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Commission - General

A Revitalised National Human Rights Framework for Australia

Marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Fraser Oration Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM FAAL FRSA FACLM(Hon) Introduction Vice-Chancellor, Duncan Maskell, Dean Matthew Harding, Mrs Tamie Fraser and the Fraser family, Melbourne Law School staff, distinguished...

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Commission - General

President speeches: Development, Security and Human Rights

This paper addresses one of the Forum themes: ‘Security and Human Rights’. Since 11 September 2001 governments around the world have responded to the threat of terrorism with tough measures to protect the lives and security of their communities – to protect their fundamental human rights. New security measures give government authorities unprecedented powers, which can seriously infringe the basic human rights of those against whom the powers are exercised.

Category, Speech
Commission - General

President speeches: Human Rights in Australia

Thank you for inviting me here today to speak about human rights in Australia. I would like to use this opportunity to focus on how human rights are protected in Australia; and how you, as human rights educators, can help students to understand these protections. I will also seek to shed some light on the role of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and some of our responses to some current human rights issues.

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Commission - General

International Human Rights Day Address

International Human Rights Day Address Delivered by John von Doussa QC, President, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Sydney, 10 December 2004 I begin by acknowledging that we are meeting on the traditional country of the Gadigal People, of the Eora Nation. In keeping with the theme of...

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Commission - General

10th International Criminal Congress

The topic of this seminar is ‘Criminal Justice in a climate of fear’. The word terrorism is not mentioned and yet the subject invites discussion of the impact of terrorism on life and laws in Australia.

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Commission - General

Creating a culture of human rights compliance

Debates about a charter of rights are often monopolised by the contentious issue of the proper role of the courts. While this is undoubtedly an important question, it overlooks the impact a charter would have on the role of Parliament as a guardian of rights of freedoms.

Category, Speech
Commission - General

"I'm the boss, so that's the way it is!"

"I'm the boss, so that's the way it is!" Australian Public Service Leadership Lunchtime Seminar, Delivered by John von Doussa QC, President, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 24 November 2004 I would like to begin by thanking the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) for inviting...

Category, Speech
Commission - General

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Thank you Professor Lansbury, and thank you to Marian and the Women and Work Research Group for organising today’s forum. Thank you also to our panellists – Dr Lyn Craig, Petra Stirling, and John Murray.

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Commission - General

President Speech: International Commission of Jurists (Vic) Opening of the Legal Year (2010)

I would also like to acknowledge the Victorian Governor Professor David de Krester, and his wife Mrs Jan de Krester; Chief Justice Hon Marilyn Warren; other senior representatives of each of the three branches of the Victorian government; the many community leaders present and also the many members of the legal profession present. I feel greatly honoured to have been invited to participate today in the opening of the legal year.

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Commission - General

Graduation Address

I speak to you now, not as the Chancellor of this University, but as the President of Australia’s national Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

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Commission - General

ADR: an essential tool for human rights

I would like to begin by acknowledging the Elders and Traditional Owners of Darwin, the Larrakia People, and to thank them for the opportunity to visit this beautiful part of the country. After that very heartfelt welcome to country, I feel very privileged to be here this morning.

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Commission - General

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By way of preamble, it is clear the current climate of terrorism obviously requires governments to put in place measures that can effectively deal with a serious terrorist threat or event as soon as it is detected. Parliament cannot wait until potential dangers eventuate. It is understandable – indeed it is necessary in advance - to put in place measures that can deal with the worst case scenario that could arise.

Category, Speech
Commission - General

The Admission and Exclusion of Asylum Seekers Conference

The Admission and Exclusion of Asylum Seekers Conference University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Human Rights and Offshore Processing Presentation by John von Doussa QC President, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 25 November 2006 INTRODUCTION I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people...

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