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10 February 2021Conciliation register
2019-07-02
The complainant is a lower-leg amputee and uses a prosthesis. He said that in the past, when travelling through an airport, he has advised security staff that his prosthesis may trigger alarms when scanned and officers have scanned him using a handheld wand, conducting visual inspections of metal zippers, buttons and rivets if required. He alleged that when travelling through the respondent ... -
21 May 2020Conciliation register
2018-11-05
The complainant was employed by the respondent cleaning and maintenance service to perform pool and yard maintenance duties in a remote location. She informed the company she was pregnant because she was experiencing severe morning sickness and was concerned at the potential risk of heavy lifting and use of chemicals. The company allowed her to perform administrative duties during her pregnancy in ... -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2001-2002: Chapter 1
The Commission is an national independent statutory body established under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986. It has a President and five Commissioners. The five positions are currently held by three persons. Please refer to the organisational chart on page 16 for further information. -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 06-07: Significant Achievements
This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Speech
Human Rights in Contemporary Australia: Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM (2001)
Despite its rather grand title, this presentation will be a relatively modest attempt to set out the key challenges for human rights in Australia as I see them at the outset of my term as Human Rights Commissioner. Let us begin with a quick survey of the state of human rights internationally and in Australia today. -
Rights and Freedoms31 October 2013Speech
Freedom of Speech and giving offence: can a balance be struck?
Annual Kirby Lecture on International law: ANZSIL 2013 Thursday 4 July 2013 6:30 pm Finkel Theatre, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Garran Rd, Australian National University (Check against delivery) Freedom of Speech and giving offence: can a balance be struck? I was especially pleased to be invited to give this address as, throughout my career, I have been enriched by Michael Kirby’s ... -
13 November 2014Book page
About the Commission - Annual Report 2013-14
Our vision Human rights: everyone, everywhere, everyday Our role The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) is to see that human rights and fundamental freedoms are understood and respected in law, policy and practice. The Commission is independent from government, with a legislative mandate, and recognised internationally as an ‘A status’ national human rights institution ... -
Race Discrimination14 December 2012Publication
Guide 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. -
Employers29 April 2016Speech
HR Leaders Forum
Rights and Responsibilities: Creating Better Workplaces for all Australians -
14 December 2012Book page
Report on the Human Rights Commissioner's Visit to Curtin IRPC in July 2000
On Saturday 29 July 2000 the then Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Chris Sidoti, assisted by a consultant, Dr Mary Crock, Senior Lecturer in Law at Sydney University, visited the Curtin Immigration Reception and Processing Centre outside Derby in the Kimberley region of WA. They made observations and obtained information about accommodation, programs and services, and particulars about the conditions and treatment of detainees. This report documents Commissioner Sidoti's observations and the information he obtained with Dr Crock's assistance. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees21 October 2013Publication
Casenote: FKAG v Australia and MMM v Australia
The UN Human Rights Committee has found that the indefinite detention of 46 refugees with adverse security assessments was arbitrary and amounted to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Submission: Human Rights and Good Governance Education
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) which was established in 1986 by the Federal Parliament as successor to the 1981 Human Rights Commission is an independent statutory authority whose functions are to monitor, protect and promote human rights in Australia. The Commission has played a key role in the education of civil society in regard to these rights. -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the administration and operation of the Migration Act 1958
Thank you for inviting the Commission to make a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee's Inquiry into the administration and operation of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ('Migration Act'). -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Presentation to the NSW Subcommittee of the Australian Braille Authority
Have you ever stopped to think about all the things that we take for granted? When you're wandering through the breakfast cereal isle at the supermarket, for example, do you ever wonder whether Uncle Toby really was? If so, was he related to Sara Lee? Were Nana's apple pies originally made by Granny Smith? It's not so much that familiarity breeds contempt as that it lulls us into a state of mind where we no longer feel the need to question or even test our assumptions and presumptions. -
14 December 2012Book page
Sex and gender diversity issues paper
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is seeking the views of the sex and gender diverse community about the most pressing human rights issues faced by people who are transgender, transsexual or intersex. HREOC also seeks input into how it might assist in promoting and protecting the human rights of people who are sex and gender diverse. -
14 December 2012Book page
Living Spirit - Muslim Women's Project 2006: Report
The project was officially supported by the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia, the Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria, the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria, the Islamic Council of Victoria, the Islamic Girls’ and Women's Group, the Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues, the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition and Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE. The support of all of these organisations was vital to the overall success of the forum. -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Dimensions of diversity in Australian civil society
It is a particular pleasure for me to have been invited here today to launch the City of Dandenong's Diversity Action Plan. Allow me a few moments to explain why. -
Legal27 September 2016Publication
Federal Discrimination Law 2016
Federal Discrimination Law is produced by the Commission’s legal section and provides an overview of the federal unlawful discrimination laws and examines the significant issues that have arisen in the federal unlawful discrimination cases. -
21 May 2013Webpage
Commission Reports raising ICCPR Article 9
ICCPR Article 9 recognises some of the most basic liberty rights. Commission reports on complaints under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act involve extensive work in this area. Reports are also available on the Commission's This page is intended to provide more convenient access to this work in relation to ICCPR Article 9 specifically. Many of these reports demonstrate that breaches of ... -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Federal Discrimination Law 2005: Chapter 1: Introduction
Federal Discrimination Law 2005 provides an overview of significant issues in federal unlawful discrimination law. It examines the jurisprudence that has been developed in relation to: