Rights and Freedoms
Freedom of speech is alive and well in Australia but, with respect to Voltaire, we will not defend to the death those who abuse this right by vilifying others in public on the ground of race.
The Human Rights Day Oration was delivered by James Spigelman, Chairman of the ABC and former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW from 1998 until 2011. His keynote speech tackled the topical issue of ‘Where do we draw the line between hate speech and free speech?’
Disability Rights
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 -...
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Keynote address by Geoff Scott, Chief Executive Officer, New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Mick GoodaAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice CommissionerAustralian Human Rights Commission Australian Human Rights CommissionSydneyFriday 30 November 2012 It is with respect and gratitude that I acknowledge that we sit on the lands of the Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation. Thank...
Speech delivered by Professor Gillian Triggs, former President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, on the topic of the right to equality and education.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Mick GoodaAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice CommissionerAustralian Human Rights Commission Brisbane Exhibition & Convention CentreFriday 23 November 2012 Acknowledgements I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of the Brisbane area.I pay my respects to your...
Age Discrimination
It may surprise you to hear me start by saying that in many ways the research that comes from gerontology is at the forefront of age law reform. Gerontologists give us the evidence and information to advocate for age friendly laws and policies. Your work assists us to understand that while most of us develop along a similar trajectory in the early years of life, our ageing at the latter stages of life is very different, and our laws and policies should respect those differences.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Barriers to Accessing Justice: Lateral Violence Mick GoodaAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice CommissionerAustralian Human Rights Commission Jasper HotelMelbourneThursday 22 November 2012 Acknowledgements I would like to begin by acknowledging that we sit on the lands of the...
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Speech delivered to the United Nations Association of Australia (WA Division)
Commission – General
Speech delivered to the Anglo-Australasian Lawyers Society
Disability Rights
Alan used to work as a civil engineer, and is a trombone player with two orchestras and two bands. He has competed in the Australian Band Championships for the last three years. He sold his soils laboratory to 'retire', and has never looked back. He still works part-time in soil testing, but as well as trombone playing he is a volunteer in a Rotary shop, walks 30-40 kilometers weekly, won a silver medal in the 10 km Road Race in the Australian Masters Games 2012, and completed a novel for pre-teens called 'Alex', designed to raise awareness about healthy lifestyles.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Uncle Lewis, on behalf of my Elders I pass on our respects to your Elders, both past and present, for their continued struggle for their country and their culture.
Disability Rights
I'm a proud Australian. We live in a great democracy, with one of the strongest economies in the world. I'm not proud, though, of how we treat Australians with disability- some of our most disadvantaged citizens. And we are all ashamed that, in such a strong nation, that treatment continues. This shame can no longer continue. So let's fix the system. Let's have an NDIS so that not some, but every Australian counts. Thanks for the chance to speak with you today.
Disability Rights
Australia became a party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2008. The rest of the world refers to it by the unappealing acronym of CRPD, or the Disability Convention, but I like to refer to it as the Disco. It's catchy, and it creates a great image for me of people with disability dancing, and being to go anywhere they want - although I haven't been inside a disco for many a long year.
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