News

Disability Rights

Preparations for the Olympics and Paralympics and inclusion of people with disabilities: the Australian experience

There is substantial attention in the international community being directed at present to the human rights of people with disabilities. An international convention on human rights and disability is being actively considered through the United Nations system. I would have been attending a regional meeting in Beijing in April this year as part of this process but this was cancelled because of the SARS outbreak.

Disability Rights

International day for people with disabilities

I am here today partly because Michelle Castagna was quick off the mark in organising me to come before I had accepted any of the numerous other possibilities for events for the international day.

Disability Rights

Hastings: Disability discrimination, standards, and OHS

The fact that CEOE is conducting this forum in itself indicates that disability is widely seen by business as presenting significant occupational health and safety (OH&S) issues. And certainly, concerns related to occupational health and safety are widely experienced by people with disabilities as barriers to equal opportunity in employment.

Commission – General

Reconciling human rights and counter-terrorism – a crucial challenge

I would like to acknowledge that we are meeting on the traditional country of the Girringun people and pay my respects to their elders past and present.

Rights and Freedoms

Keynote Address CEO Sleepout

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with all of you, and sleep with some of you. As you will have noticed, Vinnies was good enough to let my eleven-year-old daughter Rachel join me as my guide tonight, and she'll be the only one getting any of my cuddles. The rest of you have to make your own arrangements.

Rights and Freedoms

"The local face of global justice policy": Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM (2004)

Firstly I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we stand and by so doing remind ourselves that Australia's cultural traditions stretch back many thousands of years and express our aspirations for Australians of the future to be socially just and inclusive.

Rights and Freedoms

"THE REFUGEE CONVENTION - WHERE TO FROM HERE?": Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM (2001)

Thank you for inviting me to speak today. Firstly I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we are now meeting, the Gadigal people.

Commission – General

President speech: Australian Psychological Society (Sydney Branch) AGM

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay my respects to their elders, past and present.

Commission – General

President speech: ‘How could a Human Rights Act lead to better Government?’

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal peoples, and pay my respect to their elders past and present.

Commission – General

President speeches: Launch of Federal Discrimination Law

Thank you for coming here this evening to take part in the launch of the new and updated version of HREOC’s publication, Federal Discrimination Law.

Commission – General

The Death Penalty - a matter of principle

It is almost 40 years since the last man was hanged in Australia. Today, the death penalty has been abolished in every Australian jurisdiction. Opposition to the death penalty attracts bi-partisan political support. Yet in a region where many of our closest neighbours still maintain the death penalty, I believe Australia can - and should - take a stronger stand against state sanctioned execution.

Commission – General

Natural Justice Issues In A Tribunal Hearing

I was first approached by one of your Committee to speak tonight on a topic which sounded an easy one: "talk about your experiences in consensus judgments and how committees of more than one function". I shall amplify why that would be an easy topic in a moment.

Commission – General

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This session focuses primarily on relationships between National Human Rights Institutions (NHRI’s) and the Judiciary, but as well touches on their relationship with officers of the executive government such as the Attorney-General. One of the stated aims of this session is to assess how the independent institutions of the judiciary and NHRI’s can mutually and independently strengthen national protection systems for human rights.

Commission – General

Media Centre - Speeches

The Australian Human Rights Commission publishes a comprehensive collection of speeches delivered by present and historical Commissioners including the President. These speeches cover a wide range of topics, from groundbreaking announcements and strategic initiatives to insightful commentary on...

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Social Justice Report 2009 and the Native Title Report 2009 Launch

Good morning, I would like to begin by paying my respects to the Gadigal peoples of the Eora nation, the traditional owners of the land where we gather today. I pay my respects to your elders past and present. And thank you, Allen Madden, for your generous and warm welcome to country for all of us here at Redfern today.