​In September, 1993, Mr Brian Burdekin, Federal Human Rights Commissioner wrote to the Hon Michael Lavarch, MP, the Attorney-General, enclosing a copy of his report Human Rights & Mental Illness - Report of the National Inquiry into the Human Rights of People with Mental Illness. The Report was released in October, 1993. 

This Briefing Note summarises sections of the Report considered most useful to New South Wales Parliamentary Members. It does not attempt to summarise the entire Report which runs to some 1000 pages. It concentrates upon the general issues raised in the Report and those specifically relevant to New South Wales. 

Part I: Background, Definitions, and Existing Services of the Report is summarised in the first half of this paper, with the exception of Chapter 7, a chronology of developments since the Inquiry began, which is appended to this document.

Part IV: Other Areas of Concern, constituting Chapters 26 through 29, is summarised in the second half of this paper, followed by Part V: Findings and Recommendations. Chapter 30 of this last part is summarised in detail, however, Chapter 31 is summarised in a more general fashion. 

Parts II and Ill of the report have not been summarised in this document as the chapters in these sections deal primarily with extensive submissions made by particular groups to the Inquiry and issues specific to those groups.