This book is a contemporary socio-legal study of Australia's protection of economic and social
rights. Despite Australia's hortatory language of compliance with international rights
standards its translation of these standards into domestic law and policy has been found
wanting. In considering Australia's compliance across the policy areas of health housing
labour and social security it is argued that Australia's failings can be understood in terms
of its institutional framework. This framework provides incomplete legal protection for rights
and leaves that protection almost exclusively in the realm of politics and policymaking an
arena still dominated by neoliberalism and a political culture averse to the protection and
promotion of economic and social rights.
