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Rights and Freedoms

Finalists announced – 2018 Human Rights Law Award

The five finalists for the 2018 Human Rights Awards’ Law Award have been selected, with two from Western Australia competing for the prize. “We have received the highest number of entries for the Law Award since the Human Rights Awards the awards began in 1987,” said Commission President, Professor...

Category, News
Disability Rights

25 years of the Disability Discrimination Act

It was 25 years ago this month that the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (the ‘DDA’) commenced operation. On 1 March 1993, Australians with a dis¬ability had a national law that was designed to provide them with equality in many areas of life. Over the past quarter of a cen¬tury, the DDA...

Category, Opinion
Race Discrimination

Forty years of the Racial Discrimination Act

In October 1975, at a ceremony for the proclamation of the Racial Discrimination Act, then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam described the legislation as ‘a historic measure’, which aimed to ‘entrench new attitudes of tolerance and understanding in the hearts and minds of the people’.(1) The Act was...

Category, Opinion
Disability Rights

National Press Club address

(check against delivery) I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. I do so not as a formulaic beginning, but as a sincere recognition of the place which the land holds in the lives and culture of our first Australians. I saw much of the disadvantage Aboriginal people experience during my...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Freedoms versus anti-discrimination laws? A false debate

Responsibility, anti-discrimination laws, human rights and freedoms - these words have been at the center of an ideological debate about how to protect fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom from detention without trial. But if we are serious about...

Category, Opinion
Rights and Freedoms

Freedom of speech is not in danger in Australia (2013)

Freedom of speech is alive and well in Australia but, with respect to Voltaire, we will not defend to the death those who abuse this right by vilifying others in public on the ground of race.

Category, Opinion
Disability Rights

"Other status": disability and human rights (2011)

Amnesty International conference: Human rights challenges and opportunities in the 21st century Brisbane 6 October 2011 Graeme Innes, Disability Discrimination Commissioner

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Launch of Accessible events -- a guide for organisers (2006)

Launch of Accessible events -- a guide for organisers Gold Coast Convention Centre 27 April 2006 Graeme Innes Human Rights Commissioner and Disability Discrimination Commissioner Acknowledgements Annabel Davis, President of MEA Suzie Jones, Chair of the Conference organising Committee Linda Gaunt...

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Speech on understanding disability discrimination

In some ways I think I have been asked to teach my grandmother to suck eggs (though I am sure my own venerable forebear did no such thing!). I would say that there is no industry more skilled in the art of disability discrimination than the insurance and superannuation industry. Before you decide I am irretrievably biased against your work let me explain that, of course, I understand such discrimination is the basis of your enterprise.

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Initiatives to achieve better access to the built environment

As you know, the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act, and equivalent laws in all States, make it unlawful to discriminate on the ground of a person's disability. One of the areas covered by the Act is access to premises. The only exception to this is where a building is already constructed not providing access, and alteration to provide access would cause unjustifiable hardship.

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Setting an Agenda for Disability and Tourism Research

While there is no section in the Disability Discrimination Act titled "Tourism" every aspect of the development, management and delivery of tourist services are covered by one or more provision within the DDA.

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Equality by degrees

Equality by degrees: a place on the platform OCCASIONAL ADDRESS TO GRADUATION CEREMONY SCHOOL OF HEALTH AND LEISURE SCIENCES SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 13 April 2000 Graeme Innes Deputy Disability Discrimination Commissioner Human Rights And Equal Opportunity Commission Chancellor, Members of academic staff...

Category, Speech

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