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Employers10 February 2015Webpage
The Australian finance sector and human rights
Business should respect human rights, which means to avoid infringing on the human rights of others and address adverse human rights impacts business may cause or contribute to. International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability Integrating human rights considerations into core business practice is vital for managing business risks and creating ... -
Employers10 February 2015Webpage
Integrating human rights into Australian business practice
Companies in all regions and sectors are demonstrating that a commitment to human rights, decent workplace standards, environmental responsibility and the fight against corruption pays off. Some firms have saved money; others have minimized risks; still others have discovered new opportunities linked to the concept of sustainability. Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General The business and ... -
Employers10 February 2015Webpage
The Australian manufacturing and retail sectors and human rights
The corporate responsibility to respect human rights is a social responsibility over and above compliance with applicable laws. It is the minimum expectation society has of business conduct in relation to human rights. It means that as business goes about its business, it should not infringe on the rights of others. So manufacture your mouse traps, deliver whatever services you provide, but don’t ... -
Employers10 February 2015Webpage
The Australian mining and resource sector and human rights
Corporations have a responsibility to respect human rights – they must not only ensure compliance with national laws, but also manage risks of human rights harms with a view to avoiding them. John Ruggie, Harvard University, former UN Special Representative on Business and Human Rights The impact of mining and exploration activities on the human rights of employees and surrounding communities is ... -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
11 February 2015Opinion pieceWe must keep striving to close the gap in Indigenous health
"Just in the last week, three of my closest friends and a relative have been diagnosed with cancer. This is not an uncommon story, to be – as a community – constantly in grief, loss and trauma." These words, from Janine Mohamed, chief executive of the Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives, will be familiar to our communities across Australia. As will her realisation ... -
Employers11 February 2015Webpage
Good practice guidelines for internal complaint processes
Good practice guidelines for internal complaint processes (PDF) Good practice guidelines for internal complaint processes (Word) Why have an internal complaint process? Addressing employee complaints about discrimination and harassment quickly and fairly is good for business because it can: identify ways to improve workplace practices and policies improve staff morale, productivity and retention ... -
Employers11 February 2015Webpage
Sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status discrimination
Sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status discrimination PDF (700 KB) Sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status discrimination Word (116 KB) The Sex Discrimination Act The Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (SDA) makes it unlawful to treat people less favourably than another person in a similar situation because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status ... -
Employers11 February 2015Webpage
Vicarious liability
Learn how employers can be held legally responsible for acts of discrimination or harassment in the workplace, which is known as vicarious liability. -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Breastfeeding
It is against the law to discriminate against women who are breastfeeding. This includes women who need to express milk by hand or using a pump. There are some limited exemptions. Discrimination happens when a woman is treated less favourably because she is breastfeeding or needs to breastfeed over a period of time. It is also discrimination when there is an unreasonable requirement or practice ... -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Carers
Caring responsibilities can include caring for young children, for children or adults with disabilities, mental illness, chronic illness, or for older people. Many employees will have caring responsibilities at different times in their lives. Employers have an obligation to avoid discrimination against carers in some circumstances. Under the Sex Discrimination Act, it is against the law for ... -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Complaints made to the Australian Human Rights Commission
A complaint of discrimination or harassment can be made to the Australian Human Rights Commission about an issue covered by federal anti-discrimination law. Under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act, the Commission can also investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination, harassment and bullying in employment based on a person’s criminal record , trade union activity , political ... -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Complaints – Internal Complaints Processes
Establishing a process to resolve complaints of discrimination and harassment can improve staff satisfaction and help avoid complaints to external agencies or other legal action. Under federal anti-discrimination laws, if an organisation argues that the organisation should not be held liable for any discrimination or harassment by one of its employees, the organisation will need to demonstrate ... -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Conciliation
If a complaint of discrimination or harassment is made to the Australian Human Rights Commission, the complaint may be resolved through a process known as ‘conciliation’. Conciliation is an informal, flexible approach to resolving complaints. The Commission tries to help everyone involved in the complaint to understand the issues and find a solution that is acceptable to everyone. We do not take ... -
17 February 2015Book page
Executive summary
The Campaign Steering Committee welcomes the absolute gains in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancy from 2005-2007 to 2010-2012. Over that five-year period, life expectancy is estimated to have increased by 1.6 years for males and by 0.6 of a year for females. But a life expectancy gap of around ten years remains for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when compared with ... -
17 February 2015Book page
Developments in policy
If there is one message I want Governments to hear from this report it is: Do not press the reset button! ... If we continue to start over again the foundations previously laid will be pulled up time and again, never allowing enough time or energy to build the structure required to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. [121] Brian Gleeson, the Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services ... -
17 February 2015Book page
Establishing effective pathways for positive change – an analysis by the Campaign Steering Committee
The need for a long-term approach and bipartisan support across the political divide [for addressing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander disadvantage] was stressed by those attending consultations across Australia and in the hundreds of written submissions to the review. First Australians and those working with them are rightly cynical about new government reform and how long it will last. The ... -
17 February 2015Book page
Conclusion
This report affirms the need to stay the course with the Closing the Gap Strategy and to be patient for improvements sought to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and life expectancy – progress which many indicators suggest will be seen in time. It should not be forgotten that the Closing the Gap Strategy commenced in July 2009 and that intergenerational change cannot be expected in less ... -
17 February 2015Book page
Who we are
Australia's peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health bodies, health professional bodies and human rights organisations operate the Close the Gap Campaign. The Campaign's goal is to raise the health and life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to that of the non-Indigenous population within a generation: to close the gap by 2030. It aims to do this ... -
Legal
28 March 2018Media ReleasePathways to Justice - ALRC report welcomed by Commissioner June Oscar AO
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO has urged Federal, State and Territory governments to genuinely consider the Australian Law Reform Commission’s report into the over-representation of Indigenous people in custody. The report, tabled in Federal Parliament today, contains 35 recommendations to address community safety and imprisonment rates amongst ... -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
WORK AND FAMILY TEST CASE
The supporting material listed below is now available from HREOC at the request of the AIRC or the parties. It is intended that relevant parts of this material will be provided with final submissions.