Complaints

Search

Projects

Parliament House
Legal

Human Rights Reports

The Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 empowers the Commission to investigate breaches of human rights and workplace discrimination. Reports to the Minister are prepared, including recommendations for action.
sun over a pathway between trees
Rights and Freedoms

Freedom of Religion

For over 20 years now, the Commission has advocated for more comprehensive legal protection in Australia for freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
teacher showing globe to class
Children's Rights

Reporting to the United Nations on Children's Rights

In September 2019, Australia appeared before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child. This UN Committee monitors Australia’s progress in fulfilling its obligations under: • the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) • the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the...
children at the sunset
Rights and Freedoms

Free and Equal Conference

The Free and Equal conference was the centrepiece of a national conversation and once-in-a-decade event. The conference was held at the Hyatt Regency Sydney on Tuesday 8 October 2019.
Legal

Uber Eats exemption

The Commission is interested in receiving submissions from interested people and parties about whether this temporary exemption should be granted.
Train exemption
Legal

Train exemption

Learn how the Commission received a joint application from the Queensland government and Queensland Rail for temporary exemptions to disability acts.
Two men holding hands, getting married
LGBTIQ+

Marriage equality

The Australian Human Rights Commission considers that the fundamental human rights principle of equality means that civil marriage should be available, without discrimination, to all couples, regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. Position Paper Marriage equality in a changing...
Woman in gym
Legal

Current exemption applications

Exemption application under the Sex Discrimination Act The Australian Human Rights Commission has received an application from CJC Operations Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Curves. This application is made pursuant to s 44 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (SDA) and is for an exemption from...
Rights and Freedoms

Federal Discrimination Law 2016

Federal Discrimination Law is produced by the Commission’s legal section and provides an overview of the federal unlawful discrimination laws and examines the significant issues that have arisen in the federal unlawful discrimination cases. It also contains comprehensive tables of damages awards...
Business planning meeting
Business and Human Rights

Roundtable and Joint Civil Society Statement on Business and Human Rights (2016)

In March 2016, the Australian Government announced its intention to undertake a national consultation on the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs). On 25 May 2016, the Australian Human Rights Commission co-hosted a roundtable with the Human Rights Law...
International

HRTC highlights newsletter - April 2016

Working internationally to advance human rights Welcome Welcome to the first bi-annual newsletter for the Human Rights Technical Cooperation (HRTC) Programs. HRTC Highlights is a new initiative that will provide you with updates from our international human rights activities. This edition highlights...
Worker with Down Syndrome and co-worker. Image from iStock.
Legal

BSWAT: temporary exemption

On 18 December 2015 the Commission granted a limited, conditional, temporary exemption to the Commonwealth and certain ADEs.

Immigration detention, asylum seekers and refugees

The Commission seeks to ensure that the human rights of all people held in immigration detention in Australia are protected. The Commission has focused its recent immigration detention work on the conditions and treatment of asylum seekers, refugees and children, because they have specific...