News

Rights and Freedoms

The Forgotten Freedoms – Freedom of Religion

It is a great pleasure to deliver a Blackfriars Lecture. A few weeks ago I gave a speech to the Sydney Institute outlining the approach I plan to take to human rights as the Federal Commissioner titled ‘The Forgotten Freedoms’. In this speech I outlined that I have concerns about the key freedoms of expression, worship, association and property rights. Reasserting them will be the focus of my tenure as Human Rights Commissioner.

29 May, 2014

Rights and Freedoms

The Forgotten Freedoms

The Sydney Institute

13 May, 2014

Children's Rights

Playing our part: advocating for children’s rights

In coming here today, we celebrate 40 years of hard work and dedication by the Network of Community Activities, to the promotion of children’s rights in Australia.

6 May, 2014

Rights and Freedoms

The freedom wars and the future of human rights in Australia

Address to the National Press Club, Canberra

9 April, 2014

Children's Rights

Juvenile Justice? Ensuring the Opportunity to Thrive

I thought I might begin today by sharing with you the words of a few of the young people I heard from during my national listening tour last year.

25 March, 2014

Age Discrimination

Age Discrimination, the new challenge for teachers

Teacher’s Federation Council

15 March, 2014

Disability Rights

Send Rosie Anne home

For most of us gaol is a theoretical concept. It's somewhere you go if you commit a serious crime. And that's fair enough. Neither of us have committed a crime, but in various roles during our lives we have visited places of detention. But for short times, and knowing we can always walk out. They are...

14 March, 2014

Disability Rights

Launch of Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Action Plan

Sarah - not her real name - studied law at university. Not only did she earn a good law degree, she won the university medal. She also won competitions for mooting- conducting mock trials for those of you smart enough not to have chosen law as your profession. She could not get a job - or even an interview - with the Australian public service because she has a significant disability, including using a wheelchair, and some verbal communication issues.

20 February, 2014

Rights and Freedoms

Freedoms versus anti-discrimination laws? A false debate

Responsibility, anti-discrimination laws, human rights and freedoms - these words have been at the center of an ideological debate about how to protect fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom from detention without trial. But if we are serious about...

22 January, 2014

Disability Rights

Speech to Australia's Network on Disability International Day Function

Click here to download presentation slide I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. *Slide with contact details* I've pondered for a while how to theme this speech. After all, it’s my last international day as Commissioner, as my term concludes in July next year. And 2013 - a huge year of...

4 December, 2013

Children's Rights

Young people seeking asylum – protecting their rights in Australia

Young people seeking asylum – protecting their rights in Australia Practitioners Workshop, ‘Improving Services for Unaccompanied Minors & Young People Seeking Asylum’ CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY 1. Acknowledgments Thank you, Pino, for your introduction. Thank you also to Australian Red Cross for the...

4 December, 2013

Disability Rights

Launch of Telstra's 6th Disability Action Plan

Geoff Scott is your average Aussie bloke- so like most Australians, he's a prospective Telstra customer. Only difference is that Geoff is deaf.

3 December, 2013

Disability Rights

ABS International Day of People with Disability

I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. I have a dream that my children will grow up in a nation where they are not judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. Who said these words? Martin Luther King. If I can adapt that quote, I have a dream that my...

2 December, 2013

Disability Rights

Presentation to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. Thanks for the chance to have this discussion this afternoon. It's a relatively small group so I hope it can be quite informal. We've just seen one of the films from the Australian Human Rights Commission's Twenty Years: Twenty Stories project. I...

2 December, 2013

Rights and Freedoms

Freedom of Speech and Racial vilification: one man’s freedom ends where another’s starts

The Sydney Institute Tuesday 26 November 2013 6pm Venue: King & Wood Mallesons, Level 61, Governor Phillip Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney (Check against delivery) I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the Sydney Institute speakers program and to discuss two freedoms- freedom of speech...

26 November, 2013