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Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechLaunch of the Supreme Court Equal Treatment Benchbook
When I first entered the law 'benchbooks' were closely guarded, leather bound books into which judges carefully entered notes as a case progressed - usually I thought adverse comments and exclamation marks about one's arguments or less than flattering remarks about one's principal witness. These books seemed to be some kind of secret code to the outcome of cases and never saw the light of day. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President Speech: The role of the Australian Human Rights Commission in protecting and promoting human rights in Australia
I would like to begin by saying how delighted I am to be here speaking this evening about the work of the Australian Human Rights Commission. I hope also to learn more about the protection of human rights in Japan and about your proposal for a national human rights institution in Japan. This is my first time to Japan and I am thrilled to be here. I am grateful for all the work that has gone into… -
14 December 2012Book page
A last resort ?
No child shall be deprived of his or her liberty unlawfully or arbitrarily. The arrest, detention or imprisonment of a child shall be in conformity with the law and shall be used only as a measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of time. -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageUpdated information from the Australian Human Rights Commission on Australia’s implementation of the ICCPR (2009)
Ms Nathalie Prouvez Secretary of the Human Rights Committee Human Rights Treaties Branch Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights CH-1211 Geneva 10 Switzerland -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Refugee review
1. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ("the Commission") seeks to make submissions to the Tribunal pursuant to paragraphs 11(1)(g), (o) and (p) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ("the HREOC Act"). -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
14 December 2012SpeechCurrent issues Australia faces in relation to its treatment of refugees (2012)
Speech delivered to the United Nations Association of Australia (WA Division) -
Commission – General
12 July 2019Publication
Corporate Plan 2019 - 2020
Respect for human rights and freedoms is the cornerstone of a cohesive and peaceful society in which everyone can make a contribution and feel safe and included. This Corporate Plan shows how we achieve our purpose and promote an Australian society where human rights are enjoyed by everyone, everywhere, everyday. It has been prepared in accordance with s 35(1)(b) of the Public Governance -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Submissions on the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Teaching Profession) Bill 2004
2. First, the Bill is unnecessary because it is unlikely to achieve its stated purpose; that is to address the problem of the imbalance in the number of male and female school teachers and the assumed effect of that imbalance on the education of male school students. In that regard the Commission notes that there is little available evidence which suggests that proposed amendment would increase… -
Rights and Freedoms
30 April 2019Publication
Free and equal: An Australian conversation on human rights (2019)
Through 2019, the Commission will promote conversation nationally to identify what makes an effective system of human rights protection for 21st century Australia? -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012WebpageSubmission to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child for their Day of General Discussion on the Rights of Indigenous Children
This submission is made by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner on behalf of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) of Australia. In recent years the Commissioner has undertaken many activities relating to the rights of Indigenous children. This submission provides an overview of the inequality and discrimination faced by Aboriginal and Torres… -
Race Discrimination
23 July 2015Opinion pieceForty years of the Racial Discrimination Act
In October 1975, at a ceremony for the proclamation of the Racial Discrimination Act, then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam described the legislation as ‘a historic measure’, which aimed to ‘entrench new attitudes of tolerance and understanding in the hearts and minds of the people’.(1) The Act was Australia’s first federal human rights and discrimination law. Enacted shortly after the formal -
Rights and Freedoms
28 October 2020Webpage
Where is the line on COVID-19 emergency measures?
Learn how limitations to human rights must be necessary and proportionate, including during a pandemic situation such as COVID-19. -
14 December 2012Book page
Appendices2 - Annual Report 2009-2010: Australian Human Rights Commission
Appendices Appendix 2 – Complaint statistics Enquiries and complaints received In 2010-11 the Commission received 18 670 enquiries and 2 152 complaints which is similar to the average number of enquiries and complaints received over the past five years. • 38% of complaints were lodged under the Disability Discrimination Act • 21% of complaints were lodged under the Sex Discrimination Act •… -
Children's Rights
6 April 2022Publication
Keeping kids safe and well: your voices
Children and young people are experts in their own lives, and their insights are critical for understanding how we can better support their safety and wellbeing. -
Rights and Freedoms
25 June 2020Publication
Freedom of Religion in Australia: a focus on serious harms (2020)
The right to freedom of religion is recognised in international human rights law and receives some protection in Australia’s federal, state and territory laws. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2002: Introduction
The year under review in this, my fourth Native Title Report, is a year in which the High Court has handed down its decision in several significant native title cases thus elucidating the principles upon which the recognition and extinguishment of native title are determined. 2002 marks the end of a ten year period since the Mabo decision [1] first introduced the dual concepts of recognising and… -
14 December 2012Book page
RESPONSE TO THE DISCUSSION PAPER: LIVING WILLS: OPAWA
The Public Advocate of Western Australia supports the concept of people with mental illnesses having significant and formalised input into the treatment of their illness. A pre-planning instrument such as a living will is a useful tool for people with fluctuating illnesses to contribute to their management while they are unwell. -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
This submission has been prepared following a public seminar held on 4 March 2002 to discuss the experiences of children in Immigration Detention Centres in Australia. The seminar, held at the University of Western Sydney (Macarthur - Bankstown), was convened by Childhood and Youth Policy Research Unit of the Social Justice and Social Change Research Centre, University of Western Sydney in… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
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I also thank Professor Barry Brook for his survey of the latest scientific assessments and forecasts on the impact of climate change on our planet. They are indeed alarming. The fact of climate change, and the rate of change, has become all too clear, even if there are still sceptics that wish to debate the causes. Our title reference to “Catastrophic Impacts” seems fully justified. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Submission - Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test and Other Provisions) Bill (2011)
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the opportunity to make this submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Legal and Constitutional Affairs in its Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test and Other Provisions) Bill 2011.