Human Rights Case Law Project

Published cases referring to the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld)

The UQ/Caxton Human Rights Case Law Project is an initiative of the UQ School of Law and Caxton Legal Centre Inc. The aim of this project is to ensure that practitioners, researchers, students and members of the public have easy access to all published cases that refer to the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld). 

Case notes for all published decisions that mention the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) will be added to this page. Please be patient with us – we are a small team so the case notes might not appear immediately, but we will do our best to complete them as quickly as possible.

This project is run by Professor Tamara Walsh (UQ Pro Bono Centre) and Bridget Burton (Caxton Legal Centre).

Current team members are: Laura Rowswell (Student Leader), Liisa Kuru (Student Leader), Laura Hall, Kano Nawagawa, Imogen Ryan-Kerr, Emily Gracias, Sarah Millar, Ella North, Elize Atme, Diksha Arora, Ocean Desta-Gebru and Bethany Jones.

Many thanks to our founding members: Elizabeth Aisi, Linden Peacock and Tulli Seton.

Case notes are available by keyword below and in alphabetical order.


Case notes by keyword

Children and Families
Civil Procedure
Commercial
Criminal Law and Corrective Services
Cultural rights
Discrimination
Domestic Violence
Education, Training and Employment
Health, Mental Health and Guardianship
Planning and Environment
Political Freedoms
Privacy and Confidentiality
Public Law Considerations
Tenancy and Social Housing

Children and Families

  • KTG v Director-General, Department of Justice and Attorney-General [2022] QCAT 157

    This case concerned an application for review of the respondent’s decision to cancel the applicant’s Blue Card, following receipt of information that the applicant’s kinship carer certificate had been cancelled following findings that he had failed to protect a child in his care from sexual abuse by an adult member of the household.
  • KWT v Director-General, Department of Justice and Attorney-General [2021] QCAT 122

    This case concerned an application for review of the respondent’s decision to issue a negative blue card notice to the applicant, KWT. In ordering that the respondent’s decision be set aside, the Tribunal noted that it was required by the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) to provide proper consideration to any relevant human rights, but did not substantively discuss human rights.
  • LAF v AP [2022] QDC 66

    The case concerned an appeal against the decision of the Noosa Magistrates Court to dismiss the appellant’s application for a protection order and to grant the respondent a protection order.
  • LB v Director-General, Department of Justice and Attorney-General [2021] QCAT 140

    This case concerned an application for review of the respondent’s decision to issue a negative blue card notice to the applicant, LB. LB had criminal convictions as a minor, including threatening with weapon, in the context of an abusive domestic relationship. The Tribunal considered LB’s cultural rights, right to a fair hearing, right not to be tried or punished more than once, and right to education, as well as the right of every child to protection.
  • LO v Director-General, Department of Justice and Attorney-General [2022] QCAT 16

    The applicant was issued a negative blue card notice on the basis of her criminal history. The Tribunal considered the applicant’s rights pursuant to the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) and set aside the decision as her criminal history was recognised to be of limited relevance.
  • LSR v Director-General, Department of Justice and Attorney-General [2021] QCAT 380

    The case concerned a review of a negative Blue Card notice. The Tribunal determined that they were required to comply with the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) provision directed at public entities and that the limitations to human rights from refusing to issue the blue card, excluding the media and public, and issuing the non-publication order were reasonable and justifiable. The Tribunal ultimately concluded that it was not satisfied the applicant’s case was an exceptional case and therefore it would be in the interests of children for her to be issued with a ‘working with children clearance.’
  • MAJ v Director-General Department of Justice and Attorney-General [2022] QCAT 324

    This matter concerned an application for review of the respondent’s decision to issue a negative Blue Card notice to the applicant. In ordering that the respondent’s decision be set aside, the Tribunal noted that the applicant’s right to a fair hearing (section 31) the right not to be punished more than once for an offence (section 34), as well as the rights of every child to the protection that is needed by the child, and is in the child’s best interests, because of being a child (section 26) were relevant, but found that this decision does not limit the applicant’s rights or the rights of children to protection and is therefore compatible with human rights.
  • MAP v Director-General, Department of Justice and Attorney-General [2020] QCAT 527

    This case concerned an application for review of the respondent’s decision to issue a negative blue card notice to the applicant, MAP. The Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) was discussed in relation to the duties it imposed upon the Tribunal, and the relevance of the right not be tried or punished more than once (section 34), the right to a fair hearing (section 31) and the right to privacy and reputation (section 25) to the operation of the Working with Children (Risk Management and Screening) Act 2000 (Qld).
  • MK v Director-General, Department of Justice and Attorney General [2021] QCAT 62

