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14 December 2012Book page
Addressing sexual orientation and sex and/or gender identity discrimination: Consultation Report (2011)
In October 2010, the Australian Human Rights Commission commenced a public consultation to canvas the experiences and views of people who may have been discriminated against on the basis of their sexual orientation or sex and/or gender identity. The task was a listening exercise, and a lot needed to be said. -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageConsultation Paper:Native Title, Indigenous Economic Development and Tax (2010)
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Treasury in response to its consultation paper titled Native Title, Indigenous Economic Development and Tax (the Consultation Paper).[1] -
14 December 2012Book page
Human Rights 21: Going to the heart of the matter: national inquiries
In today's world, with an increasing focus on greed and building individual wealth, advocacy for the human rights agenda couldn’t be more important. Over the years, HREOC has produced outstanding reports, like Bringing them home, with important recommendations. To fail to act on those recommendations diminishes Australia as a nation, and all of us as individuals. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission Submission - Maslauskas v Qld Nursing
If the legislature had intended s 19 to be limited in its operation to the circumstances set out in subsection (6) then the subsection would have provided as follows: ‘Section 19 only has effect in relation to…’. The Commissioner submits that the legislature has specifically chosen not to use the word ‘only’ in subsection (6) because they did not intend s 19 to be limited in its application to the circumstances set out in that subsection. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
1 November 2013SpeechNSW Tenants’ Union Tenancy Advice and Advocacy Program
Today I would like to extend the way you may view your work and some of the tools available to you. The Tenants Union is part of a long tradition of fighting for housing justice, as I understand, going all the way back to 1910. What I want to add to this robust tradition is a human rights approach. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechPresident Speech: Current issues in human rights (2011)
I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Larrakia peoples. I pay my respects to their elders both past and present. -
14 December 2012Book page
Stories of discrimination
In 2006, the Commission conducted a National Inquiry into discrimination against people in same-sex relationships regarding access to financial and work-related entitlements and benefits. The inquiry is known as the Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Inquiry (the Inquiry). -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012SpeechSpeech - Launch of the Civil Society Shadow Report (2012)
Australia became a party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. The rest of the world refers to it by the unappealing acronym of CRPD, or the Disability Convention, but I like to refer to it as the Disco. It's catchy, and it creates a great image for me of people with disability dancing, and being to go anywhere they want - although I haven't been inside a disco for many a long year. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Tasmanian Human Rights Charter Consultation (2010)
The Commission congratulates the Tasmanian Government on making significant progress towards the legislated protection of human rights and promoting community discussion about human rights. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President speech: ‘How could a Human Rights Act lead to better Government?’
I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal peoples, and pay my respect to their elders past and present. -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Speech
Speech - My body, my health, my decision (2012)
Both men acquired their disabilities 20 years ago. Neither of them work, nor do they have daily activities, or relationships with people outside their family. -
Rights and Freedoms
19 August 2016SpeechTony Blackshield Lecture
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE OVERREACH OF EXECUTIVE DISCRETION: CITIZENSHIP, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND WHISTLEBLOWERS It is a special pleasure for me to speak in honour of Professor Blackshield, who is a long time colleague of mine in the law. He is a constitutional law scholar of the highest order and one of the most influential figures in Australian legal education over the last 50 years. I have two memories ... -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
Creating a culture of human rights compliance
Debates about a charter of rights are often monopolised by the contentious issue of the proper role of the courts. While this is undoubtedly an important question, it overlooks the impact a charter would have on the role of Parliament as a guardian of rights of freedoms. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012Speech
Reflection on the 1967 Referendum and Multiculturalism Position Paper
Good evening distinguished guest, ladies and gentleman. Friends, I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Proposed Wild Rivers Declarations
‘The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses.’[11] There is a fundamental link between accessing water and living in dignity which means that the human right to water is receiving increased attention and recognition both in Australia and worldwide.[12] The right to water is linked to many other rights including the right to food, the right to health and the right to take part in cultural life.[13] -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
21 November 2014Publication
Social Justice and Native Title Report 2014
One of my primary responsibilities is to report annually on the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. I also report annually on the operation of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the Native Title Act) and the effect of the Act on the exercise and enjoyment of human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In 2014, I have again combined the reporting requirements into the Social Justice and Native Title Report, which covers the period from 1 July 2013 to 30 June 2014. -
26 May 2014Speech
Changing Hearts, Changing Minds
We all share a responsibility to lead cultural change for inclusion of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex. Building on the previous work of the Commission, I’ll be using my term as Human Rights Commissioner to ensure these issues are given national attention. It was an honour to be a keynote speaker at the Human Rights Forum of the Asia Pacific Outgames in Darwin. -
28 October 2013Book page
3 Third country processing
As at 23 September 2013 there were 710 asylum seekers detained in the ‘regional processing centre’ on Nauru and 798 asylum seekers detained in the centre on Manus Island. [145] It is estimated that there are currently at least 44 children in the regional processing centre on Nauru, all of whom were transferred with their families as part of the new RSA, having arrived in Australia after 19 July ... -
14 December 2012Book page
Monitoring and reporting on laws and policy - Annual Report 2009-2010: Australian Human Rights Commission
In June 2011, the Commission welcomed action taken by the Australian Government to move a significant number of families and unaccompanied children from immigration detention facilities to community-based detention. -
14 December 2012Book page
2008 Immigration detention report - Summary factsheet
On 13 January 2009 the Commission released the 2008 Immigration detention report: Summary of observations following visits to Australia’s immigration detention facilities.