News

Age Discrimination

The Rights of Older People and Age Discrimination in Australia (2012)

It may surprise you to hear me start by saying that in many ways the research that comes from gerontology is at the forefront of age law reform. Gerontologists give us the evidence and information to advocate for age friendly laws and policies. Your work assists us to understand that while most of us develop along a similar trajectory in the early years of life, our ageing at the latter stages of life is very different, and our laws and policies should respect those differences.

22 November, 2012

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Standing Firm for Change: A Journey to Justice

Barriers to Accessing Justice: Lateral Violence Mick GoodaAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice CommissionerAustralian Human Rights Commission Jasper HotelMelbourneThursday 22 November 2012 Acknowledgements I would like to begin by acknowledging that we sit on the lands of the...

22 November, 2012

Disability Rights

Speech - Bus Industry Confederation National Conference (2012)

Thanks for the chance to speak with you today, and to have the opportunity for discussion. Who was Rosa Parks? She was the African-American who, in the 1960s - yes back in the last century - refused to sit at the back of the bus. She was one of the catalysts for the American civil rights movement.

30 October, 2012

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Current issues Australia faces in relation to its treatment of refugees (2012)

Speech delivered to the United Nations Association of Australia (WA Division)

24 October, 2012

Commission – General

Asylum Seekers, Marriage Equality and Racial Vilification: What role for the AHRC? (2012)

Speech delivered to the Anglo-Australasian Lawyers Society

17 October, 2012

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

2012 Southgate Oration

Uncle Lewis, on behalf of my Elders I pass on our respects to your Elders, both past and present, for their continued struggle for their country and their culture.

27 September, 2012

Disability Rights

Speech -Keynote Address for Suncorp and PWC’s Traumatic Injury & Disability Insurance Summit (2012)

I'm a proud Australian. We live in a great democracy, with one of the strongest economies in the world. I'm not proud, though, of how we treat Australians with disability- some of our most disadvantaged citizens. And we are all ashamed that, in such a strong nation, that treatment continues. This shame can no longer continue. So let's fix the system. Let's have an NDIS so that not some, but every Australian counts. Thanks for the chance to speak with you today.

14 September, 2012

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

AAG Elder Abuse and Neglect Conference

It is with respect and gratitude that I acknowledge that we sit today on the lands of the Larrakia peoples (Darwin) / Arrente peoples (Alice Springs). Thank you to (Ms) Bilawara Lee – Elder on campus at CDU (Darwin); Dr Patricia Miller AO (Alice Springs) for your generous welcome to country on behalf of the Larrakia peoples (Darwin) / Arrente peoples (Alice Springs). My people are the Gangulu from the Dawson Valley in Central Queensland. On behalf of my Elders I also pay tribute to your Elders, both past and present, for their continued struggle for their country and their culture.

5 September, 2012

Disability Rights

Speech - Launch of the Civil Society Shadow Report (2012)

Australia became a party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. The rest of the world refers to it by the unappealing acronym of CRPD, or the Disability Convention, but I like to refer to it as the Disco. It's catchy, and it creates a great image for me of people with disability dancing, and being to go anywhere they want - although I haven't been inside a disco for many a long year.

29 August, 2012

Race Discrimination

Freedom of speech should not trump the right to safety (2012)

Many people will be familiar with the recent “Aboriginal memes” page on a popular social media site, in which images of Aboriginal people were published with highly derogatory captions.

29 August, 2012

Disability Rights

Speech - Launch of Macquarie University’s Disability Action Plan (2012)

Ten years ago I gave the occasional address at a graduation at Sydney University. I accepted the invitation to speak in the Great Hall and then informed the University that - as the platform on which students received their degrees was not accessible for people with mobility disability - I would speak from the floor of the hall. I did that, and told the story of Bradley Kinsella. He had studied at QUT for three years about a further decade ago, and used his wheelchair all of that time. Despite their knowledge of his disability, QUT scheduled his degree in an inaccessible venue.

28 August, 2012

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Mental illness and cognitive disability in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners – a human rights approach (2012)

I would like to begin by acknowledging the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji people of the Cairns region on whose land we gather today. I pay my respects to their Elders past and present.

23 August, 2012

Disability Rights

Launch of Australian Federal Police Disability Action Plan (2012)

Launch of Australian Federal Police Disability Action Plan Thursday 2 August, 2012 Graeme Innes AMDisability Discrimination CommissionerAustralian Human Rights Commission I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today. Most of you would confidently tell me that Australians...

2 August, 2012

Disability Rights

Launch of Australian Federal Police Disability Action Plan (2012)

Most of you would confidently tell me that Australians are not held in prison for five or ten years when they have not been found guilty of any crime. We don't do that here you would say. And, as upholders of Australia's Federal law most people would accept your view. Sadly, you would be wrong.

2 August, 2012

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Justice reinvestment and its importance to Aboriginal communities

I would like to begin by paying my respects to the Dharawal people, the traditional owners of the land where we gather today. I am a Gangulu man from Central Queensland. Gangulu country takes in what is known as the Dawson Valley area and extends to just east of the Carnarvon Gorge. So, as is our practice, can I pass on from the Gangulu peoples to the Dharawal peoples our greetings and acknowledgements for your continued resilience and determination to keep your culture alive and thriving over the last 220 years?

1 August, 2012