Disability rights site updates
This page provides an archive of updates on www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights in date order from newer to older material (back to 2001). The most recent material is found in the what's new section on our main disability rights page.
2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001
2008
- Open letter: body corporate responsibilities
- Access to premises, buildings and services resources updated April 2008
- Exemption application: Buchan bus 'n Freight
- Exemption applications: Qld and W.A. taxi council
- Exemption application: Rex airlines
- Exemption decision: Queensland Rail (tilt train)
- Exemption decision: Tiger airways
2007
- International Day of People with Disability message and press releases on accessible bus stops and banking
- Speeches page updated
- The overlooked consumers: people with disabilities and older people
- Rail operator exemptions: assistance animals ; boarding ramps and mobility aids
- Speech: accessible procurement
- HREOC welcomes inquiry on media access and hearing impairment: see also Minister's press release
- Press release: Parenting DVD leaves some parents out
- Speech: Towards ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- July 2007 Disability Rights update newsletter
- Draft disability rights workplan 2007-08
- Report of workshop on disability rights Convention (MS Word) with background paper
- Press release: First secret ballot for 300,000 Australians; see also Minister's press release (16 July 2007)
- Guidelines on access to buildings and services ( July 2007)
- "The good, the bad and the ugly: design and construction for access" (July 2007)
- Workshop participants release statement seeking early ratification of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with a Disability
- Attorney-General's press release on progress with Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
- Press release: captioning of Film Finance Corporation funded films - see also Minister's press release
- Temporary exemption: Hervey Bay RSL
- May 2007 Disability Rights update newsletter
- Review of Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport commenced : submissions requested by August 24 2007 and public hearings announced
- Draft guidelines on access to buildings and services: comments requested by 14 May
- Media release: people with sensory disabilities as jurors
- Convention on human rights and disability opened for signature 30 March 2007: see our Convention page for more
- Speeches and complaint outcome pages updated
- Media release: taxis and blind passengers
- HREOC forum on DVD access, with background paper from Media Access Australia (MS Word)
- Commission congratulates Government on new health check arrangements for people with intellectual disabilities : see also Minister's press release
- Australasian Railway Association exemption application: decision now available; see also introductory statement
- Press release: insurance cover for work experience welcomed
2006
- Commissioner Innes welcomes progress in banking access
- HREOC welcomes draft banking guidelines on accessible authentication systems and Westpac revised action plan
- New guideline for making payphones more accessible for people with disabilities
- Commissioner Innes welcomes Dr Who and the Daleks
- Press release: call for national plan of action on lifetime housing
- Speeches page updated
- Press release: Code on information on telecommunications equipment access
- Complaint outcomes pages updated
- Australasian Railways Association exemption application: draft recommendations: for comment by 11 October 2006
- Speech: Sydney city access forum (6 September)
- Speech: Occupational health and safety and HREOC's National Inquiry on employment and disability (1 September)
- State government reports on compliance with Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (31 August 2006)
- Drafting completed for Convention on human rights and disability; see also HREOC press release and Australian Government press release
- Trial of electronic voting for Federal election announced: see HREOC media release
- Job Access information service open: see also HREOC media release
- Access to premises FAQ updated
- Media release: Pay TV captioning ahead of schedule (19 July)
- Interview with Graeme Innes; ABC Law report
- Complaint conciliation outcomes updated (5 July)
- Media release: Making payphones more accessible
- Captioned TV at Sydney airport welcomed
- Press release: Recognition for national disability advocate welcomed
- Speech: ACROD NSW children and young people sub-committee
- Advice on application of the Transport Standards to bus stops (4 June)
- Press release: Virgin Blue policy change a first step (1 June)
- Statement on disability access Standards and airlines (30 May)
- Speech: Roundtable on Information Access for People with a Print Disability, Graeme Innes, 22 May )
- Speech: National Deafness Sector Summit, Graeme Innes (20 May)
- Speech: Adaptable departments (16 May)
- Media release: copyright changes to reduce barriers (15 May): see also Attorney-General's press release
- Media release: new guide on organising accessible events (27 April) : guide available on Meetings Events Australia site,
- Press release: increased television captioning welcomed (4 March)
- Meeting on adjustable examination couches (20 February)
- National Inquiry on Employment and Disability: report released ; executive summary also available; see HREOC media release
- Council of Australian Governments commitments on mental health : see HREOC media release
- Decisions on exemption applications: Airnorth; Airport Direct
- Progress on Convention on disability and human rights: Attorney-General's press release
- Opinion piece from Commissioner Innes on building access (21 January 2006)
2005
- Appointment of Commissioner Graeme Innes: Attorney-General's press release
- Farewell from Commissioner Sev Ozdowski
- International Day of People with a Disability (2 December 2005)
- HREOC 2004-05 Annual Report: disability rights chapter
- Update on access to health services
- HREOC Submission on Welfare to Work Bills; PDF version also available on Committee site; Word version
- Not for Service: report of consultations on mental health and human rights by Mental Health Council of Australia and the Brain and Mind Institute, in partnership with HREOC; also available on HREOC site
