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Rights and Freedoms

Speech delivered to Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Today I want to talk to you first generally about Australia’s human rights obligations, and the role of the Commission. I will then move to discuss three key human rights obligations which are relevant to decisions which some officers within the Department make every day.

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Implementation of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples

Ms Mandy Doherty and Ms Jenny Bedford delivered the following joint statement on 22 May 2013 to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on behalf of the Australian Government and the Australian Human Rights Commission. We would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land...

Category, Speech
Children's Rights

Privileging the voice of children in family law

I want to start by sharing with you the views of 14-year-old Rani who was – as part of a custody case – the subject of a lengthy dispute about contact. Rani had an independent children’s lawyer and a family report to present ‘her best interests’ to the judge. However she still felt totally excluded from the decision-making process.

Category, Speech
Commission – General

Time for rethink on asylum seeker treatment

I am gravely concerned that Australia's practices in relation to asylum seekers risk serious breaches of fundamental rights and freedoms under the human rights treaties by which Australia is bound.

Category, Opinion
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Indigenous Allied Health Australia 2012 National Health Conference

Mick GoodaAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice CommissionerAustralian Human Rights Commission Brisbane Exhibition & Convention CentreFriday 23 November 2012 Acknowledgements I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the Brisbane area.I pay my respects to your...

Category, Speech
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.

Category, Speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Standing Firm for Change: A Journey to Justice

Barriers to Accessing Justice: Lateral Violence Mick GoodaAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice CommissionerAustralian Human Rights Commission Jasper HotelMelbourneThursday 22 November 2012 Acknowledgements I would like to begin by acknowledging that we sit on the lands of the...

Category, Speech
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.

Category, Speech
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.

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Speech - Launch of the Civil Society Shadow Report (2012)

Australia became a party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. The rest of the world refers to it by the unappealing acronym of CRPD, or the Disability Convention, but I like to refer to it as the Disco. It's catchy, and it creates a great image for me of people with disability dancing, and being to go anywhere they want - although I haven't been inside a disco for many a long year.

Category, Speech

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