Statement from the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner regarding Victoria Park

I strongly encourage authorities responding to protestors at Victoria Park to actively consider and uphold the human rights of all people.

Every day at the Human Rights Commission, we are reminded that upholding human rights involves carefully considering not just what can be done, but what should be done.

The Queensland Human Rights Act 2019 recognises the distinct cultural rights of First Nations peoples, including the importance of maintaining and strengthening culture for future generations.

Supporting these rights means engaging in genuine consultation and ensuring First Nations peoples and communities have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect them.

Hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games is an incredible opportunity for Queensland to highlight our commitment to upholding human rights on the world stage. This commitment starts by embedding human rights principles. This can maximise economic and social returns, elevate our community on the world stage, and build unity and pride in our unique culture, including the culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

ENDS

Normally, large scale projects would be subject to consultation and review processes under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 and the Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Act 2003, with safeguards such as referral to the Land Court for recommendation if parties are unable to reach agreement.

The Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games Arrangements Act 2021 was amended by the Planning (Social Impact and Community Benefit) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025, to provide an alternative process for cultural heritage matters. While still providing for engagement and consultation processes with Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples on cultural heritage management plans for proposed developments, the amendments provide that if after 60 days there is no agreement, a default heritage management plan will apply. The Act also removed options for seeking referral to the Land Court and rights of judicial review (except in cases of jurisdictional error).

Planning approval processes, unique to Olympic Games infrastructure, remove usual pathways for challenge under Queensland law. Because of this, Aboriginal entities have applied to the Federal Minister for Environment for a declaration to protect areas and objects of cultural significance under s10 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984. More information about the federal process for protection is here: Brisbane Olympic site cultural heritage claim rejected