- Speech by Commissioner Ozdowski at launch of Not for Service; see also HREOC press release
- Submissions to National Inquiry on Disability and Employment since Interim report
- Disability Rights update newsletter October 2005
- Effect of draft premises standard on small business: views from Commissioner Ozdowski, October 2005
- Updates on development of draft international Convention on human rights and disability
- Press release for Mental Health Week
- Exemption applications: Airnorth; Airport Direct
- Speeches page updated: papers on access to premises; employment inquiry; education standards; mental health issues; more
- Exemption application: Australasian Railway Association including links to submissions received (comments requested by 13 September)
- Disability Standards for Education in force: 18 August ; see also Ministers' press release
- Press release: improved hotel/motel access for hearing impaired customers (29 July); see also HMAA code of practice
- Press release: youth mental health initiative welcomed (27 July)
- Report on banking accessibility ; see also HREOC press release ; Attorney-General's press release and Australian Bankers Association press release
- June 2005 Disability Rights Update newsletter
- Senate Committee on Aged Care report: see ch.4 on younger people in nursing homes
- Telecommunications Access Update
- Latest in National inquiry on employment and disability : submissions updated 21 July
- Speech on disability and diversity within the Australian Public Service (8 June 2005)
- Senate Committee on Mental Health: Transcript of HREOC evidence (PDF version) and HREOC submission
- HREOC submission to review of accessible housing by Victorian Building Commission and Australian Building Codes Board
- Concilation outcome pages updated (17 May 2005)
- Temporary exemption granted: La La Land Byron Bay
- Refusal of exemption: Oxford hotel, Casino
- Disability Standards on education tabled: Attorney-General's press release
- Revised insurance guidelines
- Disability Discrimination Amendment (Education Standards) Bill passed: see second reading speeches
- Conciliation outcome summaries updated
- Temporary exemptions: Bendigo trams exemption decision
- Press release: government response to Productivity Commission review of DDA ; see also Minister's press release and full response
2004
- Report of forum on information on accommodating disability in employment
- Senate inquiry on Disability Discrimination Amendment (Education Standards) Bill including report
- International Day of People with a Disability : media release
- "Missed business" - a guide for small business
- November 2004 Disability Rights Update newsletter
- Several major new speeches
- Roundtable on improved employment accommodation information and advice
- Speech to PWD annual conference on the draft Convention on human rights and disability, Commissioner Ozdowski, 27 November 2004
- Speech to ACROD national convention, Commissioner Ozdowski, 24 November 2004
- Disability Discrimination Amendment (Education Standards) Bill 2004 re-introduced (17 November) : see Ministers' press release and Commissioner 's press release
- Press release on mental health law proposals: 28 October
- Exemption application: Bendigo tram service
- Occupational health and safety and the DDA: speech by Commissioner Ozdowski, 27 October
- Speech to Australian Industry Group conference: Commissioner Ozdowski, 26 October
- Draft revised insurance guidelines: comments by 22 November
- Exemption decisions: Coffs Harbour-Sydney tour service; Murranumbla B&B
- Launch of Western Australian government Accessing Abilities strategy, Commissioner Ozdowski, 15 September
- Complaint outcomes pages updated (25 August)
- Opinion poll supports increased disability employment opportunity measures (19 August)
- DDA Amendment Bill 2004 on education tabled: Ministers' Press Release; explanatory memorandum; text of Bill; HREOC press release
- Request for comments: Possible public inquiry on employment plus responses received to date
- Significant Full Federal Court decision on DDA: Catholic Education Office v Clarke
- Action plan register updated: includes Commonwealth Bank and revised Westpac action plans (8 August)
- Productivity Commission review of DDA released : 14 July: see also Ministers' press release and HREOC press release
- Notes from health access forum
- Attorney-General announces Commissioner's term extended (5 July)
- Conciliation outcomes page updated 30 June 2004
- Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee report on Civil Aviation Amendment (Relationship with Anti-Discrimination Legislation) Bill; see also HREOC submission
- Attorney-General announces grant for consultation on proposed Convention on disability and human rights; see HREOC media release and also PWD Australia Convention index page and our own Convention index page
- Senate committee inquiry on aged care including young people in nursing homes : submissions due 30 July (PDF file on Senate site; see also HTML version on YPINH site )
- Speech to Mental Health Council of Australia (17 June)
- Final draft education standards released: see also Ministers' press release
- Pay television captioning: temporary exemption decision and press release ; see also press release by Minister for Communications, Information Tchnology and the Arts and the applicants' press release
- Speech to National Disability Advisory Council 25 May
- Press release: budget announcement on funding for Auslan interpreting
- Development of competency standards for access consultants
- Statement by Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner Dr Sev Ozdowski on the new government disability initiative (22 April 2004)
- Senate commitee report on proposed addiction amendments to DDA (PDF file)
- Federal Court decision in insurance case
- Disability sector loses activist, journalist, ideas man Jeff Heath
- Transport Standards amended after technical review; see also Ministers' media release and HREOC media release
- Submissions on Disability Discrimination Amendment Bill 2003 available
- Telecommunications access forum: record of discussion now available
- Access to Premises: draft Disability Standard released for consultation . See our access to premises page for more details of public awareness sessions and how to get draft standards and related documents.
