The commission has said additional resources would allow it to incorporate human rights disputes into its complaint handling and dispute resolution work.

"We can be proud that the vision of a human rights culture has been woven into the fabric of law and society with some success, but this legacy can be further built on by an accessible complaints mechanism," the commission's submission to a parliamentary inquiry said.

The Legislative Assembly's justice and community safety committee is holding an inquiry into an accessible complaints pathway for the Human Rights Act.

The inquiry was prompted by an Assembly petition calling for an overhaul to the complaints mechanism, which currently prevents the Supreme Court from awarding compensation if complaints are upheld.

The petition said the law should allow complaints about any breach of the Human Rights Act to be made to the Human Rights Commission for confidential conciliation.

If that process is unsuccessful, the complaint should be allowed to progress to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal for resolution.

The petition, brought by lawyer Sophie Trevitt and sponsored by Labor backbencher Dr Marisa Paterson, attracted 518 signatures.

Ms Trevitt told a public hearing of the inquiry last week an accessible way for people to make complaints was itself a human right.

"It is our view that the ACT already has the infrastructure in place it needs to provide a simple and affordable way for members of the community to have their complaints heard, it just needs the legislative framework and resourcing to enable it," Ms Trevitt, who appeared on behalf of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, said.

Legal Aid ACT also backed the proposed changes to the complaints mechanism under the act, but warned the Human Rights Commission and the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal would need more funding.

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The legal assistance organisation said there should be no fee associated with discrimination complaints referred to the tribunal by the commission.

"Based on the history of anti-discrimination cases brought in the ACT, a vast majority are swiftly resolved at the ACT Human Rights Commission stage or in the early stages at ACAT. A full hearing for anti-discrimination cases is rare," Legal Aid ACT's chief executive, Dr John Boersig, said in a submission.

"Some additional funding of the ACT Human Rights Commission and the ACAT should equip these bodies with the resources to expand their scope to address human rights breaches efficiently and economically."

The ACT government said it was committed to building and strengthening human rights culture in the territory, but stopped short of endorsing the recommendations.

ACT Policing said in a submission current processes provided sufficient oversight for the actions of its officers.

"Noting the considerable legal complexities yet to be settled under this proposal, ACT Policing welcomes further discussion with ACT government and the Human Rights Commission on these issues," the submission said.

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