Commission - General
International Human Rights Day address - 2005 Delivered by the Hon John von Doussa QC President, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Friday 9th December 2005 Audio of this speech in mp3 format (14 min 35 sec - 6.67 MB) I begin by acknowledging that we are meeting on the traditional country...
Commission - General
Seventh International Conference for National Human Rights Institutions Seoul, Korea, 14 - 17 September 2004 "Conflict and Countering Terrorism: Civil and Political Rights and the Rule of Law" The Hon John von Doussa, President Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Australia Torture and...
Commission - General
In just one week the nations of the world will celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It is an historic occasion. The last 50 years has seen significant progress in the recognition and protection of human rights, both at an international level and within the borders of sovereign states.
Commission - General
I also thank Professor Barry Brook for his survey of the latest scientific assessments and forecasts on the impact of climate change on our planet. They are indeed alarming. The fact of climate change, and the rate of change, has become all too clear, even if there are still sceptics that wish to debate the causes. Our title reference to “Catastrophic Impacts” seems fully justified.
Commission - General
The protection of rights and its positive impact on well-being The Honourable Catherine Branson QC Women’s Hospitals Australasia & Children’s Hospitals Australasia 10 November 2010 1. Introduction I would like to begin today by acknowledging the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation of peoples and...
Commission - General
Protecting the human rights of Indigenous people and communities The Hon Catherine Branson QC President, Australian Human Rights Commission National Indigenous Legal Conference, Adelaide, 25 September 2009 1 Introduction I would like to acknowledge the Kaurna peoples, the traditional owners of the...
Commission - General
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Kaurna peoples on whose land we meet this evening. I also thank Katrina Power for her warm welcome to country.
Commission - General
HREOC is a statutory body independent of government. While our main function is to promote an understanding and acceptance of human rights in Australia, we are also charged with the responsibilities of investigating, and attempting to conciliate complaints of unlawful discrimination under the federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Age Discrimination Act 2004.1 HREOC also has specific responsibilities to report annually to Parliament on the enjoyment of human rights of Indigenous Australians.
Commission - General
Let me preface my remarks today with the assertion that, generally speaking, Australia has a strong and proud record on human rights. The Australian Government is formally committed to supporting the universal observance of human rights both at home and abroad saying that this policy helps to achieve a more stable and just international order, which benefits the security and prosperity of everyone. In this statement, the Government links peace to the observance of human rights, a topic to which I shall return.
Commission - General
Hugh de Kretser discusses the importance of truth telling, what he learned working at the Yoorrook Justice Commission, human rights values and the need for Human Rights Acts.
Commission - General
Speeches delivered by Professor Alice Tay President, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission: 1998 - 2003 Note: Professor Tay, term as President ended on 31 May 2003. The Hon. Catherine Branson was appointed President of the Australian Human Rights Commission on 7 August 2008 for five year...
Commission - General
Thank you Professor Lansbury, and thank you to Marian and the Women and Work Research Group for organising today’s forum. Thank you also to our panellists – Dr Lyn Craig, Petra Stirling, and John Murray.
Commission - General
I would also like to acknowledge the Victorian Governor Professor David de Krester, and his wife Mrs Jan de Krester; Chief Justice Hon Marilyn Warren; other senior representatives of each of the three branches of the Victorian government; the many community leaders present and also the many members of the legal profession present. I feel greatly honoured to have been invited to participate today in the opening of the legal year.
Commission - General
Debates about a charter of rights are often monopolised by the contentious issue of the proper role of the courts. While this is undoubtedly an important question, it overlooks the impact a charter would have on the role of Parliament as a guardian of rights of freedoms.
Commission - General
Firstly, I must applaud Amnesty International Australia’s campaign to secure a fair trial for David Hicks. I hope you take some heart from the recent US Supreme Court ruling that the military commissions set up to try prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are illegal and must be abandoned.
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