News

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Call for urgent child justice reforms following death of teenager in WA youth detention centre

Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss, National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds, and Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay have expressed their sadness and disappointment following the death yesterday of a First Nations teenager who was incarcerated in Western Australia’s Banksia Hill youth detention centre.

30 August, 2024

Commission – General

Australia’s human rights champions put social justice and equality centre stage

8 December, 2023

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Commission commends High Court ruling on indefinite immigration detention

The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed yesterday’s High Court ruling which determined that Australia’s system of indefinite immigration detention is unlawful. The landmark decision overturns almost two decades of the practice by Australian authorities in finding it is unlawful to hold a...

9 November, 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Commissioners distressed by death of boy after being detained in Perth prison

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO, and National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds have issued a joint statement following the death of a First Nations teenager who had been held in a youth detention unit at the Casuarina adult prison in Perth...

20 October, 2023

Rights and Freedoms

Finalists announced for 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards

16 October, 2023

Children's Rights

National Children’s Commissioner slams ‘shocking’ new Qld youth justice laws

The National Children’s Commissioner has expressed alarm at the Queensland Government rushing through legislation to allow children to be detained indefinitely in adult detention facilities, in a further contravention of the Queensland Human Rights Act.

25 August, 2023

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Inspection report: Serious human rights concerns in hotel detention

20 June, 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

First Nations women respond to Banksia Hill riots with call for immediate reform to youth justice

First Nations female leaders from across Australia are demanding immediate reform to Western Australia’s approach to youth justice in the wake of today’s riots at the Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre. Hundreds of First Nations women are attending the Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit in...

10 May, 2023

Rights and Freedoms

Commission welcomes banning of spit hoods by AFP

A decision by the Australian Federal Police to end the use of spit hoods has been welcomed by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Today the AFP announced the AFP and ACT police will no longer use spit hoods, and instead the AFP will provide ‘alternative equipment and implement procedures to...

14 April, 2023