News
Commission – General
Dr Ben Gauntlett appointed as Deputy Commissioner to the NACC
The Attorney-General, The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC today announced that Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Ben Gauntlett has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner to the National Anti-Corruption Commission.
Disability Rights
Australia's Disability Strategy, Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The compartmentalisation of disability policy has meant people with disability, or their representatives, are often expected to have the information and evidence to justify policy change and even when they do make their case, they need multiple levels and areas of government to support them.
Commission – General
Human Rights Day Oration 2020: Rosemary Kayess and Nas Campanella
The 2020 Human Rights Day Oration was delivered by leading disability rights advocate Rosemary Kayess, winner of the 2019 Human Rights Medal, and a contributor to the drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). Ms Kayess discussed the social transformation of...
Disability Rights
National Disability Strategy Future Forum: Beyond 2020
The Australian Human Rights Commission and the Centre of Research Excellence in Disability and Health National Disability Strategy: Beyond 2020 webinar September 24, 2020 Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner Introductory Address Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests; Good...
Disability Rights
Speech to National Labor Disability Summit
Dr Ben Gauntlett National Labor Disability Summit Melbourne November 1, 2019 Good disability policy benefits all Australians. When we think of disability policy, it is not “us” and “them”, it is "we", we the people of Australia need good disability policy because it reflects our values of diversity...
Disability Rights
22nd Session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
22nd Session of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Australia’s appearance, 12 to 13 September 2019 Geneva, Palais des Nations Room XVII Opening Statement (5 minutes) Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner Thank you Mr Chairman. I welcome the opportunity to make...
Rights and Freedoms
Free and Equal: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade
Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM addressed the Castan Centre human rights conference on July 26. The topic was ‘Free and Equal’: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade. Thank you to the Castan Centre, and its Director, Professor Sarah...
Disability Rights
Remember disability policy and research deals with the everyday lives
The following speech was an introductory address delivered by Disability Discrimination Commissioner Ben Gauntlett at a policy forum convened by the Centre for Research Excellence in Disability and Health, held in Canberra on July 18, 2019. Good morning and welcome to today’s policy forum, which has...
Disability Rights
The critical task of changing community attitudes towards disability
The following speech was an opening presentation delivered by Disability Discrimination Commissioner Ben Gauntlett at a workshop on community attitudes towards people with disability convened by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disability, held in Melbourne on June 28...
Children's Rights
Children’s Rights in Australia: looking back and moving forward
Good morning everyone. I’d like to begin today by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, the Widjabul people of the Bundjalung nation. I acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make. I also pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. I’d also...
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...
Disability Rights
Hanson's comments remind us we still have a long way to go
As Disability Discrimination Commissioner, it is my job to promote and protect the rights of people with disability. So when a person who has been elected to represent the concerns and aspirations of the Australian people uses the floor of Parliament to suggest that students with disability should...
Disability Rights
National Disability Services NSW State Conference ‘Turning Plans into Outcomes’
I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and pay my respect to their elders past and present. I also pay respect to Aboriginal people present here today. Anne Bryce – thank you for the introduction. NDS board members, NDS members...
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