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14 December 2012Book page
A last resort ? Preface
This is an important report. It deals with our treatment of children in the most recent wave of boat people seeking refuge and a better life on our shores. It does so in the knowledge that there is a tension created by the community expectation that the Government will defend Australia's security while simultaneously upholding individual rights - the notion of the 'fairgo' for all. The report also challenges the argument that family unity within immigration detention centres is the only way that children's 'best interests' can be protected. -
14 December 2012Book page
Bringing them Home - Chapter 8
The general opinion of station people is that it is a mistake to take these children out of the bush. They say that the aboriginal mothers are fond of their children and in their own way look after them and provide for them and that when they grow up they are more easily absorbed and employed than those who have been taken out of their natural environment and removed to towns. -
14 December 2012Book page
Ensuring human rights are respected and discrimination is addressed - Annual Report 2011-2012: Australian Human Rights Commission
As a part of the government’s commitments under the Australian Human Rights Framework, there have been extensive consultations to discuss how the current anti-discrimination legislation can be consolidated into one piece of legislation. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Opinion pieceNo need to abandon human rights to be tough on terror (2006)
In the post-September 11 world, debate about counter-terrorism is often characterised as an argument between 'the realists', who appreciate the need for tough new counter-terrorism laws, and 'the out of touch', who fail to take the terrorist threat seriously. -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageCommission submissions - In support of the application by the ACTU for Parental Leave
If the Commission pleases I appear before your honours to make a submission on behalf of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in support of the application made by the ACTU. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012SpeechNorman Fry Speech in Darwin 2001
Social Justice Commissioner Dr William Jonas… Minister John Ah Kit…Commissioner Hill …Professor Bin Salik … Ladies and Gentlemen… Good evening. -
Age Discrimination
7 April 2022SpeechLocal Government’s role in promoting active ageing and wellbeing
Explore a speech by the Age Discrimination Commissioner regarding local government's role in promoting active ageing and wellbeing. -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012SpeechSpeeches: DON'T JUDGE WHAT I CAN DO BY WHAT YOU THINK I CAN'T
(These are speaking notes used by the Commissioner at a series of events in all Australian capitals as well as Alice Springs through March 2003. Speeches as delivered included acknowledgement of State and Territory anti-discrimination colleauges co-hosting forums in each case as well as guests from the disability community including those presenting personal accounts of use of the DDA.) -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Speech
Site navigation
“The title of this presentation is "Using Conventions for disability-inclusive action in the Pacific". What do these words mean? Are they important? And does it matter that we all use these words to mean the same thing? -
Commission – General
14 December 2012PublicationAnnual Report 2008-2009: Australian Human Rights Commission
This is my first annual report as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission. Since commencing my five-year term in October of last year, the people with whom I have met, the stories that I have listened to, and the community centres and immigration detention facilities that I have visited have strengthened my resolve to encourage a better understanding of the place of human rights in Australia. In particular, I am determined to encourage widespread recognition of the relevance of human rights for all people, no matter who they are, where they live or what their circumstances. -
Sex Discrimination
14 December 2012SpeechIt's Over to You
We all know why we're here today. You're here because men aren't seeing enough of their children, that after divorce they're lone fathers if they're lucky and cheque books on legs if things turn out badly. Sadly, there are some men who just disappear as dads altogether. -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
Introduction Background Health Schooling Shelter Food/nutrition Transport Interpreters Language Social Support Maternity Recommendations Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 Appendix 5 -
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. -
Rights and Freedoms
19 August 2016Speech
Tony Blackshield Lecture
<h2><strong>HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE OVERREACH OF EXECUTIVE DISCRETION: CITIZENSHIP, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND WHISTLEBLOWERS</strong></h2> <p><span style="font-size: 13.008px; line-height: 1.538em;">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.&nbsp; 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.</span></p> -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President Speech: ‘Women as Agents of Change’: Balancing the scales
I would like to begin by also acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. I pay my respects to their elders past and present. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the inspirational work of so many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who have been agents of change, be they barristers, lawyers, judges, litigants or community advocates. -
14 December 2012Book page
About the Commission - Annual Report 2009-2010: Australian Human Rights Commission
We have statutory responsibilities under these laws, including to investigate and conciliate complaints of alleged discrimination and breaches of human rights recognised under international conventions to which Australia is a party and to promote and protect these human rights generally. -
Rights and Freedoms
5 September 2021Webpage
About Rights and Freedoms
<p><a href="#parliamentary scrutiny">Scrutiny of human rights by the Parliament</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="#courts">Scrutiny by the courts</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="#legislative protection">Advocacy for improved legislative protection of human rights</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="#policy and practice">Promotion of improved human rights policy and practice</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="#international scrutiny">International human rights scrutiny mechanisms</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="#more">More information</a>&nbsp;</p> -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Information Publication Scheme Plan (2011)
Established in 1986, the Australian Human Rights Commission is a statutory organisation that exercises functions under federal laws that govern; age, disability, racial and sex discrimination human rights and equal opportunity and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012Speech
Valuing and Protecting Diversity
In his introduction to the announcement of the 2020 summit the Prime Minister was succinct in his diagnosis of the challenges we face as a nation in today’s global community. He says and I quote -
14 December 2012Book page
Appendices 4 - Annual Report 2011-2012: Australian Human Rights Commission
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