Asylum Seekers and Refugees
More than 1,000 asylum seekers have a greater ability to apply for protection in Australia following a landmark judgment by the Federal Court on Tuesday. “When a person seeks asylum in Australia, it’s vital that their application be processed quickly, fairly and transparently. This judgment will...
Rights and Freedoms
The travel ban on Australian citizens returning from India, accompanied by criminal sanctions under the Biosecurity Act, raises serious human rights concerns. The Commission supports the continuation of aid to the Indian Government as it copes with the current COVID-19 crisis, but the Commission...
Rights and Freedoms
The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for greater accountability to be embedded in laws that extend the Commonwealth’s power in the event of national emergencies. In its submission to a Senate inquiry examining the National Emergency Declaration Act 2020, the Commission recommended five...
Children's Rights
National Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO have urged all Australian governments to raise the age of criminal responsibility as a matter of priority. A report commissioned by a meeting of Attorneys-General in...
Race Discrimination
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO said Australia must stop the “mass incarceration” of its Indigenous people or else deaths in custody will continue to occur. Commissioner Oscar said her thoughts are with all the families who have lost loved ones over...
Children's Rights
National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds presented the opening address at the 2021 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference. The theme of the conference was NO TURNING BACK: Transforming and Redesigning Policy and Service Delivery.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO have urged the Northern Territory government to reconsider its proposals for youth offending, announced yesterday. The NT Government yesterday said it would...
Race Discrimination
Speech by the National Race Discrimination Commissioner, Chin Tan, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Hello everyone, wherever you are in Australia. I join you from the lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern...
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Bunuba yani U. I acknowledge all the traditional countries that we gather on today, and pay my respects to our elders everywhere, past, present and emerging. Happy International Women’s Week 2021! I really thank Jane and all the team, children and...
Sex Discrimination
As Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner, I welcome today’s announcement from Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham. I acknowledge the importance and urgency of this Independent Review (Review) into the workplaces of Parliamentarians and their staff, established by the Federal Government, in...
Age Discrimination
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the publication of the final report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. Following the findings and recommendations in the report, released today, the Commission would like to see the human rights of older people embedded in the...
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