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Legal
12 September 2018SubmissionTelecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) draft Bill 2018
1. Executive summary The Australian Human Right Commission (the Commission) makes this submission to the Department of Home Affairs (the Department), in response to the exposure draft of the Telecommunications and other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 (Cth) (the draft Bill). The stated purpose of the draft Bill is to provide national security and law enforcement… -
Rights and Freedoms
31 July 2019SpeechFree and Equal: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade
Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM addressed the Castan Centre human rights conference on July 26. The topic was ‘Free and Equal’: A National Reform Agenda for Human Rights in Australia for the next decade. Thank you to the Castan Centre, and its Director, Professor Sarah Joseph, for inviting me to speak. Let me begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of… -
27 March 2015Book page
2 The consultation process
Rights & Responsibilities 2014 took place between August and December 2014. The process of consultation involved the following steps: Discussion paper A discussion paper, titled Rights & Responsibilities 2014, was released on 29 August 2014. [3] The paper set out the context of the consultation, including a brief overview of and questions about the rights to freedom of expression,… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
Mission Australia National Management Team Meeting
Speaking notes for a presentation to the Mission Australia National Management Team Meeting in Sydney on 22 August 2001 by Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM, Human Rights Commissioner -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission submissions: Clarke
The Commission has an interest and expertise in relation to the interpretation of the RDA, the application of the International Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD),[1] and racial discrimination issues generally, as set out in paragraphs 14 and 15 of the affidavit of Ms Branson dated 18 July 2011. -
27 March 2015Book page
5 Next steps – future areas of work
Based on the outcomes of Rights & Responsibilities 2014, the Human Rights Commissioner will prioritise the following areas of work in relation to human rights over the next four years: Freedom of expression: the Commissioner will continue to explore potential reforms in relation to current laws that restrict the right to freedom of expression. Religious freedom: the Commissioner will… -
18 March 2013Book page
Casenote: Monis v The Queen [2013] HCA 4
Important High Court cases on freedom of expression Two sets of decisions issued last week by the High Court of Australia highlight the need for continuing discussion of options for improved legislative frameworks to protect freedom of expression and other human rights. In Attorney-General for South Australia v Corporation of the City of Adelaide and Orsa majority of the Court upheld a local… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) makes this submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security review of the power to proscribe organisations as terrorist organisations (the PJCIS Review). -
27 March 2015Book page
Executive summary
Rights & Responsibilities 2014 was a national consultation conducted by the Human Rights Commissioner between August and December 2014. The consultation examined how well people think their human rights and freedoms are protected in Australia. Altogether the Human Rights Commissioner consulted with over 1,100 people at public events and meetings as part of Rights & Responsibilities… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechPromoting Human Rights - Good Governance, the Rule of Law and Democracy
Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world -
Rights and Freedoms
15 March 2024Speech
Free + Equal: Australian Conversation on Human Rights Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Check against delivery For a start, thank you Julia, Dr Baird for that wonderful MC-ing of the day. What an array of fantastic insights! I said at the beginning that it would be challenging, insightful and exciting and I'm sure that, from my perspective, it's been every one of those things… -
Rights and Freedoms
1 May 2013Webpage
Rights to enjoy and benefit from culture
Learn how the state works to ensure everyone enjoys full participation in their cultural rights, especially Indigenous people and people with a disability. -
Rights and Freedoms
19 May 2014Opinion piece
Opening minds to ‘forgotten freedoms’
Opinion by Human Rights Commissioner, Tim Wilson. First published in The Australian on 17 May 2014. Reform is not the end of debating free speech in Australia, it is the beginning The “forgotten freedoms” provide the foundations of our liberal democracy, and we have to reconnect with them. There are competing views about how human rights and freedoms should be approached. After all, human… -
Legal
30 January 2019Submission
Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018
1. Executive summary The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) makes this submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, in response to its review of the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 (Cth) (the Bill). The Explanatory Memorandum states that the purpose of the Bill is to introduce measures to… -
25 September 2013Book page
10 Questions for discussion
There are two broad challenges regarding human rights and use of the Internet which emerge from the discussion in this paper, namely: How do we as a society achieve an appropriate balance between competing rights in an online environment? What steps should be taken to address discrimination in terms of the ability of certain groups to access (and safely utilise) the Internet? 10.1 Addressing… -
Rights and Freedoms
15 March 2013Speech
Human Rights from a religious viewpoint (with particular reference to religious liberty)
Ronald Wilson President Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission World Conference on Religion and Peace2 February 1991 Monash UniversitySpeech notes Synopsis: I. Introduction II. United Nations Charter III. The Universal Declaration 1. Place of religious freedom among human rights (a) A matter of individual opinion? (b) A social and political right IV. The 1966 Covenants Freedom of… -
Rights and Freedoms
17 January 2019Media Release
Encryption law falls short on rights safeguards
Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow warns significant threats to human rights remain despite some improvements to Australia’s encryption law. “Police and security agencies must be equipped with robust powers to protect our national security. However, these powers need independent oversight, to ensure any impact on our human rights is proportionate to the relevant risks,” said… -
Technology and Human Rights
15 May 2023Opinion piece‘Weaponised' AI an existential threat to truth, human rights
This opinion piece by Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay appeared in The Australian on Monday 15 May 2023. In George Orwell's 1984, the Ministry of Truth exercises absolute control of information according to The Party ethos, “Who controls the past, controls the future: who controls the present, controls the past”. If the Ministry of Truth existed today, a more accurate slogan would… -
Commission – General
9 October 2017Opinion piece
Respect is essential to debates in civilised Australia society
We can all have our say within the bounds of law Respect is the essence of a civil society. It is the cornerstone of human rights - the "active voice" of dignity that links all the international conventions to which Australia has committed. Respect is tolerance. It is a fundamental basis of our democratic society to be able to express our thoughts and feelings, and to respect those of others… -
Race Discrimination
5 November 2015PublicationFreedom from Discrimination: Report on the 40th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act
This report documents the activities conducted to mark the 40th anniversary of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). It is primarily based on a series of public consultations led by the Race Discrimination Commissioner, though it also draws upon some of the research presented at a conference held in February 2015.