    This case concerned an application for review of the respondent’s decision to issue a negative blue card notice to the applicant, MK. In conducting its review, the Tribunal had regard to the applicant's right to take part in public life (section 23), right to privacy and reputation (section 25), and right to further vocational education and training (section 36(2)), as well as the right to protection of children (section 26(2)), under the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld).
  • ML v Director-General, Department of Justice and Attorney-General [2020] QCAT 376

    This case concerned an application for review of the respondent’s decision to issue a negative blue card notice to the applicant, ML. Member Ashman stated that ‘[t]he Tribunal must...consider the intent of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld)’ but did not elaborate as to which specific considerations were relevant to this matter.

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Criminal Law and Corrective Services

  • Wood v The King & Anor [2022] QSC 216

    The applicant sought a declaration from the District Court, under section 29(7) of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), that his detention for offences for which he failed to appear was unlawful. Upon referral to the Supreme Court, it was held that section 29(7) recognises a human right to apply for a declaration as to the lawfulness of detention, but does not vest jurisdiction for declaratory relief in lower courts. The human right contained in section 29(7) would be accommodated in this, and other cases, by applying for habeas corpus in the Supreme Court.
  • Woolston v Commissioner of Police [2022] QDC 70

    The Appellant appealed against two convictions for failing to provide a specimen of breath as required by police, and contended that the Magistrate who handed down the convictions had erred with respect to consideration of section 37 of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), which concerned the right to health services.
  • Young v Dawson (No. 2) [2022] QCAT 48

    The applicant was a police officer who was charged with four disciplinary allegations and found guilty by the respondent. The Tribunal noted that it was required under the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) to have regard to the applicant’s human rights, and found that the applicant’s right to freedom of expression (section 21) and right to not have his reputation unlawfully attacked (section 25(b)) were potentially limited. The Tribunal was satisfied that limitations on these rights were consistent with the proper purpose of upholding public confidence in the police service and ensuring police discipline. 

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Education, Training and Employment

  • Health Ombudsman v ORC [2020] QCAT 181

    The right to a fair hearing, specifically the right to have all judgments and decisions made publicly available (Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) s 31(3)) was noted by the Tribunal. It was ordered that due to delays in the matter, publication of materials which could identify the respondent was prohibited.
  • Herbert v State of Queensland (Department of Education) [2021] QIRC 415

    This case concerned an appeal of a decision to reject a conversion to a higher classification position under the Public Service Act 2008 (Qld). In submissions, the respondent decision-maker had noted that, as required by the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), the appellant’s human rights had been considered, particularly the right to work embodied in article 6(1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. There was no substantive discussion of human rights nor the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) by the Commission.
  • Hunt v State of Queensland (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) [2022] QIRC 162

    This matter involved an application for appeal of a disciplinary decision from the Respondent based on various allegations made in respect to the Applicant’s conduct during his employment.
  • Hurling v State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) [2022] QIRC 084

    The Applicant sought a review of the Respondent’s decision to suspend them without remuneration, and the Tribunal was required to determine whether the the Decision-Maker erred in applying s 58(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) and also contravened s 58(1)(b).
  • Hurling v State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service) [2022] QIRC 084

    The Applicant sought a review of the Respondent’s decision to suspend them without remuneration, and the Tribunal was required to determine whether the the Decision-Maker erred in applying s 58(1)(a) of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) and also contravened s 58(1)(b).
  • Ingram v State of Queensland (Department of Housing and Public Works) [2021] QIRC 011

    This case concerned an appeal against a decision to not convert the appellant to a higher employment classification. The obligation imposed by the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) on public entities to consider human rights when making decisions was referenced within the relevant departmental directive, but there was no in-depth analysis of the Human Rights Act 2019.
  • Jin v State of Queensland (Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy) & Or [2023] QIRC 013

    This case involved an application to progress a complaint that was originally made to the Queensland Human Rights Commission, onto the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission. The complaint regarded an allegation of discrimination on the basis of race, from a job advertisement process conducted by the Queensland Art Gallery.
  • Jin v State of Queensland (Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy) [2023] ICQ 10

    This case concerned an application for a review of a decision of the Queensland Industrial Relations Commission by Yin Cheng Jin, where the Queensland Human Rights Commission rejected a complaint by Mr Jin under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld).
  • Jones v State of Queensland (Queensland Health) [2022] QIRC 317

