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This report covers the period from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005. It considers two issues that are of major concern to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Homelands still belong to the people, we want to build homes on our land and live there. When we come to the homeland we come back to the peace and quiet. ... It is a much better environment on the homelands, better things for the children.[1]

A united Australia which represents this land of ours; values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and provides justice and equity for all. Vision of Reconciliation, Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.[1]

This is my first Social Justice Report to the federal Parliament as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. I commenced my five year term at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission on 12 July 2004.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner acknowledges the work of Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission staff and consultants in producing this report (Fabienne Balsamo, Somali Cerise, Kirsten Cheatham, Anna Dawson, Darren Dick, Janet Drummond, Cassandra Goldie, Christopher Holland, Vanessa Jackson, Christina Kenny, Julia Mansour and Emilie Priday).

The past year has been one of great contrasts. On the one hand, we have experienced the apparent harmony and healing of the walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge and similar walks in other states and on the other hand, the national outpourings of grief and anger at the death of a 15-year-old boy in custody in Don Dale Detention Centre in Darwin in February.

The position of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner was established within the Australian Human Rights Commission in 1993 to carry out the following functions:

The report is provided in accordance with section 46C of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986, which provides that the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner is to submit a report regarding the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal persons and Torres Strait Islanders, and including recommendations as to the action that should be…

This work is protected by copyright. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part may be used or reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Australian Human Rights Commission. Enquiries should be addressed to Public Affairs at paffairs@humanrights.gov.au.

Social Justice Report 2009 Back to Contents Downloads in PDF and Word Download the full report in PDF Download the full report in Word Chapters Recommendations in PDF | Word Chapter 1: Introduction in PDF | Word Chapter 2: Justice reinvestment – a new solution to the problem of Indigenous over-representation in the criminal justice system in PDF | Word Chapter 3: The perilous state of…

Chapter 5: Progress towards achieving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health equality within a generation – an update on efforts to ‘Close the Gap’ PDF | Word

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) was established in 1990 by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 (Cth). The Act made provisions for the establishment of 35 representative Regional Councils on behalf of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia.

Freedom Day is the name given to the annual commemoration of the Wave Hill Walk Off. The 40th anniversary of the Walk-off was held in late August 2006.

Social Justice Report 2010 Back to Contents Downloads in PDF and Word Download the full report in PDF Download the full report in Word Chapters Recommendations in PDF | Word Introduction in PDF | Word Chapter 1: Towards a reconciled Australia: An agenda of hope in PDF | Word Chapter 2: Constitutional reform: Creating a nation for all of us in PDF | Word Chapter 3: From community crisis to

The most comprehensive statement of this right is Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).1 Article 12 states:

This report presents various responses to Bringing Them Home, the Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families. This is not done to re-open the substance of the Inquiry, its findings or the basis of its recommendations.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner thanks the following people and organisations for their assistance in preparing the Social Justice Report 2011.

In submitting this report I am required to make any recommendations as to actions that should be taken by governments to improve the recognition of the human rights of Indigenous people.[1] This year’s report contains 12 recommendations, which are reproduced here and discussed further in the relevant chapters.

The position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner was established within the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in 1993 to carry out the following functions:

Indigenous health - Programs for addressing Indigenous health reveal the problem of a lack of implementation of human rights. The National Aboriginal Health Strategy (1989) and the current National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health have been agreed by the Commonwealth with States and Territories. Both documents identify, from a human rights perspective, the key…