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Sex Discrimination
14 December 2012PublicationKnow your rights: Sex discrimination and sexual harassment (2012)
Sex discrimination is when a person is treated less favourably than a person of the opposite sex would be treated in the same or similar circumstances. -
LGBTIQ+
3 March 2016PublicationReport of the Human Rights Commissioner on certain provisions of the Tasmanian Criminal Code
BACKGROUND Two sections of the Tasmanian Criminal Code (Section 122 (a) and (c) and Section 123) criminalise some forms of sexual activity between males and females and all forms of sexual intercourse between males, including all forms of sexual intercourse and at least some expressions of sexual intimacy between consenting adult homosexual men in private. Male homosexual acts between consenting… -
Rights and Freedoms
26 March 2014Opinion pieceFree speech is best medicine for the bigotry disease
THE proposed amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act provide the basis for correcting the legal limits of free speech, promoting pluralism, opposing reprehensible racism and highlighting the importance of responsibility. Arguably the most important change is assessing an 18C violation based on “the standard of an ordinary reasonable member of the Australian community”. Interpretations… -
Sex Discrimination
24 March 2014Publication
It starts with us - The Leadership Shadow
Chief Executive Women and the Male Champions of Change share a common goal: to make a significant and sustainable change to the low levels of women in leadership in Australia. We are working together to identify approaches, put them into practice and disseminate those that are successful. -
LGBTIQ+
17 September 2015Opinion piece
I want to hold your hand: LGBTI people have some surprisingly modest aspirations
Visibility remains one of the greatest challenges in tackling the legacy of state-sanctioned discrimination against people on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status. In the past 30 years we’ve made great strides in ensuring people are treated equally before the law and government simply because of who they are. Led by John Gorton, the commonwealth… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
10 February 2014PublicationClose the Gap - Progress and priorities report 2014
Since the first Australian Government report in 2009, the Campaign Steering Committee has provided an annual complementary 'shadow' report representing its assessment of progress, including against the COAG Closing the Gap Targets for health and life expectancy equality, and the commitments in the Close the Gap Statement of Intent. This is done in the spirit of an open and constructive dialogue… -
Disability Rights
19 August 2015PublicationWilling to Work - Booklet 1: about the National Inquiry
Explore a series of booklets that are part of a National Inquiry in to employment discrimination against older Australians and Australians with disability. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
9 January 2014PublicationThose who've come across the seas: Detention of unauthorised arrivals
HREOC’s report, tabled in federal Parliament on 12 May 1998, deals with the policy of mandatory detention of most unauthorised arrivals and the conditions of detention for those detained. The report had its origins in the many complaints received by HREOC from, or on behalf of, people in immigration detention centres. -
Legal
27 September 2016PublicationFederal Discrimination Law 2016
Explore the 2016 edition of Federal Discrimination Law, produced by the Australian Human Rights Commission and LexisNexis. Learn about federal unlawful discrimination laws and significant case issues. -
Rights and Freedoms
27 March 2015Publication
Rights & Responsibilities Consultation Report
Rights & Responsibilities 2014 was a national consultation conducted by the Human Rights Commissioner between August and December 2014. The consultation examined how well people think their human rights and freedoms are protected in Australia. -
Commission – General
1 November 2019PublicationAnnual Reports Index
Explore the history of the Human Rights Commission by viewing its annual reports index, which features reports from since the Commission's inception. -
Rights and Freedoms
5 March 2013Opinion piece
Freedom of speech is not in danger in Australia (2013)
Freedom of speech is alive and well in Australia but, with respect to Voltaire, we will not defend to the death those who abuse this right by vilifying others in public on the ground of race. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
University of South Australia – Graduation Address (2011)
Chancellor Dr Ian Gould AM, Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter Hoj, Members of University Council, Doctors, Emeritus Professors, Fellows and Senior Management and staff of this fine University, Graduands, Ladies and Gentlemen. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President Speech: NSW Jewish Board of Deputies Passover Seder - Freedom in Australia (2011)
It is a great honour to be invited to speak tonight at this special celebration for the Jewish people. Passover is a celebration of the journey of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt to freedom. It is a journey that represents taking responsibility for oneself, one’s community and the world. -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Publication
Disability Rights: Not for Service: Index
Not For Service: Experiences of Injustice and Despair in Mental Health Care in Australia is the most significant report on mental health care in Australia for over a decade. In 1992 all Australian Governments initiated the National Mental Health Strategy to correct decades of neglect and assure the rights of people with mental illness. In 1993, the Australian Human Rights Commission's National… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Opinion piece
Opinion Pieces - Protecting Australians' rights (2008)
The new century has thrown up enormous challenges, as well as breathtaking opportunities to us all. One such challenge is the protection of human rights. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
14 December 2012Publication
Community arrangements for asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons (2012)
Community arrangements for asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons Observations from visits conducted by the Australian Human Rights Commission from December 2011 to May 2012 July 2012 Download Complete report PDF (3.21 MB) Complete report Word (9.0 MB) Contents 1 Summary 2 Recommendations 3 Introduction 4 Australia’s mandatory detention and excision regime 5 Community arrangements for… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Publication
Human Rights: On the record
Over recent years, the Commission has received a significant number of complaints from people alleging discrimination in employment on the basis of criminal record. The complaints indicate that there is a great deal of misunderstanding by employers and people with criminal records about discrimination on the basis of criminal record. -
14 December 2012Book page
Appendices: African Australians - Compendium (2010)
A task of this magnitude and complexity can only be successfully accomplished by the invaluable contributions of people with a wide array of expertise and skills. -
Disability Rights
1 December 2017Publication
Working towards Equality for People with Disability
In 2016 – 2017, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Alastair McEwin, spoke to many people with disability about their lives and the changes they need. Based on what he was told, this document outlines the big issues the Commissioner will focus on to improve the lives of people with disability over the next four years.