Administrative Decision-Making under Victoria's Charter

Two recent cases have shed considerable light on what administrative decision-makers must do to comply with their human rights obligations under Victoria's Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic). This clarity is long overdue and much needed both for those who believe their rights have been unlawfully impinged and for public authorities themselves, who need to understand the precise scope of the powers they exercise. However, we argue that these developments also serve to highlight the lack of effective, appropriate, affordable and independent oversight of public authorities' compliance with their Charter obligations.