In 2018 the United States withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council. One possible characterisation of the US decision is that it illustrates a wider ‘backlash’ within Western democracies, driven by populist political forces or considerations, against the global human rights institutional orthodoxy. This article explores some the implications of such a characterisation on Australia’s commitment to the international human rights order. In particular, it assesses the extent to which one might diagnose a similar form of ‘backlash’ in terms of Australia’s recent approach to the UN and treaty-based human rights system.