    This matter concerned an appeal for a review of a decision to refuse the appointment of the appellant to a higher classification position. The applicant did not refer to any specific rights under the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), and the commission did not engage in any substantive discussion in respect to the appellant’s human rights.
  • Khan v State of Queensland (Department of Housing and Public Works) [2020] QIRC 227

    The appellant filed an appeal against a decision to not convert their employment to a higher classification level. Contained within a relevant policy directive was an acknowledgement of the requirement of public entities to make decisions that are compatible with human rights. There was no in-depth analysis of this provision or the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) generally. 

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Health, Mental Health and Guardianship

  • MJP [2020] QCAT 253

    The Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal reviewed guardianship appointments for MJP, a young man who is unable to communicate decisions about his life.
  • MTC [2022] QCAT 432

    This matter concerned multiple issues arising out of a guardianship application for MTC. MTC’s children SNB, SNE and DTA sought to replace the Public Trustee as MTC’s guardian and administrator, subject to a loan dispute with MTC’s other child, SND, being resolved. The Tribunal recognised that the appointment of an ongoing administrator would impact MTC’s property rights under section 24 Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), noting that although the appointment of administrator does not deprive an adult of their ownership of property, it does remove their control over the property.
  • MTD [2022] QCAT 89

    This matter concerned an application to appoint a guardian and administrator for MTD under an interim order because of capacity concerns. The Tribunal found that limits on MTD’s freedom of movement (section 19) and right to privacy and reputation (section 25) that would result from an interim order, were not reasonable and justified in accordance with section 13 of the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld).
  • MXQ [2021] QCAT 381

    This application concerned the appointment of a guardian and administrator for MXQ, the making of a confidentiality order, and the making of orders limiting information sharing with particular individuals.
  • NHF [2021] QCAT 412

    This case concerned an application for the appointment of the Office of the Public Guardian and the Public Trustee of the Queensland as guardian and administrator, respectively, for NHF, revoking a previous Enduring Power of Attorney.
  • NHI [2022] QCAT 357; NHI [2022] QCAT 366

    This case concerned an application for the appointment of the Public Guardian and Public Trustee of Queensland as guardian and administrator respectively, for a 90-year-old adult male (‘NHI’). NHI was diagnosed with dementia of mixed aetiology (amidst other health concerns), when admitted to hospital after being found on the floor in his remote residence, where he lives alone. The Tribunal briefly considered relevant human rights under the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld), discussing that statutory provisions must be interpreted to the extent possible that is consistent with their purpose, and in a way compatible with human rights.
  • NJ [2022] QCAT 283

    This case concerned an application seeking appointment of the Public Guardian for approval of restrictive practice, containment and seclusion in a memory support unit for people who suffer dementia: at [3]. The Tribunal were satisfied that the decision to appoint the Public Guardian pursuant to s 12 of Guardianship and Administration Act 2000 (Qld) for the personal matter of giving consent was compatible with the human rights.
  • NKG & JQ [2023] QCAT 190

    This matter concerned an application by a journalist for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation to seek orders authorising the publication of information about guardianship proceedings in a way that identified the person to whom the application and orders were about.
  • Parsons v Ryan (State Coroner) [2022] QDC 237

    This case concerned the application for an order of a reportable death under the Coroners Act 2003. The jurisdiction of the District Court derives from section 11A of the Coroners Act 2003 (Qld), which provides that a person who is dissatisfied with the State Coroner’s decision may apply for an order about whether it is a reportable death. The court did not engage in any substantive discussion regarding the Human Rights Act 2019; however, it was noted that the decision was found to be compatible with and to satisfy any operative provision of the Human Rights Act 2019.
  • PC [2022] QCAT 147

    This case concerned a review of an application seeking to appoint the Public Advocate as guardian and the Public Trustee as administrator for PC by DB (PC’s carer and long-time friend and partner) and to remove a 2001 enduring power of attorney appointing PC’s daughters.

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Public Law Considerations

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Contact 

Please contact our group with any enquiries at humanrights@uq.edu.au.

Disclaimer

These case notes are intended to provide summarised general information only. They do not constitute legal advice and should not be relied on as such.  If the subject matter of any case note relates to a transaction or matter of particular concern, you should seek your own independent formal legal advice from an admitted legal practitioner.  Please note, UQ does not offer legal services to the public.