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Rights and Freedoms
9 July 2015SpeechReligious Freedom in a Secular Society
Freedom of religion is a close ally and friend of the absolute freedoms of thought and conscience. Government cannot regulate it, and nor should they. Equally, it is closely allied to freedom of expression. -
Disability Rights
5 February 2014PublicationEqual Before the Law
Equality Before The Law is a basic tenet of human rights. But I have learned, both as an advocate and during my time as Australia's Disability Discrimination Commissioner, that equality is not always available for Australians with disabilities in the criminal justice system. This report provides a snapshot of where that equality does not exist, highlights services and programs that improve… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
8 October 2014Opinion pieceKeeping asylum seeker children in detention doesn't stop people smugglers - so why do it?
The former and current ministers for immigration and border security, Chris Bowen and Scott Morrison, agree on one thing: that asylum seeker children are not detained to deter people smuggling. Rather, it appears that patrol boats and naval frigates, commanded by a three star general, and a refusal to allow refugees to settle here, have reduced the number of boats reaching Australia. Why… -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageFederal Discrimination Law: Chapter 4 - The Sex Discrimination Act
The definitions of discrimination include both direct and indirect discrimination, with the exception of the definition of discrimination on the ground of family responsibilities, which is limited to direct discrimination. -
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… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012Speech'Still Riding for Freedom’ (2008)
I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land where we are meeting tonight, the Gadigal peoples of the Eora nation. I pay my respects to your elders and to those who have come before us. And thank you to Chicka Madden for your generous welcome to country. Chicka and I spent a term together on the Board of Aboriginal Hostels. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Federal Discrimination Law 2005: Chapter 8: Costs Awards
There are no specific provisions relating to costs in unlawful discrimination proceedings before the FMC and Federal Court. The courts have a general discretion to order costs under the provisions of the Federal Court Act 1976 (Cth) and the Federal Magistrates Act 1999 (Cth).1 -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Opinion piece
Human Rights and the War against Terrorism (2003)
"A system of tyranny, the most galling, the most horrible, the most undisguised in all its parts and attributes that has stained the page of history or disgraced the annals of the world." British Prime Minister William Pitt, 10 November 1797, speech to the House of Commons concerning France under the government of the Directory. -
Commission – General
11 April 2013ProjectWhat is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights outlines fundamental rights and freedoms for all. Learn more about its impact and significance. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission submission - NAAV
1. The key concept underlying the Commission's submissions is the proposition that the Australian legal system recognises, in various ways, an obligation to provide an effective remedy to persons present in this country whose interests have been adversely affected by a decision of an officer of the Commonwealth, where the decision is otherwise than in accordance with law. In this case, the need… -
14 December 2012Book page
2009 Immigration detention and offshore processing on Christmas Island
This report contains a summary of observations by the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) following its July 2009 visit to Australia’s immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island. It follows the Commission’s 2006, 2007 and 2008 annual reports on inspections of immigration detention facilities.[1] -
Legal
2 August 2017Submission
Australian Citizenship Legislation (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee’s inquiry into the Australian Citizenship Legislation (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017 (Cth) introduced by the Australian Government. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2002: Extinguishment of Native Title
The two recent High Court decisions in Miriuwung Gajerrong [1] and Wilson v Anderson [2] have clarified some important issues regarding the extinguishment of native title under the Native Title Act 1993 (Cwlth) (‘NTA’) and its relationship with extinguishment under the common law. They also provide some important insights into the meaning of discrimination as it responds… -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry on Employment and Disability Interim Report: 1. Background to the Inquiry
Australians with disability are much less likely to be employed than people without disability. They have a comparatively lower labour force participation rate (53.2% compared to 80.1%) and a higher unemployment rate (8.6% compared to 5%) than those without a disability. -
Sex Discrimination
14 December 2012SpeechWork Life Balance: AIM Breakfast
I hope you’re all enjoying your hot breakfasts and are extremely grateful for them. For a couple of reasons: First- you didn’t have to cook them yourself, or, to be more precise, wash up all the dirty frying pans yourself. This is because you are working and you don’t have time to cook hot breakfasts for a particularly fussy group of consumers, your family. -
Legal
14 December 2012Speech
Law Seminar 2007: Stolen Wages - The Way Forward by Robynne Quiggin
I'd like to begin by acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal people. I would also like to acknowledge elders and colleagues here today, Senator Trood, Johnathon Hunyor, and to thank President Von Doussa for inviting me here today. -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Speech
Recognition matters: Human rights and the rights of carers
For thousands of years, Aboriginal groups, who might spend much of their time living far apart in the expanses of this land, pursuing separately the business of survival, would come together at times to meet, to trade, sometimes to resolve differences, but also to exchange knowledge for mutual benefit. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission Submission - Access for All Alliance v Hervey Bay City Council
1. The present application does not specify the sections of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (‘the DDA’) relied upon in making out the claim of unlawful discrimination. The Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner (‘the Commissioner’) makes these general submissions on the assumption that the applicant characterises the alleged discrimination as indirect… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) in eliminating discrimination and promoting gender equality (2008)
(1) Support a two-stage inquiry process for the SDA, with some amendments made now to the existing law (Recommendations), and the rest completed within three (3) years (Options for Reform) -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) in eliminating discrimination and promoting gender equality (2008)
(1) Support a two-stage inquiry process for the SDA, with some amendments made now to the existing law (Recommendations), and the rest completed within three (3) years (Options for Reform)