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Rights and Freedoms
12 August 2014SpeechFree speech and human rights in Australia
From the Free Speech Symposium -
24 April 2015Book page
3 Promotion and protection of human rights on the ground
3.1 Equality before the law and non-discrimination (a) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has yet to be implemented in law, policy and practice. [12] Recommendation: The Commission recommends that Government develop, in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, a National Strategy to give effect to the ... -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageAustralian Human Rights Commission Submission to the Joint Select Committee on Australia’s Immigration Detention Network (2011)
The Australian Government should implement reforms it announced in 2008 under which immigration detention is to be used as a last resort and for the shortest practicable period, people are to be detained in the least restrictive environment appropriate to their individual circumstances, and there is a presumption that people will be permitted to reside in the community unless they pose an unacceptable risk. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechCreating Fairness and Equality in the Workplace
It is now 12 months since the introduction of WorkChoices radically restructured Australia’s industrial relations system. Today, I propose to reflect on the implications of WorkChoices for the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) and to outline reforms HREOC believes are necessary to safeguard fairness and equality in the workplace. -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2001-2002: Chapter 3
As a result of the enactment of the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999 (Cth) the jurisdiction of the Commission to conduct public inquiries into complaints was transferred on 13 April 2000 to the Federal Court and Federal Magistrates Service. However, the Commission retained the jurisdiction to complete those public inquiries it had commenced prior to 13 April 2000. During 2000–01, 32 of these matters were finalised. Of those: -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
Presentation at the Governor’s Leadership Foundation Forum
HREOC is a statutory body independent of government. While our main function is to promote an understanding and acceptance of human rights in Australia, we are also charged with the responsibilities of investigating, and attempting to conciliate complaints of unlawful discrimination under the federal Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Age Discrimination Act 2004.1 HREOC also has specific responsibilities to report annually to Parliament on the enjoyment of human rights of Indigenous Australians. -
14 December 2012Book page
Same-Sex: Same Entitlements: Chapter 15
Many same-sex couples who appeared at the Inquiry’s community forums talked about the problems they face in getting visas. They highlighted the limited options available to a same-sex couple wanting to migrate to Australia as a couple. They talked about the additional expense and disruption to their lives in proving their entitlement to a visa. And they talked about the indignity of being treated differently to genuine opposite-sex couples. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
30 March 2017Publication
Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Human Rights: Snapshot Report (2nd Edition) 2017
The second edition of this Report provides an update on legal and policy developments related to refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia since 2013. The Report is not intended to address all the issues facing refugees and people seeking asylum in Australia. Instead, it focuses on developments which place Australia at risk of breaching its international human rights obligations -
14 December 2012Book page
Report on the Human Rights Commissioner's Visit to Curtin IRPC in July 2000
On Saturday 29 July 2000 the then Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Chris Sidoti, assisted by a consultant, Dr Mary Crock, Senior Lecturer in Law at Sydney University, visited the Curtin Immigration Reception and Processing Centre outside Derby in the Kimberley region of WA. They made observations and obtained information about accommodation, programs and services, and particulars about the conditions and treatment of detainees. This report documents Commissioner Sidoti's observations and the information he obtained with Dr Crock's assistance. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Comments by the Australian Human Rights Commission to the United Nations Human Rights Committee on issues relevant to Australia’s fifth periodic report under the ICCPR (2008)
The Australian Human Rights and Commission (the Commission) provides these comments to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (the Committee) in response to the Committee’s request for information relevant to Australia’s fifth periodic report under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).[1] -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President Speech: What does it mean to believe in human rights in Australia today?
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of this land, the Pambalong clan of the Awabakal people, and pay my respect to their elders, past and present. Today I would like to explore the question: ‘What does it mean to believe in human rights in Australia today?’ This is an ambitious project, and I am aware that the question does not have a short and simple answer. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission submission - Long Guan Juan & Others v Minister for Immigration
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ("the Commission") was established by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ("the HREOC Act"). On 28 February 1995, His Honour Justice O'Loughlin directed that leave be granted to the Commission, pursuant to s.11(1)(o) of the HREOC Act, to file and serve written submissions in these matters limited to the issues that are by virtue of the terms of the respective applications relevant to the matters that are still to be determined. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
Human rights issues for young refugees and asylum seekers
The globalisation of the world economy, including much improved communication and transportation, has increased flows of people across borders. This includes the movement of children, both with their family and unaccompanied. Separated children crossing borders may be refugees, humanitarian asylum seekers, trafficked girls who will be forced to work as prostitutes, or simply children lost in the aftermath of war. So today, children can literally travel across the world undetected and unprotected. And Australia, as part of this global system, has its share of these children. -
14 December 2012Book page
Same-Sex: Same Entitlements: Chapter 4
It is simple to remove discrimination against same-sex couples in laws conferring financial and work-related benefits: amend the definitions describing a couple to include same-sex and opposite-sex couples alike. -
14 December 2012Book page
DIAC Response to the 2010 Australian Human Rights Commission Report on Immigration Detention in Darwin (2010)
The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Human Rights Commission (the AHRC) 2010 Public Statement on Immigration Detention in Darwin. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Australia's compliance with the Convention Against Torture
Learn how Australia complies with the UN Committee Against Torture in areas such as immigration detention, prison conditions and victims of trafficking. -
29 January 2015Book page
1 Introduction
1.1 A snapshot of children in detention 1.2 Australian law and the detention of children 1.3 Does the Government owe a duty of care to children in detention? 1.4 International law and the detention of children My hope finished now. I don’t have any hope. I feel I will die in detention . (Unaccompanied 17 year old, Phosphate Hill Detention Centre, Christmas Island, 4 March 2014) Drawing by primary ... -
Legal
14 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. -
Legal
14 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. -
Legal
27 October 2014Submission
Information concerning Australia’s compliance with the Convention Against Torture
Information concerning Australia’s compliance with the Convention Against Torture Submission by the Australian Human Rights Commission 17 October 2014 Download PDF Download Word Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Statutory powers of the Australian Human Rights Commission 3 Independent monitoring and inspection mechanisms, including ratification of the Optional Protocol 4 Domestic implementation of ...