- Exemption decision: Buchan Bus 'n Freight (8 January 2004)
- Public comment on access to premises standard: update from Australian Building Codes Board (MS Word) (12 December 2003)
- Exemption application: Echuca wharf
- International Day of People with a Disability - see HREOC press release and Attorney-General's press release
- Speech by Commissioner Ozdowski at launch of 3rd progress report on South Australia's disability strategy (3 December)
- Bill introduced to ensure DDA does not cover addiction to prohibited drugs (3 December): see also Minister's press release and Senate inquiry information
2003
- Speech by Commissioner Ozdowski at telecommunications forum, see also media release, and opening address by Attorney-General, 28 November
- November 2003 Disability Rights Update newsletter (25 November)
- Assistance animals consultation: recommendations
- Exemption decision: Northern Districts Model Engineering Society
- Speech by Commissioner Ozdowski at Australian Electoral Commission workshop (14 November)
- High Court decision in DDA education case: Purvis v NSW
- Review of guidelines on insurance and superannuation : call for initial comments, 7 November
- Speech by Commissioner Ozdowski at launch of bus industry access guidelines (5 November); see also Attorney-General's press release
- Press release on disability and proof of identity
- Airnorth: exemption application granted in part and on conditions
- Draft report of Productivity Commission review of DDA released (31 October) see also media release and key points
- Federal magistrates court decision on insurance discrimination (26 September)
- Speech by Commissioner Ozdowski to Carers Australia conference (18 September) Federal court decision on reasonable adjustment (Daghlian v Australia Post) (23 July 2003)
- Minutes from steering committee on accessible education materials and working group on copyright
- Press release: Increased captioning on broadcast television (17 July 2003); see also temporary exemption decision and media release by Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
- Discussion paper on assistance animals (15 July 2003)
- Commonwealth Government announces intention to go ahead with standards on education : see also HREOC press release and PWD Australia release
- Discussion paper on telecommunications access for people with disabilities : see also press release (8 July 2003)
- Update on progress on access to premises (8 July 2003)
- U.N. working group decides to proceed with drafting of Convention on human rights and disability : see also our index page on proposed Convention
- DDA ten year anniversary publication released (also available in print and other alternative formats)
- Attorney-General's
release marking 10 years of DDA and speech
to DDA anniversary event
- Forums to celebrate 10 years of the DDA
- Access to university course materials steering committee: first meeting minutes and terms of reference
- Decision to refuse exemption application: Toowoomba City Hall
- Submission to human genetic information inquiry
2002
- Update on sterilisation issues forum
- Consultant appointed to produce telecommunications discussion paper
- Senate committee report on education of students with disabilities (11 December)
- Outcome of national meeting on tactile indicators on railway platforms
- DDA 10th anniversary award (3 December): see also speech by Dr Ozdowski presenting award (10 December)
- HREOC press release for international day for people with disabilities : congratulations to ANZ and Telstra for action plans lodged today (3 December)
- Proposed refusal of exemption application: Toowoomba City Hall (3 December)
- Decision on Civil Aviation Safety Authority exemption application: exemption granted but only where decisions justified by inherent requirements (28 November)
- Complaint outcome pages updated (27 November)
- New publication on housing access (14 November)
- November 2002 disability rights update newsletter available (14 November)
- Speech by Sev Ozdowski to NSW Local Government and Shires Association conference (14 November)
- Request for input for DDA 10th anniversary publication
- Accessible public transport standards enter force (Attorney-General and Minister for Transport's press release, 24 October), see also HREOC press release (25 October)
- Press release: DDA still covers internet despite decision under U.S. law (23 October)
- Speech to Deafness Forum of Australia annual general meeting: Commissioner Sev Ozdowski (21 October 2002)
- Speech by Commissioner Ozdowski at Inclusion International world congress (24 September)
- Internet industry Accessible Web Action Plan released - see Internet Industry Association press release and HREOC press release (6 September)
- Outcome of consultation on tactile indicators following QR exemption
- Exemption application withdrawn: carriage of unoccupied and unrestrained wheelchair on bus
- Accessible public transport standards not yet law: HREOC press release (15 October) see also Attorney-General and Minister for Transport press release ; Democrats notice of motion ; and information on parliamentary process
- United Nations working group considering convention on disability:
- Speech opening 6th national deafblind conference: Commissioner Ozdowski
- 6th meeting of Accessible Ecommerce Forum
- Recommendations and perspective papers from education materials forum now available
- Interregional expert group meeting on international convention on disability rights: Mexico June 11-14; includes draft convention, discussion papers and online discussion options.
