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Rights and Freedoms
31 January 2020Media ReleaseCommission warns on Religious Discrimination Bill overreach
In its submission on the latest draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill, the Australian Human Rights Commission warns that elements of the Bill are inconsistent with international human rights law. The Commission is particularly concerned that exemptions for ‘statements of belief’ in the Bill would override existing federal, state and territory discrimination laws on grounds such as race,… -
Technology and Human Rights
16 December 2019Media ReleaseCommission calls for ethical AI
Learn more about how Australians need ethical AI which is designed and deployed to protect human rights. -
Rights and Freedoms
13 December 2019Media Release
Rosemary Kayess wins 2019 Human Rights Medal
Leading disability rights activist Rosemary Kayess has won the prestigious 2019 Human Rights Medal in recognition of her work in international human rights law for people with disability. Ms Kayess, a tireless advocate for equal rights for people with disability in Australia and worldwide, contributed to drafting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and -
Rights and Freedoms
12 December 2019Media Release
Human Rights Award medal announced today
A former Socceroo, a disability rights activist, the author of best-seller Dark Emu, a leading business consultant, and a campaigning lawyer from Queensland are waiting to hear if they will be awarded the prestigious Human Rights Award medal on Friday. The winners in all nine categories of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s annual Human Rights Awards will be announced today at a… -
Age Discrimination
27 November 2019Media ReleaseAttorneys-General Need to Act on Elder Abuse
Age Discrimination Commissioner Dr Kay Patterson is calling on the Council of Attorneys-General to agree to take immediate action on elder abuse at their meeting tomorrow to develop a timetable outlining its action plan. “Elder abuse is a blight on our society. Older Australians do not have time on their side, they need immediate action from Governments at state and federal levels,” said Dr … -
Commission - General
23 October 2019Media ReleaseMedia statement: Use of force in immigration detention
Fourteen complaints about the use of force in immigration detention form the basis for a comprehensive thematic report by the Australian Human Rights Commission tabled in Parliament today. The report considers the practices of handcuffing detainees, use of physical force within centres including arm and elbow locks, operations conducted by the Emergency Response Team (ERT), and the use of… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
22 October 2019Media ReleaseCashless Debit Card Bill ‘not compatible’ with human rights
The Australian Human Rights Commission has warned that the proposed Cashless Debit Card Bill is not compatible with Australia’s international human rights obligations. In a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Social Security (Administration) Amendment (Income Management to Cashless Debit Card Transition) Bill 2019, the Commission also raises concerns regarding the lack of robust… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
9 October 2019Media ReleaseCourt finds asylum seekers entitled to fair process
Up to 71 asylum seekers who missed out on making an application for a protection visa were still entitled to a fair assessment of their claims the Full Federal Court has held. The Court accepted submissions from the Australian Human Rights Commission that an internal process established by the Department of Home Affairs should have provided them with procedural fairness. As a result of the … -
Rights and Freedoms
8 October 2019Media Release
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Sydney
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Her Excellency Dr Michelle Bachelet AC, is in Sydney today to attend the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Free and Equal; A National Conversation on Human Rights. Dr Bachelet will deliver the keynote address at the conference. Her speech will focus on Australia’s human rights achievements and challenges, as well as our sphere of influence in the… -
Childrens Rights
4 October 2019Media ReleaseUN calls for national action to protect the rights of children and young people in Australia
The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child is calling on Australia to prioritise raising the age of criminal responsibility as part of its Concluding Observations on Australia's performance in protecting the country's children and young people. This comes at a time when there is a strong push around the country to improve our responses to juvenile offending and do more to divert children…