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 Gooda Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Australian Human Rights Commission Jasper Hotel Melbourne Thursday 22 November 2012 Acknowledgements I would like to begin by acknowledging that we sit on the lands of the...

22 November, 2012

Disability Rights

Australian Association of Graduate Employers Conference (2012)

Australian Association of Graduate Employers Conference Graeme Innes AM Disability Discrimination Commissioner Australian Human Rights Commission Friday 16 November 2012 I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today. Can you - as an employer - discriminate in favour of...

16 November, 2012

Disability Rights

Speech - My body, my health, my decision (2012)

Both men acquired their disabilities 20 years ago. Neither of them work, nor do they have daily activities, or relationships with people outside their family.

14 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

Disability Rights

Speech - Keynote Address - Blind Citizens Australia (2012)

Keynote Address Blind Citizens Australia, NSW/ACT State Convention on 'Leadership Through Participation' Graeme Innes AM Disability Discrimination Commissioner Australian Human Rights Commission Saturday 20 October, 2012 This speech is available as an audio file (MP3). Click here to listen to the...

20 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

7th National Indigenous Legal Conference

I would like to begin by acknowledging the Whadjuk Noongar people and I want to thank them, the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, for allowing us to gather on their country.

6 October, 2012

Disability Rights

Speech - iPhone or Trombone: Age or Disability Don't Have to be Barriers (2012)

Alan used to work as a civil engineer, and is a trombone player with two orchestras and two bands. He has competed in the Australian Band Championships for the last three years. He sold his soils laboratory to 'retire', and has never looked back. He still works part-time in soil testing, but as well as trombone playing he is a volunteer in a Rotary shop, walks 30-40 kilometers weekly, won a silver medal in the 10 km Road Race in the Australian Masters Games 2012, and completed a novel for pre-teens called 'Alex', designed to raise awareness about healthy lifestyles.

2 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

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