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Australia's "A" Human Rights Rating is under jeopardy
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Concerns over political influence in crucial leadership choices have prompted a worldwide watchdog to warn Australia’s Human Rights Commission with a potential loss of its international standing.

The commission faces losing its “A status” ranking for the first time in its 30-year history, a relegation that might result in its participation rights at the United Nations Human Rights Council being revoked.

The Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, which supervises these accreditations, stated in a statement that Canberra had at times disregarded its own merit-based selection procedure for the Australian Human Rights Commission.

The watchdog cited two direct appointments made by Australia’s attorney-general: disability discrimination commissioner Ben Gauntlett and human rights commissioner Lorraine Finlay.

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It warned that “such nominations have the potential to call into doubt the legitimacy of the appointees as well as the independence” of a country’s leading human rights agency.

Finlay’s direct appointment last year prompted outrage, with Australian of the Year and sexual assault survivor Grace Tame calling it a “terrible error” due to the commissioner’s resistance to laws requiring affirmative agreement to sexual conduct.

Attorney-General Michaelia Cash was sought for comment on the impending downgrade of the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Hugh de Kretser, executive director of the Human Rights Law Centre, stated that the government’s actions “have jeopardised our national human rights watchdog at a vital time for human rights, both at home and worldwide.”

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The Australian Human Rights Commission will be scrutinised for the next 18 months until a decision on its future status is reached in October 2023, according to the watchdog.