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Rights and Freedoms

Opening minds to ‘forgotten freedoms’

Opinion by Human Rights Commissioner, Tim Wilson. First published in The Australian on 17 May 2014. Reform is not the end of debating free speech in Australia, it is the beginning The “forgotten freedoms” provide the foundations of our liberal democracy, and we have to reconnect with them. There are...

Category, Opinion

Changing Hearts, Changing Minds

We all share a responsibility to lead cultural change for inclusion of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex. Building on the previous work of the Commission, I’ll be using my term as Human Rights Commissioner to ensure these issues are given national attention. It was an honour to be a keynote speaker at the Human Rights Forum of the Asia Pacific Outgames in Darwin.

Category, Speech
Race Discrimination

Free thinking?

Many say freedom of expression means nothing if it doesn’t entail a freedom to offend others. Enjoying such freedom means that you may also have to tolerate hurtful or distasteful speech. But what if the burden of tolerance is not borne equally? What if some forms of speech wound not merely...

Category, Opinion
Rights and Freedoms

Freedom of Speech and giving offence: can a balance be struck?

Annual Kirby Lecture on International law: ANZSIL 2013 Thursday 4 July 2013 6:30 pm Finkel Theatre, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Garran Rd, Australian National University (Check against delivery) Freedom of Speech and giving offence: can a balance be struck? I was especially pleased to be...

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Campaign for Justice Reinvestment for Aboriginal Young People (2012)

I am a Gangulu person from the Dawson Valley in Central Queensland and when I speak to my Elders, they ask me to pass on my salutations to the Traditional Owners of the land I visit for their continued fight for their country and their culture.

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Historical Justice and Memory Conference (2012)

With respect and gratitude I acknowledge that we sit on the lands of the Wuradjuri people of the Kulin nation. Thank you for your generous welcome to country for all of us.

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Launch of the 2011 Social Justice and Native Title Reports (2011)

It is with respect and gratitude that I acknowledge that we sit today on the lands of the Gadigal peoples of the Eora nation. Thank you to Michael West for your generous welcome to country on behalf of the Gadigal people.

Category, Speech

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