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The Australian Human Rights Commission recently (May 2004) met with representatives from a number of small business organisations to discuss the draft Premises Standards. The purpose of the meetings was to provide additional information on a number of specific concerns that had been raised. The Commission followed up the meetings with a letter which is reproduced below.

This year the High Court will decide fundamental issues about the nature of native title and the extent to which it is protected by the common law. In hearing the appeal of the Miriuwung, Gajerrong and Balangarra peoples from the decision of the Full Federal Court in Western Australia v Ward (1) the court will be called upon to arbitrate an old dispute that has never been settled; that between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people as competing claimants for land. In this arbitration process the survival of non-Indigenous interests is assured.

The Australian Government has signalled that economic development is a central focus for the Indigenous Affairs portfolio this term. The Ministerial Taskforce on Indigenous Affairs, created in May 2004 to drive and coordinate the federal Government’s Indigenous policies,1 identified as one of three key areas2 for priority action:

Background and Purpose Disability Statistics DDA Telecommunications Complaints Technology and Service Access Fixed Line Telephony Cellular Mobile Telephony Internet Connectivity Next Generation Networks Policy and Regulation Telecommunications Act 1997 TCPSS Act 1999 Disability Discrimination Act Consumer Representation and Consultation Major Issues for People with disabilities Disability Equipment Programs Any-to-any Text Connectivity Telecommunications Disability Standard Mobile Phones Videocommunication Payphones Overseas Developments Conclusion

1. The Committee considered the tenth, eleventh and twelfth periodic reports of Australia, submitted as one document (CERD/C/335/Add.2), at its 1393rd, 1394th and 1395th meetings (CERD/C/SR.1393, 1394 and 1395), held on 21 and 22March 2000. At its 1398th meeting, held on 24 March 2000, it adopted the following concluding observations.

Striking the balance between paid work and family life has become more than a "barbeque stopper" - it is one of the major challenges facing families, employers and governments.

1. The Committee considered the tenth, eleventh and twelfth periodic reports of Australia, submitted as one document (CERD/C/335/Add.2), at its 1393rd, 1394th and 1395th meetings (CERD/C/SR.1393, 1394 and 1395), held on 21 and 22 March 2000. At its 1398th meeting, held on 24 March 2000, it adopted the following concluding observations.

This section of the Interim Report summarises the main issues raised in submissions which relate to the job search phase of employment. Those issues include:

States Parties shall take appropriate measures to ensure that a child who is seeking refugee status or who is considered a refugee in accordance with applicable international or domestic law and procedures shall, whether unaccompanied or accompanied by his or her parents or by any other person, receive appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance in the enjoyment of applicable rights set forth in the present Convention and in other international human rights or humanitarian instruments to which the said States are Parties.