We are encouraged that NSW Parliament announced on Wednesday that it will establish a Human Rights Act inquiry. This inquiry creates an important opportunity to centre the voices of older people in shaping laws that directly affect their lives.
Seniors Rights Service is proud to stand alongside more than 120 community organisations across New South Wales that have worked together to support this outcome through the NSW Human Rights Act for NSW Alliance.
This inquiry provides a platform for older people to share their lived experiences of aged care, health systems, housing and access to services by ensuring their perspectives inform how rights are defined and protected. It is especially significant for groups whose voices are often underrepresented including older women, First Nations people and people from culturally diverse communities.
In addition to drawing on our 40 years of community service and sector insights, we are excited to facilitate community engagement and input into this process to ensure the voices of all older people, in all their diversity across NSW, are front and centre of the inquiry.
By elevating these voices, the inquiry helps shift systems toward greater respect for autonomy, dignity and choice. Embedding the perspectives of older people into law and policy design can lead to more responsive services and stronger accountability when things go wrong. It also reinforces the principle that older people are not passive recipients of care but active rights holders whose views and preferences must be heard and acted upon.
In this way, the inquiry is not just about legal reform – it is about recognising and strengthening the voice and agency of older people across New South Wales. This is particularly important given NSW residents have some of the fewest rights protections across Australia with no state or federal Human Rights Act in place.
The time for change is now at both levels and Seniors Rights Service will continue to advocate and call for better protections and accountability.
“We are encouraged that the NSW Parliament has announced a Human Rights Act inquiry, creating a vital opportunity to centre the voices of older people in shaping laws that directly affect their lives. This inquiry is not just about legal reform – it is about recognising and strengthening the voice and agency of older people across New South Wales, particularly at a time when residents have some of the fewest rights protections in Australia.”
Shannon Wright
Chief Executive Officer
Seniors Rights Service
This inquiry provides a platform for older people to share their lived experiences of aged care, health systems, housing and access to services.
