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Rights and Freedoms
27 March 2019Webpage
How are human rights protected in Australian law?
Australia lacks a Bill of Rights, but there are safeguards through the Constitution and legislation. Understand the role of the Commission. -
Rights and Freedoms
21 January 2022Opinion piece
Novak Djokovic drew global attention to Australia's immigration detention regime. Now we need proper scrutiny of all places of detention
Novak Djokovic’s recent detention at Melbourne’s Park Hotel drew international attention to Australia’s use of hotels as Alternative Places of Detention by immigration authorities. But while Djokovic’s detention was measured in days, others still remaining in the Park Hotel measure their detention in years. Hotels are simply not appropriate places to detain people for extended periods. The… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby: Graeme Innes AM (2007)
I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you tonight. It's almost 18 months since we launched the Same-Sex: Same Entitlements National Inquiry. In that time, we have travelled around Australia to hear, first hand, about the impact of discriminatory laws on same-sex couples, and their children. We received 680 written… -
Disability Rights
30 June 2015PublicationMental Health Legislation and Human Rights
This paper presents an indicative analysis of the mental health legislation in each State and Territory in terms of recently agreed international standards - the UN Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and for the Improvement of Mental Health Care. The legislation in every Australian jurisdiction breaches the standards prescribed in the UN Principles in a number of ways… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechHuman rights education: realising the vision of social justice
Speech by Catherine Branson, former president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, delivered as part of the Centre for Research in Education Annual Oration in 2011. -
Rights and Freedoms
29 September 2017Speech
Religion and Human Rights in Modern Australia: Friends, Foes or Ships in the Night?
Western Sydney Open Forum CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Acknowledgements • Traditional Aboriginal owners: the Darug Nation • Dr Sev Ozdowski AM If you’ve read the papers or seen the news in the last few weeks, you might be forgiven for thinking that human rights are somehow radically incompatible with religion, or at least with ‘religious freedom’. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact,… -
Rights and Freedoms
29 July 2021Webpage
Face masks and federal discrimination law
At various times during the COVID-19 pandemic, state and territory governments in Australia have made it a requirement for people to wear a face mask in certain settings. The different rules and exemptions around face masks are set out in the relevant state and territory public health orders. The latest mask-wearing requirements can be found on the appropriate state and territory government… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
Human rights issues for rural families: Chris Sidoti (1998)
Families, and those who support them, play a vital role in the protection of human rights. Accordingly, I am very pleased to address this conference, and I commend all of you for your work in preserving and strengthening families. -
Rights and Freedoms
31 January 2019Submission
Review of the Family Law System (2018)
As Australia’s family law system becomes ever more complex and needs to respond to a greater diversity of clients, it is timely to review how it protects the human rights of individuals and their families, in particular the most vulnerable in our communities, including children and victims of family and domestic violence. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Project
Let's talk about rights - Human Rights Act for Australia
The Australian Human Rights Commission supports a Human Rights Act for Australia. -
Rights and Freedoms
30 November 2016Speech
Access and equity: human rights in practice
Speech to SydWest Multicultural Services AGM Edward Santow – speaking notes – CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Acknowledgements: the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land, the Darug people Dr Chandrika Subramaniyan (Chair, SydWest Multicultural Services) Elfa Moraitakis (CEO, SydWest) Introduction Australia is a wonderful country: warm, welcoming, open. It’s the country that my father’s father… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
GLBTI Human Rights Conference: Issues in the Asia Pacific Region
Many communities use sport as a way to build peer friendships, and enjoy favourite activities in an atmosphere which is safe and supportive. Some years ago- too many sadly- I enjoyed a bi-annual Australian cricket carnival played between teams of people who were blind or had low vision. This is exactly what is happening at these games, and I trust that the links and friendships built through the… -
Rights and Freedoms
1 May 2013Webpage
Right to take part in public affairs, voting rights and access to public service
Learn about human rights in relation to voting in democratically held elections by secret ballot, guaranteeing the free expression of the people. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President speech: ‘A Human Rights Act for Australia’ - Dame Roma Mitchell Memorial Luncheon
I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, and pay my respects to their elders past and present. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
Human Rights: Universal and Inalienable
I'm very pleased to be speaking to you today. I'm especially encouraged that so many young people have put aside a weekend to think about, and talk about, human rights. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Publication
Human Rights and Mental Illness
The Report of the National Inquiry into the Human Rights of People with Mental Illness was tabled in Parliament and publicly released on 20 October, 1993. Over a three year period the Inquiry received nearly 900 written submissions, heard from over 450 witnesses at formal hearings and consulted with approximately 300 people at forums and informal meetings. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President speech: ‘How could a Human Rights Act lead to better Government?’
I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal peoples, and pay my respect to their elders past and present. -
Commission – General
9 June 2015Speech
Freedom, Parliament and the Courts
Speech to the annual Human Rights Dinner, co-hosted by Justice Connect and the Human Rights Law Centre. Draft: check against delivery Thank you for your welcome tonight. Acknowledgement of country I am honored to be a patron of Justice Connect that has so successfully aligned probono lawyers with clients to provide legal advice and services for migrants, the homeless and older Australians… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
INCORPORATING HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES INTO NATIONAL SECURITY MEASURES
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11 2001, Governments around the world have created a raft of new counter-terrorism laws. In Australia alone, over 40 new laws have created new criminal offences, new detention and questioning powers for police and security apparatus, new powers for the Attorney-General to proscribe terrorist organisations, new ways to control people’s movement and… -
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 …