The Australian government has made a controversial decision to reject all recommendations related to LGBTQIA+ rights from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). This move comes amidst a broader review of Australia’s human rights record, known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which occurs every four and a half years.
Over 120 UN member states proposed various recommendations to enhance human rights protections in Australia, targeting marginalized groups such as children, women, people with disabilities, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. However, the LGBTQIA+ community was the only group for which no recommendations were accepted.
The UNHRC put forth eight specific recommendations for the LGBTQIA+ community, including:
- Removing exemptions that permit religious schools to discriminate against LGBTQIA+ students and staff
- Eliminating legal exemptions that allow discrimination against trans, gender-diverse, and intersex individuals
- Launching public education campaigns to reduce stigma and discrimination against the queer community
- Implementing a national ban on conversion practices
- Prohibiting unnecessary surgeries on intersex children
- Improving systems for trans and gender-diverse people to legally change their gender without intrusive requirements
Criticism from Advocacy Groups
Savanh Tanhchareun, a spokesperson for Equality Australia, expressed disappointment, stating that the UPR process was an opportunity for the government to demonstrate its commitment to LGBTQIA+ rights. “By refusing to accept any of the recommendations about LGBTIQ+ rights, the government has missed an opportunity to show it’s serious about equality, safety, and dignity for all Australians,” he said.
The Albanese government has previously showcased its support for the queer community, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese becoming the first sitting prime minister to march in the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade in 2026. Despite this visible support, the government has faced criticism for not including intersex people in the upcoming Census.
Comparative Acceptance Rates
The Albanese government accepted only 38% of the recommendations it received, a lower rate than the Morrison government’s 51% acceptance rate in 2026. This is the lowest acceptance rate since Australia began participating in the UPR process over 20 years ago.
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) criticized the government’s response, noting that other countries typically accept 73-76% of all recommendations. Anna Cody, Acting AHRC president, highlighted that the government only agreed to recommendations for reforms already in place or underway, ignoring over 200 recommendations for new reforms that would significantly improve the rights, health, and safety of various marginalized groups.
Government’s Stance
A government spokesperson emphasized that everyone is entitled to respect, dignity, and equality before the law, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex status. They stated that Australia has made significant progress in advancing the rights of LGBTQIA+ Australians and remains committed to continuing that work. The government welcomed the UPR process and accepted 128 of the 332 recommendations.
Despite these assurances, the decision to reject all LGBTQIA+ recommendations has raised concerns about the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in human rights issues.
