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Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
The Death Penalty - a matter of principle
It is almost 40 years since the last man was hanged in Australia. Today, the death penalty has been abolished in every Australian jurisdiction. Opposition to the death penalty attracts bi-partisan political support. Yet in a region where many of our closest neighbours still maintain the death penalty, I believe Australia can - and should - take a stronger stand against state sanctioned execution. -
14 December 2012Book page
Chapter 2: Lateral violence in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities - Social Justice Report 2011
Last year I set out my priorities for my term as Social Justice Commissioner.[1] My priorities revolve around the central idea that to address the disadvantage faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and build a more reconciled nation, we need to develop stronger and deeper relationships: -
Legal2 August 2017Submission
Australian Citizenship Legislation (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee’s inquiry into the Australian Citizenship Legislation (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017 (Cth) introduced by the Australian Government. -
Commission – General3 September 2018Publication
Human Rights & Climate Change (2008)
Climate change will have significant impacts in both Australia and across the globe. Australia is one of the most arid continents in the world. It is vulnerable to risks such as disruptions to water supply; increases in the severity of storms, floods and droughts, coastal erosion due to sea level rise; and to negative human health impacts, for example through an increase in the range and spread of disease -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
Launch of the Supreme Court Equal Treatment Benchbook
When I first entered the law 'benchbooks' were closely guarded, leather bound books into which judges carefully entered notes as a case progressed - usually I thought adverse comments and exclamation marks about one's arguments or less than flattering remarks about one's principal witness. These books seemed to be some kind of secret code to the outcome of cases and never saw the light of day. -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2000: Chapter 4: Achieving meaningful reconciliation
This report identifies the necessity to adopt a human rights approach to reconciliation, as well as shortcomings in Australia's performance on human rights issues as they relate to Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. This chapter emphasises processes and mechanisms that enable reconciliation to be implemented within a human rights framework. It identifies crucial commitments and processes that governments must engage in to progress meaningful reconciliation in the coming years. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
President speech: ‘A Human Rights Act for Australia’ - Dame Roma Mitchell Memorial Luncheon
I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, and pay my respects to their elders past and present. -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2001: Chapter 1: Ten years on from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
The year 2001 marked the tenth anniversary of the final report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The 5 volumes and 339 recommendations that comprise the national report of Commissioner Johnston remain among the most extensive, frank and devastating examinations of the impact of colonialism on the Indigenous peoples of this country. -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2006
This appendix provides an overview of the main events with regard to the administration of Indigenous affairs to 30 June 2006. It commences with a summary table and is followed by a detailed description of each event. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2008 - Chapter 3
The strong, vibrant and committed Noongar peoples of the South West corner of Australia had their native title determination over Perth returned to square one. The Full Federal Court found that the first judge had made a number of errors in his decision and have sent the case back for consideration by a new judge, leaving the Noongar peoples uncertain about the future of their rights over the land. This is despite the Western Australian government openly acknowledging the Noongar peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2011: Chapter 1: Reviewing key developments in the Reporting Period
In this Chapter I review key developments within the native title system that occurred throughout the Reporting Period (1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011) and consider the impact of these events on the exercise and enjoyment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ human rights. -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Inquest into the death of Mr Ward (2009)
the provisions of an international convention to which Australia is a party can also serve as an indication of the value placed by Australia on the rights provided for in the convention and, therefore, as indicative of contemporary values.[7] -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Commission submission - Minh Dung Luu
1. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ("the Commission") was granted leave by his Honour Justice Marshall on 5 June 2001 to intervene in these proceedings pursuant to s 11(1)(o) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (the "HREOC Act"). -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Submission - Mutual Assistance Review (2007)
1. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (the Commission) makes this submission in response to the Attorney General’s Department (AGD) Discussion Paper on ‘A better mutual assistance system – a review of the Australia’s mutual assistance law and practice’ (the Discussion Paper). -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Mutual Assistance Review (2006)
1. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (the Commission) makes this submission in response to the Attorney General’s Department (AGD) Discussion Paper on ‘A better mutual assistance system – a review of the Australia’s mutual assistance law and practice’ (the Discussion Paper). -
14 December 2012Book page
Chapter 3 - Introduction: Social Justice Report 2009
When I commenced writing this chapter in 2008, Australia did not have a national Indigenous languages policy. However in August 2009, for the first time in Australia’s history, the Commonwealth Government launched a strategy for preserving Indigenous languages: Indigenous Languages - A National Approach 2009 (National Approach). The National Approach sets out the Commonwealth Government’s plan to preserve Indigenous languages through targeted actions. They are: -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (2010)
the Commission in its Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the inquiry into the effectiveness of the SDA in eliminating discrimination and promoting gender equality (the Senate Committee); and -
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 ... -
14 December 2012Book page
16. Temporary Protection Visas for Children Released from Immigration Detention
The immigration status that results in the detention of children under Australian law also affects their entitlements to various services on release from detention, after they have been recognised as refugees. As discussed in Chapter 6 on Australia's Detention Policy, most children detained in immigration detention facilities for long periods are detained because they arrive in Australia without a visa (unauthorised arrivals). More than 90 per cent of those children are subsequently found to be refugees and are therefore released on temporary protection visas (TPVs). -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Social Justice Report 2002: Self-determination - the freedom to 'live well'
a) Do Indigenous peoples have a right to self-determination? b) What is Indigenous self-determination? c) Summary - Defining Indigenous self-determination