The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights in relation to its inquiry into the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 (Cth), Religious Discrimination (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021 (Cth), and the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2021 (Cth).
29 October 2021
Embracing Cultural Diversity in Australia
Alice Pung
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Senate Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee with respect to the Commonwealth Electoral Amendment (Integrity of Elections) Bill 2021. This submission is made only in relation to Schedule 2 of the Bill relating to voter identification.
In its submission to the Indigenous Voice co-design process, the Australian Human Rights Commission has called for a model that guarantees self-determination and independence from government, and is informed by international principles for the political representation of Indigenous peoples.
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the opportunity to provide this submission to the Indigenous Voice Co-design Groups on the proposals outlined in the Indigenous Voice Interim Report of October 2020.
The travel ban on Australian citizens returning from India, accompanied by criminal sanctions under the Biosecurity Act, raises serious human rights concerns.
The Commission supports the continuation of aid to the Indian Government as it copes with the current COVID-19 crisis, but the Commission holds deep concerns about these extraordinary new restrictions on Australians returning to Australia from India.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for greater accountability to be embedded in laws that extend the Commonwealth’s power in the event of national emergencies.
In its submission to a Senate inquiry examining the National Emergency Declaration Act 2020, the Commission recommended five changes to legislation that was enacted by parliament last year.
Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow said the laws, which empower the Australian Government to act quickly and unilaterally during national emergencies, must include appropriate checks and balances.
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee in relation to its review of the operation of the National Emergency Declaration Act 2020 (Cth).
