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Rights and Freedoms
19 May 2014Opinion pieceOpening 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… -
Sex Discrimination
15 July 2015WebpageDisclaimer
The information on this website is up to date as of 1 July 2015 The information on this website provides general information only. It is not legally binding and should not be used as a substitute to individual legal advice. -
14 December 2012Book page
Seminar on implementing the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) (Nov 2009)
Catherine Branson welcomed guests, in particular international guests and acknowledged the traditional owners of the land. She thanked the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions for co-hosting the seminar. She acknowledged the importance of the right to be free from torture, and congratulated the Australian Government for recognising the rights of those deprived of their liberty… -
14 December 2012Book page
Face the Facts: Activity 1 - rightsED
1. Working individually, read Face the Facts - Questions and Answers about Refugees and Asylum Seekers to gather the facts about refugees and asylum seekers. After you have finished reading, answer the questions below. -
Complaint Information Service14 December 2012Webpage
The complaint process for complaints about breaches of human rights by the Commonwealth
The Australian Human Rights Commission is an independent body which investigates and resolves complaints about discrimination and breaches of human rights. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechPresident Speech: A human rights-based approach to immigrant women’s issues (2011)
I would like to begin by joining other speakers in acknowledging the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, the traditional owners of the land upon which we meet. I pay my respects to their elders, both past and present. -
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. -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012SpeechLAUNCH OF ABA INDUSTRY STANDARDS
It was only ten months ago that I congratulated the Australian Bankers' Association on their commitment to making electronic based services more accessible to people with disabilities and older Australians. -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageNotice of temporary exemption application: Northern Districts Model Engineering Society
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission has received an application from the Northern Districts Model Engineering Society for a temporary exemption under section 55 of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) from those provisions of the DDA which could otherwise require installation of a wheel chair lift to the first floor meeting room of the applicants' near complete clubrooms at… -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Speech
Launch of Bus Industry Confederation accessibility guidelines
Attorney-General Ruddock; Michael Apps and representatives of the bus and coach industry; Margo Hodge and representatives of the disability community; ladies and gentlemen. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee
A strong and independent national human rights organisation is crucial to promote and protect fundamental values of fairness, equality, tolerance and non-discrimination. -
LGBTIQ+
28 June 2017Project
Sogi's Story
This is SOGI’s Story, but it’s many others too. Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity is pervasive across many parts of the world. Addressing this burden of discrimination has been identified as a key issue by the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions. Recognising the importance and power of education, SOGI’s Story has been designed in -
Rights and Freedoms
19 January 2015Opinion piece
Charlie Hebdo V 18C: no contest
Charlie Hebdo would have risked being censored by the courts, but self-censorship is the reality of Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Submission - Impact of organised crime (2007)
The terms of reference of the Inquiry are very broad, making it difficult to anticipate all of the human rights issues that might arise from submissions to or recommendations of the Inquiry. If the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission (the Joint Committee) could keep us apprised of submissions to it or recommendations by it, we would be pleased to consider and, if… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the future impact of serious and organised crime on Australian society
Dr Jacqueline Dewar Committee Secretary Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Crime Commission Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
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I also thank Professor Barry Brook for his survey of the latest scientific assessments and forecasts on the impact of climate change on our planet. They are indeed alarming. The fact of climate change, and the rate of change, has become all too clear, even if there are still sceptics that wish to debate the causes. Our title reference to “Catastrophic Impacts” seems fully justified. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
4 February 2016SpeechNew report reveal alarming impact of detention on children
[Check against delivery] Thank you for joining us today. Over a year ago, the Australian Human Rights Commission produced The Forgotten Children Report. This Report examined the impact of prolonged mandatory, indefinite immigration detention on the mental and physical heath of children. The findings were disturbing. In short, detention, whether on Christmas Island, Nauru or centres on the -
Education8 December 2015Webpage
Training Resources
This unit of competency has been designed to provide learners with the skills and knowledge required to facilitate the empowerment of people with disability, through the delivery of services driven by a person-centred, rights-based approach. -
13 November 2014Book page
Our functions
Legislation The Commission exercises functions under the following Acts. Australian Human Rights Commission Act Establishes the Commission and outlines its powers and functions. It defines human rights by reference to the following international instruments: International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Convention on the Rights of the Child Declaration on the Rights of the Child… -
Children's Rights
20 September 2013SpeechStrings, sealing wax and other fancy stuff
ACECQA NQF Conference Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre 13 September 2013 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY 1. Acknowledgments Slide 1 – Introduction I would like to acknowledge and pay my respects to the Traditional Owners of the land we meet on today – the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and pay respect to their elders both past and present. It is on their lands that the Sydney Convention…