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Australia ratified its commitment to the Convention of the Rights of the Child in 1989. Australia has also committed itself to other human rights standards such as the Refugee Convention. In order to fulfil these obligations and on pure humanitarian grounds, it is imperative that children in detention are afforded these rights.

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.

I have spent a lot of time this past year convincing people from all walks of life that the challenges facing Indigenous peoples in this country are not insurmountable.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Anglican Church Social Responsibilities Commission Anonymous Australian Association for Infant Mental Health Inc.

Over recent months, the Australian Government has moved increasing numbers of asylum seekers and refugees who arrived in Australia by boat from closed immigration detention into the community, pending resolution of their claims for protection. This has been achieved through use of community detention and bridging visas, building on measures introduced by successive Australian Governments.[2]

One part of the funding is the ‘respondent funding scheme’ operated by the Attorney-General’s Department. Under this scheme the Attorney-General can grant legal or financial assistance to certain non-claimant parties to enable them to participate in native title proceedings.1

On 14 and 15 February 2008, HREOC held a planning summit at Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont Point in Sydney, entitled HREOC21. The 21 refers to the number of years that have passed since HREOC was established by an act of federal Parliament in 1986.

Protecting the best interests of a child is one of the most important principles of international law and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in particular. This chapter focuses on whether federal law currently protects the best interests of a child being raised by lesbian or gay parents.

On 1 October 2010, the Commission released a Research Paper and a Discussion Paper informing participants of the current legal protections from discrimination and providing questions for response.

The Inquiry Team: Vanessa Lesnie, Kate Temby, Susan Newell, Samantha Edmonds, Kate Fitzgerald, Emily Gray, Frances Simmons, Alessandra Krilis, Jemma Hollonds, Avril Cox

I have been provided with a copy of the submission submitted on behalf of the South Australian Coalition for Refugee Children. The Law Society has been concerned for some time with the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers. I enclose herewith a copy of the resolution of the Law Society on these matters. I particularly draw your attention to the Society’s position with respect to the detention of children. The submission of the SA Coalition for Refugee Children is well researched and the submissions have obvious force. I commend the submission to you. Yours sincerely

During 2008-09, the Commission received 13 initial requests for access to documents under the Freedom of Information Act. The Commission was also asked to conduct an internal review of one of those decisions.

The following chapter summarises the findings and recommendations made in each of Chapters 4 – 16 in this report. This chapter should be read in conjunction with Appendix 1 which sets out the list of legislation to be amended in order to eliminate discrimination against same-sex couples and their children.