- Launch of disparity journal by Commissioner Ozdowski (22 May)
- Web accessibility survey: request for proposals (requested by 19 June)
- Discussion paper for national forum on the availability of tertiary study materials for students with a print disability
- Full Federal Court decision in education case: being treated less favourably than other students because of disruptive behaviour is not direct discrimination because of disability if other students who behaved the same way would have been treated similarly. (24 April 2002)
- Banking industry accessibility standards launched: see also Attorney-General's media release, HREOC media release and speech by Commissioner Ozdowski 15 April 2002
- Disability discrimination in Australia: history, achievements and prospects: speech by Commissioner Ozdowski 8 April 2002
- Legislation to fix hole in discrimination law remedies passed (Attorney-General's press release 14 March)
- Wheelchair accessible taxi report finalised (11 March)
- Latest captioned cinema schedule (including Lord of the Rings)
- DDA Amendment Bill 2002 introduced into Parliament: this will permit temporary exemptions from the transport standards and when passed should see the standards enter force soon after: see also Attorney-General's Press Release
- Temporary exemption: Queensland Rail: TGSIs (11.02.02) Short term exemption to resolve technical concerns
- Building access standards directions report and invitation to attend information sessions: from Australian Building Codes Board. See also Attorney-General's press release (9 January) and opinion piece from Graeme Innes (19 February)
2001
- Awards given for Cinema Captioning and cinema schedule for the holiday period
- Draft industry standards on automatic teller access, EFTPOS, internet, phone banking released for comment; see also HREOC press release
- Papers from HREOC summit for peak disability organisations (7 December 2001)
- International day for people with disabilities: see speech by Commissioner Ozdowski and Attorney-General's press release (3 December 2001)
- Building bridges over the digital divide: ecommerce update report (30 November)
- Draft report in accessible taxi inquiry : comments requested by 21 December
- Report of second pay television captioning forum meeting (released 15/11/01)
- Temporary exemption application: tactile ground surface indicators (Queensland Rail)
- Speech by Commissioner Sev Ozdowski on mental illness and human rights (19 October)
- Progress on transport standards: see Attorney-General's site for final draft Standards and Bill to permit HREOC to grant temporary exemptions from standards; see also HREOC press release
- Working party on pay television captioning: notes from first meeting (released 30 August)
- Federal Court reverses HREOC decision in education case (29 August)
- Request for comments: Access to Premises - Braille and tactile signage: see our access to premises page
- Refusal of exemption: no exemption required to allow advertising of targeted positions for people with a disability (22 August)
- Minutes from 4th accessible ecommerce forum meeting now available
- Speech at launch of ABC disability awareness resources: Commissioner Ozdowski (9 August 2001)
- Media release from Commissioner Sev Ozdowski on access to political processes (7 August 2001)
- Speech by Commissioner Sev Ozdowski launching Westpac Action Plan (24 July 2001): see also press release
- Proposal for inquiry on insurance and depression: note, deferred pending consideration of outcomes of consumer/industry workshop 21/22 August 2001.
- Advice on local government liability for permitting inaccessible developments (11 July 2001)
- Online complaint lodgment now available (2 July 2001)
- Review of HREOC's own Disability Action Plan (MS Word file) now available (8 June 2001)
- Workshops on effective use of the DDA: invitation to disability community organisations (8 May 2001)
- Compliance strategies: invitation to business and government organisations (8 May 2001)