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Rights and Freedoms
3 September 2019Media ReleaseStatement by Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow on the draft Religious Discrimination Bill
“For more than 20 years, the Australian Human Rights Commission has called for reform to prohibit all forms of discrimination on the basis of religious and other beliefs. “Any reform in this area must protect the human rights of all people in Australia, regardless of their religion, race, gender, sexual orientation or any other status. “We will be studying the content of the draft Bill… -
Rights and Freedoms
2 September 2019Media Release
Commissioners call for compassionate approach for Tamil family
Australian Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell and Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow have today written to Minister David Coleman, calling for an urgent and compassionate resolution for the Tamil family detained in immigration detention on Christmas Island. “Given their connection to Australia, showing compassion and allowing the family to stay together in the only community the… -
Rights and Freedoms
29 August 2019Publication
Discussion paper: A model for positive human rights reform
This paper outlines what our current system of human rights protections looks like, how it is and isn’t effective in ensuring that government respects, protects and fulfils our human rights, why reforming the current system is critical, and options for reform. -
Rights and Freedoms
21 August 2019Project
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. -
Rights and Freedoms
9 August 2019Speech
Human Rights are not a foreign language
Human Rights are not a foreign language—reflections on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission [∗] University of Adelaide Faculty of Law Tuesday 4 September 2018 Acknowledgement I would like to begin my presentation by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this land, and to… -
Rights and Freedoms
1 August 2019Publication
Discussion paper: Priorities for federal discrimination law reform
In 2019-2020, the Australian Human Rights Commission (Commission) is undertaking a national conversation on human rights to identify reform proposals to better protect human rights in Australia. An issues paper guiding the process was released in April 2019. The issues paper notes that by mid-2020 the Commission will release a final report in which it recommends, among other things: An… -
Rights and Freedoms
31 July 2019Speech
Free and Equal: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade
Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM addressed the Castan Centre human rights conference on July 26. The topic was ‘Free and Equal’: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade. Thank you to the Castan Centre, and its Director, Professor Sarah Joseph, for inviting me to speak. Let me begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of… -
Rights and Freedoms
22 July 2019Project
Free and Equal Conference
It is time for us to talk about the Australia that we want to live in, and how we want our rights and freedoms protected. There are great opportunities ahead for human rights protection in Australia, but also great challenges. How do we balance competing rights in a complex legal landscape? How do we keep improving protections for vulnerable Australians? How do we find common ground on human… -
Rights and Freedoms
16 July 2019Media Release
Urgent call for Federal Government to protect 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers at risk in the community
The Australian Human Rights Commission calls on the Australian Government to make urgent changes to improve protections for approximately 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers living in the Australian community. A new report released today, Lives on hold: Refugees and asylum seekers in the ‘Legacy Caseload’, reveals the human rights situation for approximately 30,000 refugees and asylum seekers… -
Rights and Freedoms
9 July 2019Publication
Factsheet: Guide to the protections for freedom of religion (2019)
There are a number of protections for freedom of religion in Australian law. At the federal level, a person may make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission or to the Fair Work Commission about discrimination on the basis of religion that occurs in the context of employment. The Australian Human Rights Commission can also inquire into complaints about acts done or practices…