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Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Commission calls for calm on Manus Island

Australian Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow is calling on the governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea to honour their international human rights obligations and avoid use of force on Manus Island. The Australian Human Rights Commission has been monitoring the situation as it develops...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

National Human Rights Commissions — what’s the point?

International Bar Association Section on Public and Professional Interests 12 October 2017 Sydney by Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission [ Professor Croucher spoke to this paper ] Acknowledgements As the Head of an Australian Government agency I...

Category, Speech
Commission – General

Respect is essential to debates in civilised Australia society

We can all have our say within the bounds of law Respect is the essence of a civil society. It is the cornerstone of human rights - the "active voice" of dignity that links all the international conventions to which Australia has committed. Respect is tolerance. It is a fundamental basis of our...

Category, Opinion
Rights and Freedoms

Religion and Human Rights in Modern Australia: Friends, Foes or Ships in the Night?

Western Sydney Open Forum CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Acknowledgements • Traditional Aboriginal owners: the Darug Nation • Dr Sev Ozdowski AM If you’ve read the papers or seen the news in the last few weeks, you might be forgiven for thinking that human rights are somehow radically incompatible with...

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

NTCOSS Conference 2017

Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Larrakia yani u. Balangarri wadjirragali jarra ningi – gamali ngindaji yau muwayi nyirrami ngarri thangani. Yaningi miya ngindaji Muwayi ingga winyira ngarragi thangani. Yathawarra, wilalawarra jalangurru ngarri guda. Good morning everyone. I stand...

Category, Speech
LGBTIQ+

Keynote Address - Military Pride Ball 2017

Military Pride Ball - Keynote Speech Check against delivery Introduction Acknowledgements • Thank you, James and Ellen, for your kind introduction. • Traditional owners: the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation and to pay my respects to their elders past and present. • The many members of the LGBTI...

Category, Speech
Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Making detention safe and humane: can we grasp a once-in-a-generation opportunity?

Making detention safe and humane: can we grasp a once-in-a-generation opportunity? Austin Asche Oration Australian Academy of Law and Charles Darwin University Nitmiluk Lounge, Level 4, Parliament House, Darwin 5pm, 19 September 2017 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Introduction Acknowledgements Traditional...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Religion and Rights in a Diverse, Multicultural Community

Lecture Theatre 9, University of Tasmania, Newnham Campus, Newnham Drive, Launceston CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Acknowledgements Traditional owners: Panninher and the Leterrermairrener People. Moderator: Professor Richard Eccleston, Director of the Institute for the Study of Social Change, University of...

Category, Speech
Commission – General

Commission welcomes new President

The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the appointment of a new President to replace Professor Gillian Triggs, who departs at the end of July after a five-year term. The Attorney-General, Senator the Hon George Brandis QC today announced Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM will be the...

Category, News
Commission – General

Hobart Oration

Explore a speech by Professor Gillian Triggs, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, in relation to the state of human rights in Australia.

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

The lion and the lamb: freedom of religion in multicultural Australia

The lion and the lamb: freedom of religion in multicultural Australia Affinity Intercultural Foundation: Lunchtime Lecture Series CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Introduction Acknowledgements Gadigal people of the Eora nation; Ahmet Polat. The Hon Ray Williams MP (NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, and...

Category, Speech
Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Protecting refugees

As recent reports allege asylum seekers are being removed from Manus Island and returned to their place of origin, Commission President, Professor Gillian Triggs, reflects on the nation's responsibilities.

Category, Opinion
Race Discrimination

The AHRC and the Racial Discrimination Act: setting the record straight

Federal racial hatred legislation and the complaints-handling processes of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) are currently the subjects of an inquiry by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights. The Committee’s ‘Freedom of speech in Australia’ inquiry, due to report by 28...

Category, Opinion
Rights and Freedoms

Striking the right balance on free speech

Discover how a former Human Rights Commissioner was asked whether the Racial Discrimination Act impinges on freedom of expression under international law.

Category, Opinion
Rights and Freedoms

National Faith and Civil Marriage Equality Forum

National Faith and Civil Marriage Equality Forum Hosted by Australians 4 Equality Main Committee Room, Parliament House, Canberra Edward Santow, Human Rights Commissioner, Australian Human Rights Commission Check against Delivery Introduction My late father used to talk about our family’s motley...

Category, Speech

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