20 years of the Charter: ensuring our human rights laws are fit for modern-day Victoria

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• More details about Rob Hulls

  Rob Hulls

  Rob first attended RMIT as a law student, where he graduated in 1982. 30 years later, in October 2012, Rob returned to the University to set up the Centre for Innovative Justice as a place to develop, drive, and expand the capacity of the justice system to meet and adapt to the needs of its diverse users. In the five years since it began the CIJ has produced groundbreaking work on issues concerning family violence, disability, justice systems and processes and human rights. Rob previously served as the Attorney-General and Deputy Premier of Victoria with the Bracks and Brumby Governments from 1999 to 2010. As Attorney-General, Rob instigated significant and lasting changes to Victoria's legal system. This included establishing Australia’s first Charter of Human Rights for Victoria, and setting up specialist courts including for Victoria's indigenous community (Koori Court), for people with mental health issues (Assessment and Referral Court), for people with drug addiction (Drug Court) and for victims of family violence (Family Violence specialist list), as well as the country's first and only Neighbourhood Justice Centre. In addition, Rob opened up the process for the appointment of people to Victoria's judiciary to ensure that more women and people from diverse backgrounds were appointed. He also removed barriers to accessing assisted reproductive technology and abolished laws that discriminated against people in same-sex relationships. At the time, many of these policies saw Victoria become a national leader in progressive social justice reform. Today, nearly a decade later, these reforms have become an accepted and valued part of the state’s mainstream justice and social systems and have influenced other jurisdictions to follow suit. Rob’s attitude to justice was shaped by his early days working as a Solicitor for the Legal Aid Commission of Victoria from 1984–86, and for five years with the West Queensland Aboriginal Legal Service in Mt Isa in Queensland. In these roles, Rob witnessed firsthand how the justice system often betrayed and let down the most vulnerable people in the community, but he also discovered its potential to act as a positive intervention in people’s lives, a mission he has been working to achieve ever since. From 1990–93 Rob served one term in Federal Parliament as the member for Kennedy, Queensland and in 1994 on return to Melbourne was appointed Chief of Staff to the Victorian Leader of the Opposition. In his state political career as the Member for Niddrie, Rob held the offices of Attorney-General; Minister for Manufacturing Industry and Minister for Racing, Minister for Work Cover, Minister for Planning and Minister for Industrial Relations.

• More details about Marlo Baragwanath

  Marlo Baragwanath

  Marlo Baragwanath is the Victorian Ombudsman. She was appointed to a 10-year term in March 2024. Prior to her appointment, Marlo was the Chief Executive Officer of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, and before that, the Victorian Government Solicitor. She initially worked in private legal practice, and then began her public sector career at the Ombudsman’s office and went on to hold senior leadership roles at WorkSafe and the Victorian Building Authority. Marlo holds a Law (Honours)/Arts degree and a Master of Public Administration and Public Policy. Marlo is committed to supporting the public sector to make fair and reasonable decisions, to uphold integrity, and to promote human rights.

• More details about Commissioner Ro Allen

  Commissioner Ro Allen

  With 35 years' experience in community services, governance and social justice, Ro Allen has a deep commitment to equality and a broad experience in strategic advocacy. As Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, Ro works to uphold Victorians' rights, promote accountability and to build a fairer, safer and more inclusive community. Prior to joining the Commission, Ro served as the inaugural Victorian Commissioner for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Gender Diverse, Intersex, Queer and Asexual (LGBTIQA+) Communities. In this role, Ro worked tirelessly to promote the safety and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ Victorians, advocate for their rights, and provide strategic advice to the Victorian Government. Ro has held a wide range of leadership roles, including chairing the Victorian Adult, Community and Further Education Board and the Youth Affairs Council Victoria, and serving as a Commissioner on the Victorian Skills Commission. As founding CEO of UnitingCare in Shepparton, Ro worked at the grassroots level to develop and support Aboriginal self-determination, refugee settlement, and family violence and mental health initiatives, as well as emergency disaster responses. Ro previously sat on the Hume Regional Development Australia Committee and chaired Communities for Children in Shepparton and has served as a Director on the GOTAFE Board for North East Victoria. Ro was inducted into the Victorian Government Honour Roll for Women in 2009, has a Centenary Medal for services for young people, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a member of the AICD Victorian Division Council. Ro was appointed to the Council of La Trobe University in 2024 and in 2025, they were named Victorian Fellow by IPAA Victoria. In 2026, Ro was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia.