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14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
The current mandatory detention policy of the Commonwealth of Australia breaches the fundamental principle of the rights of the child which is that children should be able to develop to their full potential. The policy breaches every article of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The policy violates the right to health as established by international law. -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
This submission has been produced by the Queensland Program of Assistance for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (QPASTT) and the Youth Advocacy Centre (YAC). The submission is also endorsed by a number of individuals and organisations working directly or indirectly with asylum seekers and refugees (See list on page 2). Their staff hear similar stories and reports from their clients and have come to… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 October 2014Opinion pieceSpeak up out of respect for rights and culture
To advance human rights we need to promote a culture of respect for everyone exercising their choice and freedoms. On a day-to-day basis, human rights probably appear abstract for most Australians. The term often gets raised in discussion about how we are treating asylum seekers, or when we discuss disadvantage in the community. It is common for people to say "I have a right to" one thing,… -
14 December 2012Book page
bus stops and disability standards for accessible public transport
I have been asked by a number of organisations to provide my views on this matter and intend to publish this response on the Commission's website for the information of others. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
23 February 2014Opinion pieceWe can't 'outsource' our moral obligations to these people
Events on Manus Island have graphically and tragically brought to the attention of the Australian public the inappropriateness of the current arrangements for the regional processing of asylum seekers. I have been troubled by the loss of life and the injury that has occurred on Manus Island over this past week, even as we wait for further information about what exactly has occurred. I am… -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
Letter to Mr Philip Ruddock MP 31/01/2002 Letter to Mr Philip Ruddock MP 22/02/2002 Letter to Mr Philip Ruddock MP 21/03/2002 Letter to Mr Philip Ruddock MP 03/04/2002 Letter to Mr Philip Ruddock MP 29/04/2002 Letter to Mr Philip Ruddock MP 06/05/2002 Letter to Mr Philip Ruddock MP 09/06/2002 -
Children's Rights
11 November 2014SpeechChild Protection: Every Child’s Right
Megan MitchellNational Children’s Commissioner National Child Protection WeekBreakfast LaunchTuesday 9 September Introduction Thank you, Charlie and Zac, and good morning everyone. I’m delighted to be here this morning to help launch National Child Protection Week and to present the NAPCAN Play Your Part Award. Can I start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we are… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
30 January 2014Opinion pieceWe need to fix the Constitution, says Social Justice Commissioner
Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the nation’s Constitution is a waste of time, 2UE Drive host Justin Smith recently argued. There are many things the Constitution doesn’t recognise, he said, the document is dull, and we would be better off if we paid attention instead to the words we use every day. I agree with Mr Smith on one point: the Constitution isn’t a page… -
14 December 2012Book page
Chapter 1: A cause for cautious optimism: The year in review - Social Justice Report 2011
As I reflect on the events that have taken place during the reporting period from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011, I see cause for optimism whilst also acknowledging there are still some areas that remain a concern. Over the last year we have reached some major milestones. For instance, we have seen the election of the two co-chairs and a board to the National Congress of Australia’s First… -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention - Counsel
Two Assistant Commissioners have been appointed to assist the Inquiry. Prof Thomas and Dr Sullivan will assist the Inquiry in providing advice in their respective fields of expertise and will assist with public hearings. -
14 December 2012Book page
Indigenous Deaths in Custody: Part E Profiles: Indigenous Deaths in Custody 1989 - 1996
The deceased was travelling with a friend in a car on Kloeden St, Ceduna at around 1:30am on the morning of Sunday 2 July. The car was approached by police who later stated that they were attending to a break-in in the street. The officers ran a warrant check on the pair. The friend was allowed to go but the deceased was arrested on warrants for non-payment of fines and a non-appearance on an… -
29 January 2013Book page
1. ADFA: Description of Current Culture
The Terms of Reference required the Review to make recommendations on initiatives to drive cultural change at ADFA regarding the treatment of women. To properly identify these initiatives, the Review needed to assess the culture as it currently exists. Part of this process involved examining the notion of military culture generally and, more specifically, the culture for women at ADFA. The… -
29 January 2013Book page
1. ADFA: Description of Current Culture
The Terms of Reference required the Review to make recommendations on initiatives to drive cultural change at ADFA regarding the treatment of women. To properly identify these initiatives, the Review needed to assess the culture as it currently exists. Part of this process involved examining the notion of military culture generally and, more specifically, the culture for women at ADFA. The… -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageFederal 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 -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
CARAD is a group of volunteers, supporters and donors formed from January 2000, in an attempt to meet some of the range of essential and urgent needs of refugees who reach Perth, following assessment of their claim while in a detention centre. We have now met in excess of 2,000 refugees, not all of whom remain in WA, and have provided them with compassionate, practical assistance. We estimate… -
Children's Rights
17 October 2013Speech
Vulnerable children at the boundary of the criminal justice system
Keynote address at the Jesuit Social Services National Justice Symposium Pushing the boundaries: rethinking the limits of children’s involvement in the criminal justice system. CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY 1. Acknowledgments Thank you, Father Frank Brenan, for your kind introduction. I also thank the Jesuit Social Services for the invitation to speak here this afternoon, at the opening of this… -
12 February 2013Book page
1 Introduction
This Annual Report identifies important milestones as well as challenges that remain in human rights protection in Australia. It provides an annual reflection on Australia’s progress in addressing commitments that the Government has made to protect human rights, as well as identifying emerging concerns. The Report is the second in a series of annual reports that are being developed in the… -
14 December 2012Book page
Chapter 1: The Commission. Annual Report 2006-2007.
HREOC is a national independent statutory body established under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986. It has a President and five Commissioners. The five positions are currently held by three persons. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Recommendation for temporary exemption: Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (Queensland Rail)
I recommend that, pursuant to an application under section 55 of the Disability Discrimination Act ("the DDA"), the Commission grant Queensland Rail a temporary exemption from sections 23 and 24 of the DDA so far as they require installation of Tactile Ground Surface Indicators. -
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…