint and the response (if any) from the public entity.
How long it takes
Timeframe for a public entity to respond to a complaint: Up to 45 business days.
Timeframe for escalating a complaint to QHRC: Varies depending on the complexity of the case.
How much it costs
Free.