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14 December 2012Book page
Community arrangements for asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons - Some barriers to use of community arrangements
Despite the significant positive developments of the past two years, the Commission remains seriously concerned about some aspects of Australian law and policy on asylum seekers, refugees and immigration detention. The Commission is primarily concerned about the prolonged or indefinite detention and lack of durable solutions or substantive visa pathways for certain groups of people in immigration detention. These include stateless persons; refugees who have received adverse security assessments; and refugees who are of interest to or have been charged by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). -
Age Discrimination14 December 2012Publication
Age Discrimination: exposing the hidden barrier for mature age workers
Since the introduction of the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth), experiences of age discrimination in employment among mature age workers have featured prominently in the complaints of age discrimination received by the Australian Human Rights Commission. In 2008-09, I undertook a series of consultations with peak bodies including age-based community groups, legal service providers, business groups, unions, academics and relevant government departments. As well I undertook research to learn more about the barriers to employment facing mature age workers. -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Information concerning Australia and the Convention on the Rights of the Child
Recommendation 1: The Commission recommends that the Australian Government fully incorporate into Australian law its human rights obligations to children, including through the adoption of a federal Human Rights Act. -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
The adequacy of the allowance payment system for jobseekers and others, the appropriateness of the allowance payment system as a support into work and the impact of the changing nature of the labour market
Recommendation 1: The Newstart Allowances and supplements should be increased so that they accurately reflect the costs of living, job-seeking and skill development activity. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Webpage
Australian Council of Human Rights Agencies (ACHRA) - UPR Progress Report (2011)
The Australian Government is to be commended for its frank and robust engagement in the UPR process to date, both in the formal working group session and in engaging with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), NGOs and civil society throughout the process. -
10 April 2015Book page
2 Background and framework for promotion and protection of human rights
2.1 Scope of international obligations 2.2 National framework 2.3 Equality before the law and non-discrimination 2.4 Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers 2.5 Right to life, liberty and security of the person 2.1 Scope of international obligations Australia prides itself on its commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights and has announced its candidacy for election to the Human ... -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
A human rights approach to trafficking in persons (2011)
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to report to the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children on the human rights issues arising from trafficking in persons in Australia. -
14 December 2012Book page
Community arrangements -asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Australia’s introduction of mandatory immigration detention and the eighteenth anniversary of the system of mandatory, indefinite immigration detention. In the current context, it is apt to recall that mandatory detention was introduced in reaction to the arrival of asylum seekers by boat, with concerns about a potential ‘influx’ spurring bipartisan support for increasingly tough measures on persons who arrived in Australia without a visa.[8] -
3 January 2014Book page
2 Background and framework for promotion and protection of human rights
2.1 Scope of international obligations During Australia’s review, the Government made a commitment to improving Australia’s monitoring of its international human rights obligations. Australia is a party to seven of the core human rights treaties and maintains a number of reservations under these. The Australian Government made a commitment to conduct a comprehensive review of such reservations by ... -
Legal26 March 2015Submission
Inquiry into the Commonwealth’s Treaty-Making Process
Download PDF Download Word 1 Introduction and summary The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee in its Inquiry into the Commonwealth’s Treaty-Making Process. The Commission is established by the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) and is Australia’s national human rights institution with an accredited ... -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Detention Reform and Procedural Fairness) Bill 2011
Recommendation 2: The Migration Act should be amended to provide that detention of unlawful non-citizens in immigration detention facilities must only be used as a measure of last resort. There should be a clear presumption against the detention of children for immigration purposes. -
14 December 2012Book page
Chapter 1: A cause for cautious optimism: The year in review - Social Justice Report 2011
As I reflect on the events that have taken place during the reporting period from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011, I see cause for optimism whilst also acknowledging there are still some areas that remain a concern. Over the last year we have reached some major milestones. For instance, we have seen the election of the two co-chairs and a board to the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples (National Congress), and we are also now engaged in a conversation with the Australian people about how we go about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our Constitution. -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Webpage
Universal Periodic Review on human rights - FAQ (2016)
back to UPR page The UPR is a unique process that involves the regular review of the human rights situation in each country in the world. The UPR provides two major opportunities for Australia: It allows the Australian community and Government to take stock of how well we are protecting and promoting the human rights of all people in Australia; and It permits the Australian Government to inform ... -
14 December 2012Book page
2011 Immigration detention at Curtin
For more than a decade, the Australian Human Rights Commission has called for reforms to Australia’s system of mandatory and indefinite immigration detention – both in light of the impacts it has on people’s mental health and wellbeing, and because it leads to breaches of Australia’s international human rights obligations. During this time, the Commission has investigated numerous complaints from people in detention and conducted two national inquiries into the mandatory detention system.[1] -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into Australia’s agreement with Malaysia in relation to asylum seekers
Recommendation 1: Asylum seekers should not be transferred from Australia to Malaysia under the Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Malaysia on Transfer and Resettlement. -
14 December 2012Book page
Community arrangements asylum seekers, refugees + stateless persons
“In Australia, if you have a pet, you take your pet out at least once a week. I haven’t had an excursion in the two years I’ve been in detention ... I don’t even know what Australians look like.” -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees23 January 2013Publication
Immigration 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 -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act Bill 2009 and other Bills
There is intense hurt and anger at being isolated on the basis of race and subjected to collective measures that would never be applied to other Australians. The Intervention was received with a sense of betrayal and disbelief. Resistance to its imposition undercut the potential effectiveness of its substantive measures. -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Consideration of Australia’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) in its consideration of Australia’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). -
Disability Rights29 September 2016Speech
Equal before the law? How the criminal justice system is failing people with disability
I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respect to their elders past and present. I am delighted to be here today to deliver the 2016 Annual Costello Lecture. Last year, the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, delivered a lecture on business and human rights, proposing that the corporate world is both a cause and a ...