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Commission - General
9 October 2025Media ReleaseFinalists announced for 2025 Australian Human Rights Awards
A diverse group of human rights advocates has been named as finalists in the 2025 Australian Human Rights Awards, ranging from youth support workers and filmmakers to justice advocates and medical professionals. -
Commission - General
14 October 2025Speech
Alan Missen Oration 2025
Hugh de Kretser speaks about the legacy of Alan Missen and how his values are reflected in the ongoing work of the Australian Human Rights Commission. 26 August 2025 -
Commission - General
10 October 2025Speech
Achieving stronger legal human rights protections in Australia
Hugh de Kretser discusses progress and setbacks in Australia's human rights protections at the annual Castan Centre for Human Rights Law Conference in July 2025. -
Commission - General
3 October 2025E-bulletin (Monthly)
AHRC President's message | October 2025
Two years on from 7 October 2023, the need to address racism against affected communities in Australia is urgent -
Commission - General
5 December 2024Speech
Tim McCoy dinner
It’s pretty special for me being here tonight as the speaker at the Tim McCoy dinner. There’s so many people in this room tonight who have played a big part in my life - making me a better human rights advocate and a better person. The McCoy Dinner is always a great celebration of the community legal and broader legal aid and social justice sectors. A meeting of the pioneers who set up CLCs… -
Commission - General
4 March 2025E-bulletin (Monthly)
President's message | March 2025
We must work together to address the scourge of racism. The Director-General of ASIO, Mike Burgess, said in Parliament last week that “in terms of threats to life” antisemitism is ASIO’s top priority. He said he believed it was the first time a form of racism was the agency’s highest priority. The assessment underscored the intensification and severity of the attacks against the Jewish… -
Commission - General
5 December 2024Speech
commUnity + Annual Celebration of Impact
There’s so many people in this room tonight who have played a big part in my life. This area and its people are close to my heart. Sunshine – Brimbank - Melton It’s where I got my real human rights education. -
Commission - General
4 June 2025Speech
Financial Counselling Australia Conference
Hugh de Kretser discusses the importance of truth telling, what he learned working at the Yoorrook Justice Commission, human rights values and the need for Human Rights Acts. -
Commission - General
13 May 2025E-bulletin (Monthly)
President's message | May 2025
Cost of living issues are human rights issues Someone said to me just before election day that human rights hadn’t featured much in the federal election campaign. It’s true that the words “human rights” didn’t feature much - but human rights issues did. This was an election about the cost of living in Australia and human rights has a lot to say about that. Australia has promised to protect… -
Commission - General
3 September 2024Speech
Law Institute of Victoria Legal Sector Dinner
Our legal system frequently provides unequal access to justice, with varying standards based on one’s identity, location, and financial status. Rights granted by law are ineffective if they cannot be enforced. A speech by Hugh de Krester. -
Commission - General
17 June 2025Media Release
Who will be Australia’s 2025 human rights heroes?
The search is on to recognise Australia’s leading human rights defenders and advocates who strive to improve the lives of people across the country. Australia’s peak human rights body is calling for nominations for the Australian Human Rights Awards. The Australian Human Rights Commission is encouraging people to nominate people and organisations whose work inspires them. “The awards… -
Commission - General
6 March 2025Speech
Affinity Intercultural Foundation NSW Parliamentary Iftar
Hugh de Kretser highlights rising intolerance and racism, urging unity and dialogue to achieve peace and respect for all, grounded in human rights and common humanity. -
Commission - General
10 December 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)
President's message | December 2024
It's Human Rights Day; a day to reflect on human rights challenges and progress. 76 years ago today, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the pinnacles of human achievement. In adopting the Declaration after the horrors of World War 2, the international community said, “never again”. The Declaration lists 30 rights that are essential for all of us… -
Commission - General
8 March 2023News story
Forum aims to strengthen human rights in the Pacific
The Commission joined an important conversation about establishing and strengthening National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) across the Pacific region. -
Commission - General
8 December 2023Media Release
Australia’s human rights champions put social justice and equality centre stage
Women’s equity and racial equality advocate Juliana Nkrumah AM has been awarded the prestigious Human Rights Medal at the 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards in Sydney tonight. Other awards went to Gabriel Osborne (Young People’s Award), Northern Pictures (Media and Creative Industries Award), Advocacy Tasmania (Community Award) and the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (Law… -
Commission - General
29 July 2024News story
Hugh de Kretser commences as Human Rights Commission President
The new President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Hugh de Kretser, said maintaining the push to see a national Human Rights Act introduced will be among his key priorities, as he today commenced in the role. -
Commission - General
23 October 2019Media Release
Media statement: Use of force in immigration detention
Fourteen complaints about the use of force in immigration detention form the basis for a comprehensive thematic report by the Australian Human Rights Commission tabled in Parliament today. The report considers the practices of handcuffing detainees, use of physical force within centres including arm and elbow locks, operations conducted by the Emergency Response Team (ERT), and the use of… -
Commission - General
27 October 2022Media Release
Commission welcomes passage of new Bill to strengthen its independence
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the passage in the Senate today of the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment (Selection and Appointment) Bill 2022. The Bill ensures Commissioner appointments are publicly advertised and subject to an open, transparent and merit-based process, in line with our international commitments. It removes the possibility of… -
Commission - General
29 March 2023Media Release
Dr Ben Gauntlett appointed as Deputy Commissioner to the NACC
The Attorney-General, The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC today announced that Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Ben Gauntlett has been appointed as Deputy Commissioner to the National Anti-Corruption Commission. -
Commission - General
5 April 2019Media Release
Royal Commission Commencement Welcomed
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the commencement of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of people with disability. The Commission also welcomes the appointment of Disability Discrimination Commissioner Alastair McEwin to the Royal Commission. The Commission warmly thanks Mr McEwin for his service over the last two and a half years. “Alastair…