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Rights and Freedoms
10 December 2021Publication
Free and Equal: A reform agenda for federal discrimination laws (2021)
This Position Paper sets out the Australian Human Rights Commission’s proposals for reforming federal discrimination law in Australia. It forms part of the Commission’s Free and Equal project: A National conversation on human rights. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechEnhancing Equality: Reforming Anti-Discrimination Laws to Make Australia Fairer
I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Wurundjeri people, and I pay my respects to their elders past and present. -
Rights and Freedoms
1 August 2019Publication
Discussion paper: Priorities for federal discrimination law reform
This paper sets out the Commission’s preliminary views on the priorities for federal discrimination law reform. It identifies the need for reform, the principles that should guide it, and the 11 major priority areas for reform to ensure effective protection against discrimination at the federal level. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
13 September 2021Opinion pieceIncorporating UNDRIP into Australian law would kickstart important progress
Given the challenges we face collectively, it is all too seldom that the world's First Nations peoples are able to come together to develop shared solutions. When we do, we achieve great things. -
Sex Discrimination
9 June 2023Media ReleaseCommission welcomes passage of new ACT intersex laws
New legislation protecting the rights of people in the Australian Capital Territory who have variations in sex characteristics (VSC) has been welcomed by the Commission. Yesterday the ACT Parliament passed the Variation in Sex Characteristics (Restricted Medical Treatment) Bill 2023 establishes legal protections and processes to support people with VSC to make their own decisions about… -
Rights and Freedoms
17 January 2019Media Release
Finalists announced – 2018 Human Rights Law Award
The five finalists for the 2018 Human Rights Awards’ Law Award have been selected, with two from Western Australia competing for the prize. “We have received the highest number of entries for the Law Award since the Human Rights Awards the awards began in 1987,” said Commission President, Professor Rosalind Croucher. Accessing legal services remains a major hurdle for disadvantaged… -
Race Discrimination
5 November 2024VideoDismantling systemic racism - perspectives from First Nations peoples - Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture 2024
More than 1500 people tuned into the 2024 lecture to learn about ‘Dismantling systemic racism – perspectives from First Nations peoples’. Systemic racism, in law, policies and service delivery, has serious and ongoing consequences for First Nations peoples, including poor mental and physical health, economic disadvantage, over-incarceration and social exclusion. CEO of First Nations… -
Rights and Freedoms
12 October 2021Webpage
COVID-19 vaccinations and federal discrimination law
This page provides general information on COVID–19 vaccinations and federal discrimination law and is intended as a guide only. It gives guidance on the most frequently asked questions we receive on this subject. -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageSubmission - Family Violence and Commonwealth Laws: Employment and Superannuation (2011)
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Australian Law Reform Commission in its Inquiry into Family Violence and Commonwealth Laws: Issues Paper - Employment and Superannuation. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill 2008 [No.2]
The Bill should, however, be amended to require the Independent Reviewer to consider the human rights impacts of laws relating to terrorist acts and to strengthen the Independent Reviewers information gathering powers. -
Children's Rights
10 October 2014Opinion pieceIt's time to strengthen our surrogacy laws to help protect children
NATIONWIDE regulations are urgently needed to cover situations when Australians are engaging surrogates to have children for them. The range of assisted reproductive technologies available today presents many legal, moral and ethical challenges. These are challenges we can no longer ignore and require national, state and international leadership. In Australia, altruistic surrogacy is… -
Children's Rights
19 February 2021Submission
Joint Select Committee’s inquiry into Australia’s Family Law System (2019)
Submission to the Joint Select Committee’s inquiry into Australia’s Family Law System -
Children's Rights
11 October 2024News story
NT Government urged not to lower age of criminal responsibility
The National Children’s Commissioner and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Commissioner have urged the Northern Territory Government to reverse its plan next week to introduce a new law to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to ten years. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 May 2019Speech
Human Rights Dinner 2019 - Human Rights Law Centre
Jalangurru lanygu balangarri. Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Gadigal yani U. I acknowledge the Gadigal people of Eora Nation whose land we gather on tonight, and all your elders past, present and emerging. And I acknowledge all of my esteemed colleagues from the Australian Human Rights Commission including Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher. There are many other names… -
Children's Rights
11 October 2024Media Release
We must ‘help way earlier’ – united call to address systemic failures of Australia’s youth justice systems
Joint media release: Justice Reform Initiative and Australian Human Rights Commission Law and justice leaders, parliamentarians, First Nations leaders, child safety advocates, community service providers, peak organisations, and people with lived experience of child imprisonment from around Australia will come together for a landmark parliamentary event in Canberra on Thursday. Amid an… -
Rights and Freedoms
17 January 2019Speech
Alice Tay Lecture in Law and Human Rights 2018 - ‘Rights-mindedness’
‘Rights-mindedness’ — making human rights real in public service and community understanding 70 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Alice Tay Lecture in Law and Human Rights 2018 Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Sir Roland Wilson Building Canberra 25 September 2018 Abstract A key function of the Australian… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
ARE WE CROSSING THE LINE?: FORUM ON NATIONAL SECURITY LAWS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
This paper deals with two aspects of the bill: the preventative detention orders and the new sedition offence. It does not touch on the problematic control orders. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws - Superannuation) Bill 2008
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) makes this submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee in its Inquiry into the Same-Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws – Superannuation) Bill 2008 (the Bill). -
Commission – General
9 October 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)
October 2024: Commission News | President's message
Dear friends, Australia is one of the safest, most stable and prosperous countries on the planet. For most of us, most of the time, it is a great place to live. For many Australians, human rights violations are things that happen to other people in other places, often overseas. This can lead to complacency about our own rights protection and the importance of protecting the rights of those…
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