2020-02-11 Services and Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA   11 FEBRUARY 2020




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SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                             11 FEBRUARY 2020

           ATTACHMENT 1

             _¢ ) |     NOOSA                                                         Council Policy
             @      |   COUNCIL                                                 HUMAN RIGHTS

            Corporate Plan Reference:                  Excellence as a Council
            Endorsed by Council:                       <Insert Date of Ordinary Meeting >
            Policy Author:                             Governance Advisor

           POLICY BACKGROUND
           Noosa Council is committed to protecting and promoting human rights by ensuring that human rights
           are considered when making, interpreting and applying laws, developing policies, and providing
           services to our community. Council also recognises that it has an important role in complying with
           Queensland’s Human Rights Act 2019 (“the Act”) through its actions, decisions, proposals and
           recommendations.

           COUNCIL POLICY
           The objective of this Policy is to uphold Council’s human rights obligations and comply with legislative
           obligations.
           The intended outcomes of this Policy include:
               e  Assisting all areas of Council to meet our human rights obligations;
               e  Promoting a dialogue about the nature, meaning and scope of human rights with the
                  community;
               e  Improving our services, actions, decision-making processes and governance frameworks;
               e  Building the capacity of council officers to comply with the Act;
               e  Maintaining customer service levels in accordance with the adopted customer service
                  charter,  whilst managing    human   rights complaints   in accordance with     legislative
                  requirements; and,
               e  Enhancing community confidence in our legislative compliance and the reputation of Council
                  as being accountable and transparent.
           Legislative requirements
           As a public entity’, Council’s must:
               a) give proper consideration to human rights;? and
               b) act and make decisions in a way that is compatible with human rights.°
           Therefore, an act, decision or statutory provision is compatible with human rights if the act, decision
           or provision:
               a) does not limit a human right; or
               b) limits a human right only to the extent that is reasonable and demonstrably justifiable and in
                  accordance with section 13 of the Act.*

           ' Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD) s 9.
           2 Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD) s 58(1)(b).
           3 Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD) s 4(b).
           4 Human Rights Act 2019 (QLD) s 8.

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