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Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
Why we need an Australian Bill of Rights - a Joint Forum
The first is that HREOC has been suggesting for a considerable time that there needs to be renewed public debate on whether Australia should have a charter of human rights of some sort. It seems that the launch of the New Matilda campaign will give momentum to such a debate. A lot has changed, both nationally and internationally since the unsuccessful attempts of the 1970s and the 1980s to interest Australians in a bill of rights. As is so often said, Australia has now become the only major Western democracy that does not have a bill of rights. -
International10 January 2024Video
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights: 75 Years On Video Series
In a video series commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we hear from a diverse group of Australians about what human rights means to them and where our nation still needs to improve. View the rest of the series here . ... -
Commission – General14 December 2012Publication
Annual Report 2008-2009: Australian Human Rights Commission
This is my first annual report as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. Since commencing my five-year term in October of last year, the people with whom I have met, the stories that I have listened to, and the community centres and immigration detention facilities that I have visited have strengthened my resolve to encourage a better understanding of the place of human rights in Australia. In particular, I am determined to encourage widespread recognition of the relevance of human rights for all people, no matter who they are, where they live or what their circumstances. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
Speeches by the Hon. Catherine Branson, President, Australian Human Rights Commission
The Hon Catherine Branson was President of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 7 August 2008 - 29 July 2012. Click here to access her biography. -
Commission – General8 December 2023Media Release
Australia’s human rights champions put social justice and equality centre stage
Women’s equity and racial equality advocate Juliana Nkrumah AM has been awarded the prestigious Human Rights Medal at the 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards in Sydney tonight. Other awards went to Gabriel Osborne (Young People’s Award), Northern Pictures (Media and Creative Industries Award), Advocacy Tasmania (Community Award) and the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia (Law Award) ... -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
"Other status": disability and human rights (2011)
Amnesty International conference: Human rights challenges and opportunities in the 21st century Brisbane 6 October 2011 Graeme Innes, Disability Discrimination Commissioner -
Business and Human Rights2 December 2015Speech
Launch of Human Rights in Supply Chains: Promoting Positive Practice
After years of debate and consultation led by Professor John Ruggie, the United Nations Special Representative for Business and Human Rights, there is now clarification at the international level about the responsibility of business through the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. -
14 December 2012Book page
Let's talk about rights: A guide to help young people have their say about human rights in Australia (2009)
This guide has been produced by the Australian Human Rights Commission to help you participate in the Australian Government’s National Human Rights Consultation. -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
National Human Rights Consultation
Learn how Australia has committed to a greater emphasis on human rights education under the World Program for Human Rights Education. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
Statement to the 61st session of the Commission on Human Rights
On behalf of the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (hereafter referred to as the Commission), I welcome the opportunity to make this statement. -
Rights and Freedoms31 October 2013Speech
Social Inclusion and Human Rights in Australia
Chain Reaction Foundation Breakfast Cafe KPMG Level 15, 10 Shelley Street, Sydney Tuesday 20 August 2013 7:45am (Check against delivery) Social Inclusion and Human Rights in Australia I would like to acknowledge the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which we gather today. I pay my respects to your elders, past and present. Thank you KPMG and Paul Reid for ... -
Rights and Freedoms21 January 2022Opinion piece
Novak Djokovic drew global attention to Australia's immigration detention regime. Now we need proper scrutiny of all places of detention
Novak Djokovic’s recent detention at Melbourne’s Park Hotel drew international attention to Australia’s use of hotels as Alternative Places of Detention by immigration authorities. But while Djokovic’s detention was measured in days, others still remaining in the Park Hotel measure their detention in years. Hotels are simply not appropriate places to detain people for extended periods. The hotels ... -
Rights and Freedoms20 January 2023Opinion piece
Australia needs to deliver on our treaty promises
As with any agreement, there are certain requirements that OPCAT signatories need to fulfill, and Australia has been given longer than any other country to meet our OPCAT commitments. Today – 20 January 2023 – is our extended compliance deadline, and Australia has failed to deliver on our promises. -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights – List of issues prior to reporting
This submission is made by the Australian Human Rights Commission, Australia’s national human rights institution. It outlines a number of issues that the Commission suggests should be considered by the Human Rights Committee as it develops a List of Issues Prior to Reporting ahead of Australia’s preparation of its sixth periodic report regarding the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees13 October 2020Opinion piece
Who are we leaving behind?
In presenting last week’s Federal Budget, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said, “we will get through this together.” Togetherness is an important value in Australia. It speaks to the basic liberal democratic principle that no-one in our community should be left behind. While much of last week’s Budget analysis focused on the details of tax breaks and tax cuts, at a basic level the Budget is also a gauge ... -
14 December 2012Book page
DIAC Response to the 2010 Australian Human Rights Commission Report on Immigration Detention on Christmas Island
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) 2010 Report on Immigration Detention on Christmas Island. -
Commission – General4 November 2013Webpage
2015 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners
The Human Rights Medal is awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the advancement of human rights in Australia. The medal has a rich history of prestigious winners. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Webpage
Statement by Australian Human Rights Commission on the adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report on Australia
This statement is made on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission, which is Australia’s ‘A status’ national human rights institution.[1] -
Legal30 January 2019Submission
Migration (Validation of Port Appointment) Bill 2018
1 Introduction 1. The Commission makes this submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee in relation to the Migration (Validation of Port Appointment) Bill 2018 (Cth) (the Bill) introduced by the Australian Government. 2 Summary 2. The Commission welcomes the opportunity to make a submission in relation to this Bill. 3. The Bill seeks to retrospectively validate ... -
Legal14 December 2012Speech
Law Seminar 2008: The Importance of Australia’s engagement with International Human Rights Law: coming in from the cold? by Gillian Triggs
While Australia may have come in from the cold, the wind has been taken from my sails. The typical role of an international lawyer over the last few years, whether in Australia or in the UK, Europe and North America has been to berate their respective government ministers with numerous failings and to list the necessary reforms to policy. In Australia’s case these have been to persuade the Commonwealth government to: