News

Commission – General

President Speech: Mandatory immigration detention of children in Australia: how far have we come and where to from here? (2010)

I knew Brad well and admired him a great deal. We met when he joined the Crown Solicitor’s Office and we worked closely together in that office for a number of years. He was appointed Crown Solicitor of South Australia when I left that position to practice at the private Bar. He was subsequently appointed Solicitor-General of South Australia, the office from which, I believe, he made his greatest contribution to Australian public law.

18 November, 2010

Commission – General

President Speech: Conservation, Participation and Human Rights

First, may I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay my respects to their elders, both past and present.

1 September, 2010

Rights and Freedoms

President Speech: Religion in the public square

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

23 July, 2010

Commission – General

President Speech: The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission in protecting and promoting human rights in Australia

I would like to begin by saying how delighted I am to be here speaking this evening about the work of the Australian Human Rights Commission. I hope also to learn more about the protection of human rights in Japan and about your proposal for a national human rights institution in Japan. This is my first time to Japan and I am thrilled to be here. I am grateful for all the work that has gone into the preparation for this session and for my visit. And I thank those who have looked after me so well since I arrived in your country.

27 April, 2010

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Let's finally give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders a voice (2009)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are not represented in our Federal Parliament. Five years ago, they ceased altogether to have a representative voice when the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) was abolished. We have suffered as a result.

18 September, 2009

Commission – General

Take judges out of human rights process (2009)

Predictably, opponents of a human rights act reacted swiftly to Mr McHugh's comments, misrepresenting concerns about specific aspects of one model of a human rights act as a reason to reject any such act.

8 May, 2009

Disability Rights

Maguire: Telecommunications access and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (2009)

Some of you ma have had an opportunity to attend one of the concerts by Leonard Cohen while he was on tour here recently. I've spoken with a number of people who attended one of his concerts, and without exception they say that they were some of the best concerts ever.

16 February, 2009

Disability Rights

Opinion Pieces - Bikies had no answer as blind justice took over (2009)

FOR BABY boomers who have kids, part of summer holiday long drives is the time for telling exaggerated stories of derring-do from one's youth. One such story popped into my head as we drove past the dog sitting on the tucker box at Gundagai on our way home from the Snowy Mountains several weeks ago.

23 January, 2009

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Act closed wounds but not the gap (2009)

In 1994, phone numbers had seven digits, we listened to Crowded House, and it was legal to own a semi-automatic rifle. Mother And Son and A Country Practice disappeared from television screens, and The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert and Muriel's Wedding showed off our magnificent country and sense of humour while touching on tough issues such as marginalisation, sexuality and racism.

7 January, 2009

Rights and Freedoms

Don Dunstan Oration (2008)

People often ask me why I feel so strongly about human rights. Perhaps it is fate - both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and I were born 60 years ago. But I think it is simpler than that - I want to feel proud of the Australia that I live in.  

28 November, 2008

Rights and Freedoms

Bill of rights is essential to best serve human rights (2008)

Five years ago I began my term as the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, confident in the ability of the common law and a robust democracy to protect human rights. I leave convinced we need a major legal and cultural overhaul in order to deal with the human rights challenges of the 21st century.

9 October, 2008

Commission – General

Speeches by the Hon. John von Doussa, President, Australian Human Rights Commission

Note: Hon. John von Doussa, term as President ended in October 2008. The Hon. Catherine Branson was appointed President of the Australian Human Rights Commission on 7 August 2008 for five year term.

8 August, 2008

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Indigenous Studies and Indigenous Knowledge Conference

I begin by paying my respects to the Mouhenenner people, the traditional owners of the land where we gather today. I pay my respects to your elders, to the ancestors and to those who have come before us.

3 July, 2008

Rights and Freedoms

Opinion Pieces - Protecting Australians' rights (2008)

The new century has thrown up enormous challenges, as well as breathtaking opportunities to us all. One such challenge is the protection of human rights.

28 April, 2008

Rights and Freedoms

A question of human rights (2008)

As the Government points out on its Australia 2020 Summit website, the new century has thrown up enormous challenges, as well as breathtaking opportunities to us all.

17 April, 2008