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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 July 2021Opinion pieceReturn to country endangered by failure to invest
Covid-19 has triggered the most significant return to country by First Nations people since the homeland movement commenced in the 1960s. Thousands, like myself, returned to remote communities out of necessity. Facing the unknown, our family leaders who could made the courageous decision to gather loved ones and travel out to country, with minimal resources. Importantly, Australian… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
27 January 2021Opinion piece
Can January 26 ever be the day that all Australians unite and rejoice in our sense of collective belonging?
OPINION: I want to celebrate being Australian and I want to celebrate our remarkable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander civilisation. But every year I brace myself for the 26th knowing that it is not the day we can do this. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
16 December 2020Opinion piece
We have failed to recognise the contributions of First Nations women and girls
Our voices heard and understood. Our lives and expertise recognised. Our actions counted and invested in as critical to the health and wellbeing of society. These are the powerful and determined calls of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls in Australia today. They are set-out and responded to in the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices): Securing our Rights, Securing our… -
Disability Rights
3 December 2020Opinion pieceBeing acknowledged is the first step to being included
When I started my career as a young lawyer, I made a decision to tell people upfront that I used a wheelchair. On the occasions when I didn't, people often didn’t realise that I was the lawyer who they had spoken to on the phone. They would assume I was attending a meeting for work experience, or address their questions to my colleague instead of me. This continued even as my career… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
13 October 2020Opinion pieceWho are we leaving behind?
In presenting last week’s Federal Budget, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said, “we will get through this together.” Togetherness is an important value in Australia. It speaks to the basic liberal democratic principle that no-one in our community should be left behind. While much of last week’s Budget analysis focused on the details of tax breaks and tax cuts, at a basic level the Budget is also a… -
Rights and Freedoms
28 July 2020Opinion pieceWearing a mask will protect human liberties, not infringe upon them
There’s been a lot of talk, anger and resistance to the changes of our rights and freedoms as Australia deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. In some way or another, each and every one of us has encountered restrictions – on our freedom of movement, the right to peaceful protest, the ability to engage in public areas without wearing masks and the requirement to provide personal information for… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
2 July 2020Opinion piece
Blanket bans would be unacceptable
During lockdown, many of us – myself included – have become even more reliant on our mobile phones. They have kept us in contact with parents, children and grandchildren, our colleagues and friends during this difficult time. When my two-year old first saw his grandmother on a smartphone, he squealed with delight. It wasn’t quite the same as being together — he pawed at the screen to try to… -
Sex Discrimination
1 July 2020Opinion pieceSexual harassment is prevalent across all industries and sectors. We can and must stop it
Sexual harassment is prevalent across all industries and sectors. We can and must stop it. -
Age Discrimination
30 June 2020Opinion pieceWe can all help end elder abuse
There are no exact figures on elder abuse in Australia. There is a study underway, but we may never know the total number of older people experiencing elder abuse in this country because it often takes place in secret and behind closed doors. Current estimates from Australian Institute of Family Studies are that between 2 and 14 per cent of older Australians experience elder abuse in any… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
28 May 2020Opinion piece
Learning from crisis
Six weeks ago I returned to my traditional homeland near Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia. Thanks to modern technology, I am working remotely and continuing my duties as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. Like many Aboriginal people, I chose to return to Country because COVID-19 travel restrictions made homeland communities the safest place to see out the…