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14 January 2021Conciliation register
2019-05-14
The complainant is blind, has anxiety and has an assistance dog. She alleged she was originally not allowed to board a cruise with her assistance animal. She said she was ultimately allowed to board, but told she would not be permitted to board with an assistance animal in the future. On being notified of the complaint, the cruise company indicated a willingness to participate in a conciliation ... -
10 February 2021Conciliation register
2020-01-07
The complainant has a hearing impairment and worked as a nurse with the respondent health service. She advised she experienced significant hearing loss and asked to be moved to a less noisy environment. She alleged the health service told her she would be required to take leave without pay until her situation improved. On being advised of the complaint the health service indicated a willingness to ... -
11 February 2021Conciliation register
2020-01-11
The complainant was employed as a team leader with the respondent debt solutions business. She said that she took maternity leave and sought to return to work part time. The complainant alleged the company required her to work fulltime in the team leader role or to accept a role with less responsibility and lower pay. The complainant said she felt she had no option but to resign. On being advised ... -
27 September 2019Conciliation register
2018-06-06
The complainant has an ambulatory disability and is unable to safely walk on soft or uneven ground. He alleged he was unable to access a local bus stop because it was located on a grass slope. On being advised of the complaint, the respondent local council indicated a willingness to try to resolve the matter by conciliation. The complaint was resolved with an undertaking by the local council to ... -
11 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-01-02
The complainant applied for a position as a support worker with the respondent community organisation. She said the organisation withdrew an offer of casual employment once aware of her criminal record.The complainant had been convicted of common assault on three occasions with the most recent conviction occurring eight years earlier. On being advised of the complaint the community organisation ... -
Commission – General23 October 2019Media Release
Media 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 face ... -
21 January 2020Conciliation register
2018-05-13
The complainant worked for the respondent not-for-profit fitness and sporting organisation. He alleged a male colleague sexually harassed him by making inappropriate comments, rubbing his groin against the complainant's leg while saying ‘I'm humping you’, making sexual comments and unwanted physical contact such as hugs. The organisation denied the allegations but agreed to participate in ... -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC - Annual Report 2001 - 2002: Statement from the President
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission occupies a unique place in Australian society. It sits independent of Government, yet it is not what is traditionally known as a non-government organisation (NGO) or an advocate. -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Is the placement of young people with high support needs in nursing homes a breach of their human rights?
Allow me to commence by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, and by so doing remind ourselves that Australia's cultural traditions stretch back many thousands of years. I acknowledge also people with disabilities here together with advocates and other conference participants. -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Federal Discrimination Law 2011
Welcome to Federal Discrimination Law, a publication of the Australian Human Rights Commission that provides a comprehensive overview of case law decided under Australia's federal discrimination legislation. Federal Discrimination Law is updated regularly to reflect the latest developments in the law. -
Race Discrimination23 July 2015Opinion piece
Forty years of the Racial Discrimination Act
In October 1975, at a ceremony for the proclamation of the Racial Discrimination Act, then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam described the legislation as ‘a historic measure’, which aimed to ‘entrench new attitudes of tolerance and understanding in the hearts and minds of the people’.(1) The Act was Australia’s first federal human rights and discrimination law. Enacted shortly after the formal ... -
Rights and Freedoms30 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 escaped ... -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
1996 GUIDELINES FOR SPECIAL MEASURES UNDER THE SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT 1984
1.1 SHORT TITLE 1.2 PURPOSE 1.3 INTERPRETATION 1.4 DEFINITION 1.5 SCOPE 1.6 THE SEX DISCRIMINATION ACT 1984 The objects of the Sex Discrimination Act Grounds of discrimination Areas where discrimination is unlawful Discrimination and equality -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Conciliation
If a complaint of discrimination or harassment is made to the Australian Human Rights Commission, the complaint may be resolved through a process known as ‘conciliation’. Conciliation is an informal, flexible approach to resolving complaints. The Commission tries to help everyone involved in the complaint to understand the issues and find a solution that is acceptable to everyone. We do not take ... -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Disability action plans
Over the past 10 years I have been involved in developing resources and providing informal assistance to organisations developing Action Plans throughout Australia. This has included assisting in the preparation of the initial guides to developing action plans produced in 1995 and the subsequent publication Developing an Effective Action Plan produced in 1999 both of which can be found on our website at http://www.humanrights.gov.au/disability_rights/action_plans/index.html -
27 September 2019Conciliation register
2018-08-03
The complainant is blind and relies on screen reading software to access the internet. He alleged he was unable to book two international flights on the respondent airline’s website because it was not compatible with his screen reading software. On being advised of the complaint the airline indicated a willingness to try to resolve the matter by conciliation. The complaint was resolved with an ... -
21 May 2020Conciliation register
2018-11-15
The complainant alleged the respondent insurer charged her family an additional 50% for travel insurance because her eight-year-old son has Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). On being advised of the complaint, the insurer agreed to participate in conciliation. The complaint was resolved with an agreement that the insurer re-issue the complainant’s travel insurance policy without ... -
21 May 2020Conciliation register
2018-11-25
The complainant attended the respondent entertainment and dining venue. She alleged that when returning to the venue after stepping out with friends, the bouncer used an entry stamp depicting male genitalia. The venue said the stamp was not intended to be offensive, but rather, ‘tongue in cheek’. The venue said it would give careful consideration to what stamps were used in the future. The ... -
2 July 2021Conciliation register
2020-06-03
The complainant uses a walking frame to aid mobility. She advised the respondent sporting team moved to a new venue and patrons were required to use stairs to access front row seating. She claimed she had previously been allowed to pass through a restricted secure area to access seating, but this arrangement was no longer available. On being advised of the complaint, the respondent indicated a ... -
10 February 2021Conciliation register
2019-07-07
The complainant has a brain injury and alleged the respondent theatre company did not allow the online purchase of companion tickets and that seating maps did not show the location of doors or steps. The theatre company advised that, in response to the issues raised in the complaint, it undertook a review and upgrade of its online ticket purchasing platform and seating maps. The company said the ...