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Rights and Freedoms
1 December 2020VideoBalancing Human Rights During COVID19
Protecting public health and protecting human rights are not mutually exclusive choices – but how do we keep the balance between the two? What safeguards do we need to protect rights and freedoms in Australia and prevent the ‘creeping authoritarianism’ we have witnessed elsewhere in the world? These were just some of the big questions of our time discussed by the panellists during the … -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2005 : Chapter 2 : Existing legal framework and leasing options
The ownership, particularly communal ownership of land by Indigenous people began in 1976 with the introduction of land rights legislation in the Northern Territory (the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 (Cth) (ALRA (NT)). -
Commission – General
14 December 2012PublicationAnnual Report 2007-2008: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
As a record, the Annual Report of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is a testament to the vital role that our Commissioners and staff play in promoting and protecting human rights. In that light, the 2007-08 reporting period has seen a number of significant national developments in Australia that have provided high profile validation for these efforts. -
Disability Rights
30 April 2024Webpage
Establishing a Disability Employee Network
Learn about establishing a Disability Employee Network - an employee-led group championing the inclusion of people with disability within their workplace. -
Commission – General
14 July 2014Publication
Strategic Plan 2014-2018
Foreword I am pleased to present the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Strategic Plan for 2014-18. The plan provides a roadmap that guides our key activities over the coming four year period. As an organisation we seek to be innovative and agile in how we continue to improve our operations and ensure maximum benefit for the Australian community. The plan meets the Commission’s new legal … -
Race Discrimination
14 December 2012PublicationGuide to the Racial Hatred Act
The Racial Hatred Act, introduced in October 1995, extends the coverage of the RDA so that people can complain to the Australian Human Rights Commission about racially offensive or abusive behaviour. It aims to strike a balance between two valued rights: the right to communicate freely and the right to live free from vilification. -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
DR OZDOWSKI: I would like to formally open this public hearing which is one of a series of hearings conducted around Australia. My name is Sev Ozdowski and I'm the Human Rights Commissioner. I have two colleagues sitting with me, Mrs Robin Sullivan who is Queensland Children's Commissioner, who is assisting with the Inquiry and Dr Trang Thomas who is Professor of Psychology at the Royal Melbourne… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Publication
Annual Report 2005-2006:
This Annual Report is evidence of the vital role that the Commissioners and staff at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (the Commission) play in promoting and protecting human rights. In the last year, the Commission has not shied away from the big issues. -
Rights and Freedoms
1 May 2013Publication
Human rights issues raised by the third country processing regime
The Commission recognises the importance of effective border management and recognises that Australia has a right as a sovereign State to exclude non-citizens from its territory. However, Australia also has international obligations in relation to asylum seekers who come here, including those who arrive by boat, which must be observed in its border management practices. This paper provides a… -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
DR OZDOWSKI: This is one of a series of hearings to be conducted around Australia. My name is Dr Sev Ozdowski and I am the Human Rights Commissioner and I am assisted in the Inquiry by two colleagues of mine, Mrs Robin Sullivan who is to the left of me, the Queensland Children's Commissioner. To the right of me is Dr Trang Thomas who is a Professor of Psychology at Melbourne Institute of… -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2004 : Chapter 1 : The Consultations
During the 2004 reporting period I have embarked on a series of consultations focusing on the ideas and principles that were contained in a Discussion Paper, released by my predecessor as Social Justice Commissioner in June 2003. The Discussion Paper was entitled Promoting Economic and Social Development through Native Title (at Annexure 1). This chapter seeks to record and develop the ideas and… -
Education16 December 2014Webpage
Why is racism a problem?
Explore the profound effects of racism on individuals and communities. Learn from personal accounts and research findings. Stand up to racism with us. -
14 December 2012Book page
7. Refugee Status Determination for Children in Immigration Detention
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that around half of the 50 million displaced persons in the world are children. Around 10 million of these children are under the care of UNHCR. Approximately 100,000 separated children roam Western Europe.(1) During 1999 alone, more than 20,000 separated children applied for asylum in Western Europe, North America or Australia… -
14 December 2012Book page
Preventing Crime and Promoting Rights for Indigenous Young People with Cognitive Disabilities and Mental Health Issues Part 3
The literature review pulls together some of the main concepts and findings about Indigenous young people with cognitive disabilities and/ or mental health issues from involvement with the juvenile justice system. However, we are also interested in finding out what is actually happening on the ground for these young people. -
Commission – General
18 January 2022Webpage
Senate File Listing: 1 July 2021 – 31 December 2021
Senate File List for the Australian Human Rights Commission for 1 July 2021 – 31 December 2021. See previous Prefix ID Title Created CPW 2021/0824135113 19 - Friday 2 July 2021 2/7/21 CPW 2021/0823144128 Case law 2/7/21 RDT 2021/0824152521 Visit Victoria - Staff Offsite Day 2/7/21 INT 2021/082115632 6. AI_HR Team 2/7/21 INT 2021/0816125015 Correspondence 3/7/21 EXEC 2021/0828995 Meeting 3… -
Sex Discrimination
14 December 2012PublicationPregnancy Guidelines (2001)
The Pregnancy Guidelines follow the Commission's Report of the National Inquiry into Pregnancy and Work, Pregnant and Productive: It's a right not a privilege to work while pregnant, commissioned by the federal Attorney-General in August 1998. -
Complaint Information Service14 December 2012Publication
ADR in the context of Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Law(2000)
The aim of this paper is to examine the use of Alternative Dispute Resolution [3] (ADR) in the context of the administration of complaints under anti-discrimination and human rights law. -
Rights and Freedoms
10 April 2013Publication
Homelessness is a Human Rights Issue
This paper explores the many ways that homelessness impacts on a person’s ability to enjoy basic rights and freedoms. It shows that homelessness is more than just a housing issue. Homelessness is about human rights. Homeless people are not merely objects of charity, seeking help and compassion – like all Australians, they are individuals entitled to the protection and promotion of their human… -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Publication
Disability Rights: Not for Service - Report: Index
In response to ongoing community criticism of experiences of care, in 2004, the Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) and the Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI, University of Sydney), in association with HREOC initiated a new national review – the subject of this report. The goal of this review was to capture the current critical themes in mental health care from the perspective of… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
1 March 2016PublicationToomelah Review (1989)
On 15 June 1988 the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission released the Toomelah Report, containing the results of its inquiry into the social and material needs of Aborigines in the New South Wales/Queensland border towns of Toomelah and Boggabilla. The Commission undertook at the time to review progress on the implementation of the Recommendations six months after its release.