In 2006, the then-government asked the institute to investigate whether human rights could be better protected in the state.

The report released a year later recommended the law be reformed to “provide and promote specific, better and accessible protection for human rights”.

A petition was started, calling on all parties and candidates to commit to taking the issue to the next election.

RELATED: Human Rights Act in the spotlight for Tasmania

However, 10 years on, the state is no closer to having such an act, and the petition remains in place, calling on parties and candidates to take it to next year’s election.

A state government spokesman said there were “no plans” to introduce a Human Rights Act.

“We have a long-term plan for Tasmania that  prioritises jobs, health, education and supporting the vulnerable.”

A Human Rights Act discussion will be held in Launceston this Friday as part of the Tamar Valley Peace Festival. Panellists gave The Examiner a sneak preview of the conversation.

RELATED: A list of events at the 2017 Tamar Valley Peace Festival

“A Human Rights Act is really a way of enabling all Tasmanians to achieve their best out of life, and all of us panel members, and all of us supporting the campaign, feel that we would all benefit because that leads to a more prosperous and united Tasmania.

“The protection of human rights across Australia is not a uniform story. There are two jurisdictions in Australia - Victoria and the ACT, which have comparable human rights protection to what we’re campaigning for here in Tasmania.

“In the lead-up to the next state election, we’ll be putting that petition to all parties and candidates. What we’re petitioning them to do is make a commitment that in the next term of parliament they will commit to legislating for a Human Rights Act in Tasmania.”

“A lot of Tasmanians assume our basic human rights are already protected, but my experience as an advocate for LGTBI human rights is that is not the case.

“Basic rights, like the right to equality or the right to privacy, have no strong protections in Australian law and to ensure those rights are guaranteed, we need a Tasmanian Human Rights Act.

“Up until 1997, Tasmanian law criminalised private consenting sexual relationships between men and we had to take a case to the UN Human Rights Committee to have our right to privacy recognised.

“It’s the same now with the issue of marriage equality. The right to equality is not guaranteed in Tasmanian or Australian law.

“While one of my main interests in a Human Rights Act is protection for minorities, it’s also important for the protection of everyone’s basic human rights, regardless of their sexual orientation, race or ability.”

“The absence of really clear benchmarks on how we should treat people, and how we could ensure everybody gets a fair go, have really struck me as a problem, and that’s why a Human Rights Act is necessary.

“I think it provides both a way for people to have much more effective and respectful conversations about quite contentious issues.

“Effectively, Tasmanias, and most Australians, have no human clear rights protection. We are international citizens. Since 1948, we have said to the world, ‘we believe in human rights’, and we have signed onto every single international treaty about human rights, and yet, we haven’t put them into law in Australia.”

“Consultation is important, rather than tacking things on the end. By having a charter there, it allows in legislation for people to actually have to think about the impact it has on human rights, such as access to education and other basic human rights that we all take for granted. It has to be sorted out beforehand.

“A Human Rights Act allows for a better discussion when we’re looking at policy.

“It allows for better, rounded policy and it allows for less unintended consequences that impinge on people’s rights.”

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