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Rights and Freedoms

Speech delivered to Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Today I want to talk to you first generally about Australia’s human rights obligations, and the role of the Commission. I will then move to discuss three key human rights obligations which are relevant to decisions which some officers within the Department make every day.

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Australia Post Action Plan Launch (2012)

Australia Post Action Plan Launch Graeme Innes AMDisability Discrimination CommissionerAustralian Human Rights Commission Monday 3 December 2012 I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today. I also wish you all a happy International Day of People with Disability. Sarah -...

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Speech - Launch of Macquarie University’s Disability Action Plan (2012)

Ten years ago I gave the occasional address at a graduation at Sydney University. I accepted the invitation to speak in the Great Hall and then informed the University that - as the platform on which students received their degrees was not accessible for people with mobility disability - I would speak from the floor of the hall. I did that, and told the story of Bradley Kinsella. He had studied at QUT for three years about a further decade ago, and used his wheelchair all of that time. Despite their knowledge of his disability, QUT scheduled his degree in an inaccessible venue.

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Launch of Australian Federal Police Disability Action Plan (2012)

Launch of Australian Federal Police Disability Action Plan Thursday 2 August, 2012 Graeme Innes AMDisability Discrimination CommissionerAustralian Human Rights Commission I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet today. Most of you would confidently tell me that Australians...

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Launch of Australian Federal Police Disability Action Plan (2012)

Most of you would confidently tell me that Australians are not held in prison for five or ten years when they have not been found guilty of any crime. We don't do that here you would say. And, as upholders of Australia's Federal law most people would accept your view. Sadly, you would be wrong.

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

The DDA 20 Years On: Successes, Lessons and Future Directions (2012)

The DDA 20 Years On: Successes, Lessons and Future Directions 3rd Annual National Disability Summit Paving a future direction for disability policy reform in Australia Melbourne 27 June 2012 Graeme InnesDisability Discrimination Commissioner I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which...

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

The DDA 20 Years On: Successes, Lessons and Future Directions (2012)

At this Summit in 2010, I talked about the crucial roles of a National Disability Insurance Scheme. They were in moving to a society that respects, protects, promotes and fulfils human rights for people with disability. I used the title Money Changes Everything - But What's Insurance Got to Do with It?

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Accessible procurement and promotion of equality in employment (2011)

The Australian Human Rights Commission Act tells us that the Commission's functions should be performed "efficiently and with the greatest possible benefit to the people of Australia". That is also a good summary of the goals of the Department of Finance, in public expenditure, public administration and policy and regulation.

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Achieving equal access to telecommunications

Paper for Consumer Telecommunications Network conference, "Is the future calling: consumers and new telecommunications technologies", Sydney, 24 November 2000 David Mason, Director, Disability Rights policy, HREOC

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

World Mental Health Day Address

Thank you for the opportunity to speak here today, World Mental Health Day. I am very pleased that World Mental Health Day this year is dedicated to the theme Human Rights and Mental Health. This theme recognises that mental health issues are human rights issues - a view argued strongly and consistently by our Human Rights Commission for many years.

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Pokemons in the Amazon Jungle

I am here today representing, firstly, the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), and, second, I'm here to represent at least 20% of the population, and 20% of your customers and users if you are a web developer or web content manager: of course, I'm referring to people who have a disability.

Category, Speech
Disability Rights

Disability and human rights

Allow me to commence by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, the Wallumattagal clan of the Eora peoples. Let me also acknowledge my fellow speakers, as well as other distinguished guests and friends.

Category, Speech
Sex Discrimination

Launch of Good Practice, Good Business (2004)

Firstly, I would like to pass on apologies from the President of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, The Hon. John von Doussa QC, who is presently interstate and unable to be here today. It goes without saying that he entirely endorses the purpose of this project and believes there should be more of it.

Category, Speech
Commission – General

Past Achievements and Future Strategies in Educating the Public about Human Rights

Let me preface my remarks today with the assertion that, generally speaking, Australia has a strong and proud record on human rights. The Australian Government is formally committed to supporting the universal observance of human rights both at home and abroad saying that this policy helps to achieve a more stable and just international order, which benefits the security and prosperity of everyone. In this statement, the Government links peace to the observance of human rights, a topic to which I shall return.

Category, Speech

Pagination

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