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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
10 June 2025Speech2025 AIATSIS Summit: Voices of Empowerment Strengthening our Future
This keynote speech, delivered on Larrakia Country by Commissioner Katie Kiss at the 2025 AIATSIS Summit calls for urgent reform of the Native Title system and implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to achieve true empowerment, justice, and self-determination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. -
Business and Human Rights
7 July 2025E-bulletin (Monthly)President's message | July 2025
Dear friends, Without truth there can be no justice. On Tuesday, the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s remarkable four-year journey ended with the publication of its final reports and public record. Yoorrook was the first formal truth-telling inquiry into injustices against First Peoples in Victoria. Led by four First Peoples Commissioners and a non-Indigenous Commissioner, it changed Victoria… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
2 June 2025Speech
Mabo Oration 2025 One Land – Two Laws – It’s Black and White
Acknowledgements Good evening, all Distinguished guests, Elders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family, community, friends and colleagues - and my family, children and grandchildren who are here tonight – particularly my sister Kerry who has travelled from Rockhampton to be here, and my Aunty Kathy – my mum’s sister and the matriarch of our family who travelled from Sydney. My name is… -
Rights and Freedoms
24 March 2025Opinion pieceCOVID report provides reality check on human rights during pandemic
Opinion piece | Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay Earlier this month the Australian Human Rights Commission released Collateral Damage: What the untold stories from the COVID-19 pandemic reveal about human rights in Australia. In the five years since COVID-19 reached Australia, this report is the first to assess the country’s pandemic response through a human rights lens. It is… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
24 June 2025Speech
Racial Justice Fundraising Dinner
Introduction: Country, Sovereignty, Truth Good evening, all. Ladies, gentlemen, distinguished guests. As a proud Kaanju, Birri/Widi Woman from North Queensland who grew up on the lands of the Darumbal People in Rockhampton, I acknowledge and pay my deepest respects to the Gadigal people of the Eora nation – the traditional custodians of the land on which we gather tonight. I honour their… -
Age Discrimination
8 August 2023SpeechBuilding a better cultural inheritance for an ageing Australia
Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO Age Discrimination Commissioner Keynote Address to National Press Club of Australia, Canberra Wednesday, 28 June, 2023 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Welcome Thank you Andrew Tillett (National Press Club Vice President) for your kind introduction. I am sometimes introduced incorrectly, but maybe more accurately, as the Ageing Discrimination Commissioner. I wish to acknowledge… -
Rights and Freedoms
26 February 2025Media Release
Australia must learn from COVID-19 response and prioritise human rights in future emergencies
A major new report about the COVID-19 pandemic by the Australian Human Rights Commission has highlighted how critical gaps in the emergency response could be improved upon in future crises. -
Rights and Freedoms
26 February 2025Publication
'Collateral Damage' Report Into Australia's COVID-19 Pandemic Response
This major new report about the COVID-19 pandemic by the Australian Human Rights Commission highlights how critical gaps in the emergency response could be improved upon in future crises. -
Commission - General
27 November 2015Book pageThe need for better engagement - Year in review
1.1 Introduction In last year’s Social Justice and Native Title Report, I raised concerns about the changes resulting from the 2014-15 Budget and the restructure to Indigenous Affairs through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS). Despite initial concerns about how these changes would impact our communities, I indicated that the streamlining of programs and the move away from a ‘one size… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
10 March 2023Webpage
Support for Uluru Statement from the Heart
The Australian Human Rights Commission affirms its support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the proposed establishment of an Indigenous Voice to Parliament (Voice). -
Rights and Freedoms
15 March 2024Speech
Free + Equal: Australian Conversation on Human Rights Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Check against delivery Your Excellency, Dr Michele Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Australian Human Rights Commission Commissioners—Dr Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan, Sex Discrimination… -
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.