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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
10 February 2022SpeechANU College of Law Conference: Parenthood and Work in a Post-COVID Context
[Introduction in Bunuba] It is a pleasure be speaking to you all today. My name is June Oscar, and I am Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. I acknowledge the traditional custodians of all the lands across Australia and pay my respects to all elders, past, present and emerging. I also pay my respects to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri peoples for those of… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
1 November 2024News story
Ending QLD Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry is harmful and divisive
The Queensland Government’s decision to abolish the state’s Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and repeal its Path to Treaty Act marks a major step backwards for First Nations rights, says Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 February 2024News story
Tribute to Lowitja O'Donoghue
Reflecting on Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue's legacy, Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO said: "In my life, as is true for countless others, Lowitja O’Donoghue has been a towering figure of social justice, committed to guaranteeing our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights are recognised and responded to by Australia. She will be remembered always as a remarkable woman who lived across… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
2 April 2024Media Release
Katie Kiss commences as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
Australia’s new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, said in the wake of the devastating outcome of last year’s Voice referendum, Australia must consider the next steps, and prioritise finding ways to heal and soothe divisions. This includes making meaningful progress in addressing the systemic and structural discrimination experienced by First… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
20 March 2024Media Release
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Report launched today
Australian Human Rights Commission President Gillian Triggs and Deputy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Robynne Quiggin today launch the Social Justice and Native Title Report 2016. The document is a state-of-the-nation report on the social justice and native title issues affecting Indigenous Australians in 2016. Major developments during the year include the… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 March 2024Media Release
Commission welcomes new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the appointment of Katie Kiss as the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. Ms Kiss is a proud Kaanju and Birri/Widi woman who grew up in Rockhampton, Central Queensland on the lands of the Darumbal People. She is currently the Executive Director of the Interim Truth and Treaty Body supporting Queensland’s Path… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
31 July 2023Webpage
Voice Referendum: Understanding the referendum from a human rights perspective
The Commission has produced a resource kit to encourage the Australian public to consider the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum through a human rights lens. The resources seek to minimise harm by encouraging cultural humility and focusing the conversation on human rights principles as they relate to the referendum and proposed Voice to Parliament. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
24 May 2023News story
Uluru Statement anniversary
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO said she’s encouraged by the growing support among Australians for the Uluru Statement from the Heart. On the second anniversary of the Uluru Statement, Commissioner Oscar has recalled how she felt, when she took part in the ceremony to present the Statement to all Australians. “There was a great sense of… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
8 August 2023Webpage
The Uluru Statement from the Heart
The Uluru Statement from the Heart (the Statement) is an invitation from a group of First Nations people to non-Indigenous Australians. Shared in 2017, the Statement calls for substantive reform to help realise Indigenous rights, through the establishment of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and a Makarrata Commission, to undertake processes of agreement-making (treaty) and truth-telling. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
13 October 2023News story
Closing the Gap in a Divided Family - June Oscar feature in the Aus
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar says forging a relationship with her white relatives has given their extended families a different perspective on the voice - feature article by Victoria Laurie in the Australian. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
28 September 2023Opinion piece
The referendum is Australia’s gateway moment
Read Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar's op-ed in support of the Voice Referendum, published in The Guardian Australia. "We’ve been advocating for a permanent representative body for decades. My old people wanted this. My family in remote Australia facing unbelievable struggles daily want this." -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
27 March 2024Media Release
Commissioner June Oscar welcomes Institute funding
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar welcomed the Commonwealth’s funding of the new Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations Gender Justice at the Australian National University. The Institute is the first of its kind in the world and will bring together First Nations researchers to develop and design initiatives to improve outcomes for… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
4 August 2023Webpage
Referendums and constitutional change
The Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) will hold a referendum in late 2023. The referendum will ask Australians whether the Constitution should be changed to include a recognition of the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Indigenous Voice to Parliament -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
4 August 2023Webpage
Symbolic change or substantive reform
The difference between symbolic change and substantive reform in the context of the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and the Australian Constitution. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
13 September 2022Media Release
First Nations women to take leading role in addressing family and community violence
An important gathering of First Nations women – including specialist experts, researchers, frontline workers and women with lived experience of violence – has called on governments across Australia to ensure First Nations women lead all future efforts to prevent violence against First Nations women and children. On Monday the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Women’s Safety Policy Forum was held online,… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
20 March 2024Media Release
Statement by Tom Calma, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Regarding Mulrunji's Death
Let me begin by extending my deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Mulrunji and to the Indigenous communities of Palm Island and Townsville, who have been so deeply affected by Mulrunji’s death in custody in 2004 and subsequent proceedings. I share with you my outrage at the failures to date of the Queensland authorities to provide justice to Mulrunji’s family. The actions of the … -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
1 August 2022Speech
Garma Festival
Jalangurru lanygu balangarri. Yaningi Yatharra ngindaji muwayi indirranggu, Gumatj, Yolngu yani U. Galwurruy and your family thank you for hosting us. I pay my respects to all Yolŋu people and the Gumatj people of this land, and all the clan groups of Arnhem land and surrounds. My deepest respects to your elder’s past, present and emerging. A huge congratulations to the Yothu Yindi… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 May 2019Speech
Human Rights Dinner 2019 - Human Rights Law Centre
Jalangurru lanygu balangarri. Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Gadigal yani U. I acknowledge the Gadigal people of Eora Nation whose land we gather on tonight, and all your elders past, present and emerging. And I acknowledge all of my esteemed colleagues from the Australian Human Rights Commission including Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher. There are many other names… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
20 March 2024Media Release
Commission celebrates official launch of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO has launched a dedicated Institute to elevate the voices and solutions of First Nations women and girls – the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations gender justice. The Australian-first Institute, housed at the Australian National University (ANU) on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, ensures the… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
3 June 2021Speech
Kimberley Remote Community Leaders Forum
Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Bunuba yani U. Balangarri wadjirragali jarra ningi – gamali ngindaji yau muwayi nyirrami ngarri thangani. Yaningi miya ngindaji Muwayi ingga winyira ngirranggu thangani. Yathawarra, wilalawarra jalangurru ngarri guda. I acknowledge the Yawuru people of the land we gather on today and I pay my deep respects to elder’s past, present and…