Concerning trends on Australia's compliance with the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Abstract

ABSTRACT In 2023, the United Nations Committee Economic, Social and Cultural Rights will review Australia's compliance with the International Covenant of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). There have been a number of concerning trends in relation to the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights in Australia since Australia's fifth report to the Committee on 1 February 2016: growing economic inequality exacerbated by a cost-of-living crisis, a lack of meeting Closing the Gap targets for Indigenous Australians, a housing crisis and the Australian government's use of unlawful technology against recipients of social security. Far from meeting its obligations under ICESCR, multiple governments have shown a lack of respect for upholding these rights, leaving Australia without the adequate guarantee of economic, social and cultural rights that should be expected in an industrialised, wealthy economy.