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Rights and Freedoms
30 May 2024Media ReleaseGovernment must seize the moment for a National Human Rights Act
A new parliamentary report recommending a National Human Rights Act as part of a revitalised Human Rights Framework brings Australia closer than ever before to establishing the basic legal protections that Australians need. The report, tabled in Federal Parliament today, includes an example of legislation for a National Human Rights Act, building on decades of work and reinforcing… -
Technology and Human Rights
10 July 2024SubmissionOnline Safety
Learn more about the statutory review of the Online Safety Act 2021 (Cth) and how it can better protect human rights. -
Rights and Freedoms
29 May 2024Opinion piece
In silence, anti-Semitism and racism flourishes
This opinion piece by Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay appeared in The Nightly on Wednesday 27 March 2024. The foundation of universal human rights lies in recognising the inherent dignity and equal rights of every single human being. Human rights can’t be applied selectively. Every Australian, regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, or any other distinction, has the… -
Age Discrimination
13 June 2024Media ReleaseAge Discrimination Commissioner: Australia has a long way to go to end elder abuse
Age Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM has warned the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is likely to lead to an increased risk of elder abuse with Australia needing to further bolster its efforts to address the nationwide problem. Elder abuse is when harm is done to an older person by someone they know and trust, often a family member. It can take many forms, including neglect,… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
16 August 2024Media ReleaseStates must follow through on our obligations to international treaties in prisons
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner and the National Children’s Commissioner today criticised the failure of leadership by the Commonwealth, states and territories to incorporate human rights standards into domestic law. -
Rights and Freedoms
8 May 2024Media Release
2-for-1 tickets arrive right on time for all-star Vivid Sydney human rights show
Vivid Sydney festivalgoers looking for some fabulous intellectual entertainment can now have double the fun at the Rights On Time panel show on Thursday 6 June with a 2-for-1 ticket offer now available! Get set for the time of your rights as ‘sleek geek’ Adam Spencer corrals some of Australia’s favourite TV personalities, comedians, legal eagles and social justice advocates as they travel… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
11 July 2024Speech
EMRIP - Enhanced participation in the work of the Human Rights Council
Statement from Katie Kiss at the 17th EMRIP session which advises on Indigenous rights and participation. -
Age Discrimination
22 May 2024News story
Age Discrimination Commissioner launches new interview series
Find out about 'Let's Talk Ageing', an interview series featuring Australian thought leaders who discuss positive ageing and the challenges facing older people. -
Rights and Freedoms
20 May 2024Media Release
Rights-based solutions to critical social issues set to take centre stage at landmark forum in Sydney
With a plethora of issues currently impacting significantly on the rights of people across Australia, an upcoming landmark national conference during the Vivid Sydney festival is set to explore a range of new approaches to protecting and promoting human rights in Australia. Concerns about racism and freedom of speech stemming from the impact of the war in Gaza; Australia’s domestic violence,… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
12 July 2024Speech
EMRIP - Preserving all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages
Item 7 Statement 17th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) Thursday 11 July 2024 -
Race Discrimination
9 July 2024Webpage
Mapping government anti-racism programs and policies
This report enhances the Commission’s understanding of how Australia's national, state, territory and local governments engage in anti-racism work. It describes the nature and scope of their policies and programs over the past five years. -
Age Discrimination
25 June 2024News story
Retirement village operators urged to improve elder abuse protections
The Age Discrimination Commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald AM, has called on Australia’s retirement living sector to introduce new nationwide strategies to better identify and respond to the abuse of residents. Elder abuse affects one in six older Australians, including those living in retirement villages. The abuse can take many forms, including neglect, financial exploitation, physical… -
Age Discrimination
28 March 2024News story
Robert Fitzgerald commences as Age Discrimination Commissioner
Find out about the Age Discrimination Commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald AM’s immediate and long-term priorities to eliminate ageism and age discrimination. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 June 2024Speech
4th National Indigenous Empowerment Summit
‘Framing Indigenous empowerment with human rights: using the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for real change’ Wednesday 12 June 2024 Good Morning All My name is Katie Kiss. I am a proud Kaanju, Biri/Widi woman from North Queensland. I was born and raised on the lands of the Darumbal peoples in Rockhampton, in Central Queensland. Before I begin today, I pay my respects to the … -
Rights and Freedoms
8 May 2024Media Release
60% student discount announced for landmark national human rights event
Organisers of a major national human rights conference have just announced a 60% discount for students who want to attend the historic gathering in June during the Vivid Sydney festival. Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference is set to attract hundreds of delegates from across Australia’s human rights, civil society, legal, justice,… -
Commission – General
3 July 2024Opinion pieceLet’s resist the worst of times with the best of humanity
When I began my term as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission seven years ago, the marriage equality plebiscite was engulfing our nation, in much the same way as the recent Voice referendum did. -
Technology and Human Rights
6 May 2024Opinion piece
Protecting Free Speech Doesn’t Mean Dismissing Online Safety
This opinion piece by Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, appeared in The Australian on Monday 29 April 2024. When President Roosevelt gave the 1941 State of the Union Address he spoke of four essential human freedoms that people ‘everywhere in the world’ ought to enjoy. The very first of these was freedom of speech and expression. Free speech was listed first because it is the… -
Race Discrimination
30 May 2024Opinion piece
Race Discrimination Commissioner: Why ABC chiefs should back Laura Tingle for calling out racism
This opinion piece by Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman appeared in The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. As is often the case, the person who calls out racism in Australia faces far more scrutiny than the racism itself. Laura Tingle's comments at the Sydney Writer's Festival last weekend - that Australia is a racist country - have triggered a fierce backlash, ranging… -
Sex Discrimination
19 June 2024WebpagePositive Duty Privacy Collection Notice
The Australian Human Rights Commission ( Commission) collects and handles personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), the Archives Act 1983 (Cth) and our Privacy Policy. By completing this online form, you consent to us collecting your personal information and sensitive information and using it for the purposes set out below. We may use the information you provide to… -
Children's Rights
23 August 2024Media ReleaseA step backwards for child justice and community safety in Queensland
The Queensland Government’s ‘Community Safety Act’ allowing more children to be locked up in the first instance is another step backwards for child justice and community safety, National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds said. “We all want to live in communities where kids can flourish and where everyone is safe, especially children. But this approach to offending by children doesn’t…