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Technology and Human Rights
10 October 2024SubmissionCombatting Misinformation and Disinformation Bill 2024
Learn more about the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 and how it impacts human rights. -
Disability Rights
30 June 2021ProjectReform of the assistance animals provision of the Disability Discrimination Act (2003)
Reform of the assistance animals provision of the Disability Discrimination Act REPORT FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS ON SECTION 9(1)(f) OF THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT 1992 DEALING WITH ASSISTANCE ANIMALS OTHER THAN GUIDE DOGS AND HEARING DOGS. Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner 18 November 2003 Section 9 of the Disability Discrimination Act ("the DDA") defines … -
Rights and Freedoms
29 August 2019Publication
Discussion paper: A model for positive human rights reform
This paper outlines what our current system of human rights protections looks like, how it is and isn’t effective in ensuring that government respects, protects and fulfils our human rights, why reforming the current system is critical, and options for reform. -
Commission – General
9 October 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)October 2024: Commission News | President's message
Dear friends, Australia is one of the safest, most stable and prosperous countries on the planet. For most of us, most of the time, it is a great place to live. For many Australians, human rights violations are things that happen to other people in other places, often overseas. This can lead to complacency about our own rights protection and the importance of protecting the rights of those… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
16 June 2020SubmissionMigration Amendment (Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities) Bill 2020
The concerns outlined in this submission draw on the Commission’s work inspecting Australia’s immigration detention facilities. The Commission has conducted such inspections since the mid-1990s. -
Children's Rights
11 October 2024Media ReleaseWe must ‘help way earlier’ – united call to address systemic failures of Australia’s youth justice systems
Joint media release: Justice Reform Initiative and Australian Human Rights Commission Law and justice leaders, parliamentarians, First Nations leaders, child safety advocates, community service providers, peak organisations, and people with lived experience of child imprisonment from around Australia will come together for a landmark parliamentary event in Canberra on Thursday. Amid an… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
2 July 2020Opinion piece
Blanket bans would be unacceptable
During lockdown, many of us – myself included – have become even more reliant on our mobile phones. They have kept us in contact with parents, children and grandchildren, our colleagues and friends during this difficult time. When my two-year old first saw his grandmother on a smartphone, he squealed with delight. It wasn’t quite the same as being together — he pawed at the screen to try to… -
Rights and Freedoms
29 October 2020Submission
Review of the mandatory data retention regime (2019)
The Commission’s recommendations are aimed at ensuring that the data retention regime is more closely tailored to the purpose of fighting serious crime and is subject to appropriate safeguards and oversight. -
Legal
17 May 2023SpeechAccess to justice
Your Honours, distinguished guests: I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land, the Wurrindjeri people of the Kulin nation and pay my respects to their elders, especially to those elders present today. May also thank our host the Hon Justice Mordy Bromberg and the ICJ for inviting me to this, the ninth Community Opening of the Legal Year. Together we celebrate the partnership of the… -
Children's Rights
24 August 2022Publication
'Mental health shapes my life': COVID-19 & kids' wellbeing (2022)
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, children and their families have experienced unparalleled disruptions to their daily lives. Although the pandemic is far from over, it is important that we understand how children have dealt with these. -
Business and Human Rights
30 November 2022SpeechExecutive discretion in a time of COVID-19
Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have required very quick action by governments. But those responses have also involved significant limitations on people’s rights and freedoms, especially freedom of movement, and implemented through executive power often with limited parliamentary involvement. -
17 September 2024Conciliation register
2023-08-03
The complainant applied for a role with the respondent government agency but was unsuccessful because he has diabetes. The government agency claimed the complainant’s disability prevented him from safely performing the inherent requirements of the role but indicated a willingness to participate in conciliation to try to resolve the complaint. The complaint was resolved with an agreement that… -
17 September 2024Conciliation register
2023-08-01
The complainant advised she had depression for a short period in the past and that this does not impact on her ability to work. She applied for an increase to income protection insurance which was granted with an exception for mental health issues. She said she applied for a further two increases to her income protection insurance and claims the respondent insurer granted the first request… -
Race Discrimination
16 October 2024Publication
An Anti-Racism Framework: The Perspectives of Multicultural Australia
This report presents the findings and recommendations that followed consultations with more than 1200 people with lived experience of racism from across Australia, enhancing the Commission’s understanding of the prevalence and impact of racism in the country. -
Race Discrimination
2 October 2024Media Release
New handbook aims to shake up reporting on race in Australia
Journalists play a critical role in the way people are racialised. That’s why the Australian Human Rights Commission, in partnership with Media Diversity Australia, has produced the Race Reporting Handbook to help overcome misrepresentation and stereotyping. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
16 December 2020SpeechBROOME LAUNCH Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women's Voices) Report
BROOME LAUNCH Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices )— Securing Our Rights, Securing Our Future 2020 Report Monday, 14 December 2020 Goolarri Media Enterprises, Broome I acknowledge the beautiful lands of the Yawuru people that we gather on—I pay my respects to your ancestors, and your elders of today and those emerging. I also acknowledge all the language groups and many nations of the… -
Disability Rights
8 May 2020Speech
COVID-19: Advancing Rights and Justice During a Pandemic
Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute Virtual Event Series May 7, 2020 Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, fellow speakers. Thank you to Professor Emens for that kind introduction. COVID-19 exacerbates disadvantage – but in doing so it highlights the importance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities … -
Rights and Freedoms
17 June 2022Speech
Reflections on women and human rights
Thank you to the Lyceum Club for inviting me to speak, and to Christine Yeats and Judith White for your warm introduction. I recall that for my late mother, Dr Amy McGrath OAM, the revival of the Sydney Lyceum Club was very special. In sorting through papers of my parents, following the passing of my father, the Hon Dr Frank McGrath AM OBE, I found mother’s Lyceum Club card, membership… -
17 September 2024Conciliation register
2023-08-04
The complainant is legally blind and was employed as a senior staff member with the respondent recruitment agency. He alleged other members of senior staff and the business owner discriminated against him because of his disability, including by ridiculing him for not using two computer screens, making derogatory comments about his disability and threatening to demote him when he sought to… -
Commission – General
4 October 2024Media Release
Commission President reiterates calls for upholding human rights as violence in the Middle East escalates
As the violence in the Middle East escalates, and with the approaching anniversary of the brutal 7 October attacks by Hamas and the start of Israel’s devastating and continuing response, the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission has reiterated its call for upholding human rights and international humanitarian law.