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14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
DR OZDOWSKI: My name is Dr Ozdowski and I am the Human Rights Commissioner and we are conducting an Inquiry into Children in Detention. To my left is Mrs Robin Sullivan who is Assistant Commissioner for the Inquiry and in her other life, she is Queensland Children's Commissioner and to my right is Professor Trang Thomas, Professor of Psychology at the Melbourne Institute of Technology and she is… -
14 December 2012Book page
Indigenous Deaths in Custody: Part E Profiles: Indigenous Deaths in Custody 1989 - 1996
The deceased had been arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and for driving while disqualified. He was placed in what the Coroner described as an enclosed cell, in which occupant vision is impossible, at around 3.00am and told he would remain there for a period of four hours. -
Legal
13 September 2023PublicationMr Watt v State of NSW (Corrective Services NSW) (2023)
Mr Watt v State of New South Wales (Corrective Services NSW) [2023] AusHRC 149 Inquiry into complaints made by Mr Adam Watt that certain acts and practices during his detention in NSW correctional centres were inconsistent with or contrary to his human rights Australian Human Rights Commission 2023 -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2001: Chapter 5: Juvenile diversionary schemes and Indigenous people
On 27 July 2000, the Commonwealth government and the Northern Territory Government signed an agreement for the establishment of a juvenile pre-court diversion scheme in the Northern Territory (NT). This agreement arose specifically as a response to the continued criticism of the NT’s mandatory minimum imprisonment laws and their impact on juveniles and Indigenous people. By establishing the… -
14 December 2012Book page
4 The use of wrist x-ray analysis
This chapter considers some of the Commonwealth’s practices regarding the use of wrist x-ray analysis as a means of assessing chronological age for the purposes of criminal prosecution. It highlights situations where the reliance on wrist x-rays as evidence of age was contrary to stated Australian Government policy; or where it contributed to individuals who were in fact children, or who… -
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… -
24 September 2018Webpage
Guidelines & eligibility
Learn how the Human Rights Commission values inclusivity and diversity and seeks to employ people who will support and model the behaviours we promote. -
14 December 2012Book page
Report No. 40: Complaints by immigration detainees against the Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Immigration and Citizenship, formerly the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs) and GSL (Australia) Pty Ltd (2008)
Pursuant to section 11(1)(f)(ii) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth), I attach a report of an inquiry by the former President of the Commission into complaints made by immigration detainees against the Commonwealth of Australia. The former President found that the Commonwealth had breached the human rights of the complainants pursuant to articles 10(1) and 17(1) of… -
Rights and Freedoms
17 January 2019Media Release
Statement by Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow
“The Commission will consider the Religious Freedom Review, and any proposals for reform, once the report is officially released. “Any law reform proposal must protect the rights of everyone in Australia. “The Commission made six recommendations to the Review. In addition to better public education on freedom of religion, the Commission called for federal law to prohibit discrimination on… -
Race Discrimination
3 February 2020Media ReleaseCoronavirus requires unity and support, not division
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, Chin Tan has urged all Australians to remain calm, show consideration and unite as a community in response to the Coronavirus crisis: “Reports of racial discrimination against Chinese people in our community are disappointing. They hurt both the Chinese community and our collective community wellbeing at a time when… -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2004 : Chapter 1 : The Consultations
During the 2004 reporting period I have embarked on a series of consultations focusing on the ideas and principles that were contained in a Discussion Paper, released by my predecessor as Social Justice Commissioner in June 2003. The Discussion Paper was entitled Promoting Economic and Social Development through Native Title (at Annexure 1). This chapter seeks to record and develop the ideas and… -
Race Discrimination
17 March 2020Media Release
Commemorating one year since the Christchurch mosque attack
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan and Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow have commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attack. In a joint statement, they said: “The Christchurch massacre was deeply traumatic for New Zealand’s Muslim community. That trauma has echoed throughout the Muslim community in Australia and internationally.” “One year… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
R v Cheung
HIS HONOUR: The accused Cheung Ying Lun also known as Garry Cheung is to stand trial in this court on 15 February 1993 upon an indictment charging that between 1 August 1988 and 12 May 1989 he was knowingly concerned in the importation into Australia of a quantity of heroin exceeding the commercial quantity. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
5 August 2020Media ReleaseStatement on Christmas Island immigration detention
The Australian Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned that the Australian Border Force plans to re-open the immigration detention facility at Christmas Island. The Commission has carried out inspections of Australia's onshore and offshore immigration detention facilities for many years. The Commission's advice has been consistent: Christmas Island is not an appropriate place for an -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2008 - Chapter 3
The strong, vibrant and committed Noongar peoples of the South West corner of Australia had their native title determination over Perth returned to square one. The Full Federal Court found that the first judge had made a number of errors in his decision and have sent the case back for consideration by a new judge, leaving the Noongar peoples uncertain about the future of their rights over the… -
14 December 2012Book page
12. Education for Children in Immigration Detention
Just send my children to school, and let them be in freedom. They should live in a human good atmosphere, they should learn something good, and not the things they are learning here.(1) -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
DR OZDOWSKI: Welcome to everyone. I think there is no need again to administer the oath or affirmation. As with yesterday, we will do it only in the case of new witnesses coming, but please understand that the principles associated with the oath or affirmation do stand up. Also, I would like to ask witnesses in order to finish on time, that they will focus on questions and try to answer, and to… -
Age Discrimination
1 March 2021Media ReleaseStatement on the Aged Care Royal Commission report
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the publication of the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Following the findings and recommendations in the report, released today, the Commission would like to see the human rights of older people embedded in the planning, provision and monitoring of aged care services in Australia. “Older people have the… -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC REPORT NO. 39: Complaint by Mr Huong Nguyen and Mr Austin Okoye
I attach a report of my inquiry into complaints by Mr Huong Hai Nguyen and Mr Austin Okoye against the Commonwealth of Australia and GSL (Australia) Pty Ltd, pursuant to section 11(1)(f)(ii) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth). -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
17 January 2019Media ReleaseTime to act on constitutional recognition
The current and former Social Justice Commissioners have called for political leadership to ensure the recommendations of the Joint Select Committee on constitutional recognition are realised. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO and former commissioners Mick Gooda, Professor Tom Calma AO, Dr William Jonas AM and Emeritus Professor Mick Dodson…