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Commission – General
14 December 2012WebpageInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights - Human rights at your fingertips
Learn about the principles of human rights, which include the right to self-determination and the right to political, economic and social development. -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2008-2009: Chapter 3
The Commission plays a significant role in monitoring legislation and policy in Australia to assess compliance with human rights principles. This monitoring role includes: -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
23 January 2013PublicationImmigration detention on Christmas Island - Observations from visit to Immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island
Immigration detention on Christmas Island Observations from visit to Immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
9 July 2013Webpage
Alternatives to detention
Learn about the alternatives to mandatory immigration detention that allow for the protection of the community while ensuring people are treated humanely. -
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
Mandatory detention laws in Australia (2001)
This paper gives a brief overview of the mandatory detention laws currently operating in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It examines their operation and gives some insights into how they have impacted on particular groups including young people and Indigenous Australians. It gives a critique of mandatory detention by reference to Australia's international human rights obligations, with particular emphasis on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The paper cites a number of recent reports and articles dealing with this subject. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
10 April 2013Publication
Human rights issues raised by the transfer of asylum seekers to third countries
Human rights issues raised by the transfer of asylum seekers to third countries’ sets out the Australian Human Rights Commission’s position in relation to steps taken recently by the Australian Government to transfer asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat to third countries for the processing of their claims for protection. -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012SpeechBurdekin: The Human Rights Of Australians With Disabilities
I would like to thank ACROD for inviting me to deliver the Kenneth Jenkins Oration; both because I regard it as a privilege and because it gives me the opportunity to address a gathering of the key people in the disability field at an important time in the work of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Report No. 29
Pursuant to section 11(1)(f)(ii) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth), I attach a report of my inquiry into complaints made by Ms Susan Campbell that the human rights of her daughter were breached by the Commonwealth of Australia. I have found that acts or practices of the Commonwealth were inconsistent with or contrary to the human rights of Ms Campbell’s daughter as provided for in Article 3(1) and 19 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. -
14 December 2012Book page
A last resort? - Summary Guide: Australia's Detention Policy
While a short period of detention may be permitted for the purpose of conducting preliminary health, identity and security checks, Australia's detention system requires detention well beyond those permitted purposes. In fact, Australia's immigration detention laws and practices create a detention system that is fundamentally at odds with the Convention on the Rights of the Child. -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
Commissioners: DR SEV OZDOWSKI, Human Rights Commissioner MRS ROBIN SULLIVAN, Queensland Children's Commissioner PROFESSOR TRANG THOMAS, Professor of Psychology, Melbourne Institute of Technology MS VANESSA LESNIE, Secretary to the Inquiry -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageConsultation on exposure draft National Human Rights Action Plan
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Attorney-General’s Department on the exposure draft of a new Human Rights National Action Plan which the Department has issued for comment. -
14 December 2012Book page
Chapter 2 - Introduction: Social Justice Report 2009
Indigenous imprisonment rates in Australia are unacceptably high. Nationally, Indigenous adults are 13 times more likely to be imprisoned than non-Indigenous people[1] and Indigenous juveniles are 28 times more likely to be placed in juvenile detention than their non-Indigenous counterparts.[2] -
14 December 2012Book page
6. Australia's Immigration Detention Policy and Practice
Australian law requires the detention of all non-citizens who are in Australia without a valid visa (unlawful non-citizens). This means that immigration officials have no choice but to detain persons who arrive without a visa (unauthorised arrivals), or persons who arrive with a visa and subsequently become unlawful because their visa has expired or been cancelled (authorised arrivals). Australian law makes no distinction between the detention of adults and children. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Publication
HREOC Annual Report 2003-2004 : Contents : Significant achievements : Statement from the President : Organisational Chart
</em>It is now just over one year since I took up my appointment as President of the Commission. During this time, the world's attention has been focussed on the international terrorist threat and how governments, including our own, can contain and counter that threat. In Australia, the Commission has been mindful of the fact that any counter-terrorism measures must be enacted and administered in accordance with existing domestic and international laws, including human rights laws. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
10 July 2013Webpage
Immigration detention reports and photos
<h2>&nbsp;</h2> <h2><a id="reports" name="reports"></a>Immigration detention reports:</h2> <p>The reports below published by the Commission outline issues of concern arising from its visits to immigration detention facilities.</p> <h4>2018</h4> <ul> <li><a href="/node/15143">Inspection of Adelaide Immigration Detention Centre Report </a>(2018)</li> </ul> <p>- <a href="https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sites/default/files/18.05.24%20Home%20Affairs%20response%20to%20AITA%20inspection%20report_Redacted.pdf">Dept. of Home Affairs response to Adelaide Immigration Detention Centre</a></p> -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
14 August 2015Publication
Use of force in immigration detention facilities
The Migration Amendment (Maintaining the Good Order of Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2015 (the Bill) would give increased power to ‘authorised officers’ to use force against people (including asylum seekers) in immigration detention facilities. It appears that the majority (if not all) of the authorised officers will be employees of Serco Australia Pty Ltd (Serco), the private company contracted by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to run Australia’s immigration detention facilities. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Migration Amendment (Immigration Detention Reform) Bill 2009
Recommendation 1: The Bill should be amended to ensure that detention in immigration detention centres is only used as a last resort and for the shortest practicable time, as committed to in Value 5. The words ‘The Parliament affirms as a principle that’ in section 4AAA(2) should be deleted. -
Rights and Freedoms
11 May 2016SpeechHuman rights across the Tasman: a widening gulf
<p>I am honoured to have been invited to give this lecture at the Law School of the University of Canterbury, funded by the generosity of the Sir Eric Hotung Fellowship.&nbsp;</p> -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC - Annual Report 2001 - 2002: Significant Achievements
o The "privative clause" case. o The "Kevin and Jennifer" case. o the "Tampa" case (Federal Court, Full Federal Court and High Court). o the "Catholic Bishops" or "IVF" case in the High Court.