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This is my sixth, and final, Social Justice Report as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. It covers the period from 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009.

The term 'Shared Responsibility Agreement' (SRA) describes agreements between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and groups and Australian governments based on the principle of mutual obligation. The principle of mutual obligation requires both parties, the community and the Government to each contribute towards making the agreement work. This fact sheet looks at SRAs in the light of human rights principles and considers developments during the first 12 months of SRA-making.

This submission will focus on the current Australian immigration detention regime as it applies to minors. The regime will be examined based on data and information made available by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (“DIMIA”) and supporting documentation ranging from government publications, the Flood Inquiry and testimonies given to the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission “HREOC” under oath.

As my predecessor pointed out in the Native Title Report 2003, native title is a political process as well as a legal process. Indigenous people enter a relationship with the State on the basis of their identity as the traditional owner group of an area of land. In some cases native title has provided the first opportunity since colonisation for a relationship of this type to be formed.

Under section 501 of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (Migration Act), a non-citizen’s visa may be cancelled if they do not satisfy the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (the Minister) or the Minister’s delegate that they pass the ‘character test’.

Key achievements Information and Complaints Services In 2013-14 , the Commission assisted 19 688 people and organisations – up 16% on the previous year – by providing information about the law, assisting with problem solving and facilitating referrals to other services. We received 2223 complaints of alleged discrimination and breaches of human rights and finalised 2178 complaints. We facilitated ...

Priority: Human rights education and promotion We work to build awareness of rights and freedoms across the community, encouraging a culture of respect and responsibility that values dignity. To make this a reality, the Commission creates a range of community engagement and human rights education programs to engage with a broad cross-section of the community. We use tools such as social media to ...

The Social Justice In Early Childhood Group (SJIECG) was formed in 1996 and is made up of early childhood professionals focussed on social justice issues as they relate to children and their families. The group aims to raise the awareness of social justice issues within the early childhood profession. The group membership includes teachers, students, childrens services managers, additional needs workers and administrators. Group members are based in Sydney, but work in local, state and national services.