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Legal
14 December 2012WebpageThe adequacy of the allowance payment system for jobseekers and others, the appropriateness of the allowance payment system as a support into work and the impact of the changing nature of the labour market
Recommendation 1: The Newstart Allowances and supplements should be increased so that they accurately reflect the costs of living, job-seeking and skill development activity. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012WebpageAustralian Council of Human Rights Agencies (ACHRA) - UPR Progress Report (2011)
The Australian Government is to be commended for its frank and robust engagement in the UPR process to date, both in the formal working group session and in engaging with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), NGOs and civil society throughout the process. -
Legal
26 March 2015Submission
Inquiry into the Commonwealth’s Treaty-Making Process
Download PDF Download Word 1 Introduction and summary The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee in its Inquiry into the Commonwealth’s Treaty-Making Process. The Commission is established by the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) and is Australia’s national human rights institution with an… -
3 January 2014Book page
2 Background and framework for promotion and protection of human rights
2.1 Scope of international obligations During Australia’s review, the Government made a commitment to improving Australia’s monitoring of its international human rights obligations. Australia is a party to seven of the core human rights treaties and maintains a number of reservations under these. The Australian Government made a commitment to conduct a comprehensive review of such… -
14 December 2012Book page
Community arrangements -asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Australia’s introduction of mandatory immigration detention and the eighteenth anniversary of the system of mandatory, indefinite immigration detention. In the current context, it is apt to recall that mandatory detention was introduced in reaction to the arrival of asylum seekers by boat, with concerns about a potential ‘influx’… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
A human rights approach to trafficking in persons (2011)
The Commission welcomes the opportunity to report to the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons, especially women and children on the human rights issues arising from trafficking in persons in Australia. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Detention Reform and Procedural Fairness) Bill 2011
Recommendation 2: The Migration Act should be amended to provide that detention of unlawful non-citizens in immigration detention facilities must only be used as a measure of last resort. There should be a clear presumption against the detention of children for immigration purposes. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012WebpageUniversal Periodic Review on human rights - FAQ (2016)
back to UPR page The UPR is a unique process that involves the regular review of the human rights situation in each country in the world. The UPR provides two major opportunities for Australia: It allows the Australian community and Government to take stock of how well we are protecting and promoting the human rights of all people in Australia; and It permits the Australian Government to… -
14 December 2012Book page
Chapter 1: A cause for cautious optimism: The year in review - Social Justice Report 2011
As I reflect on the events that have taken place during the reporting period from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011, I see cause for optimism whilst also acknowledging there are still some areas that remain a concern. Over the last year we have reached some major milestones. For instance, we have seen the election of the two co-chairs and a board to the National Congress of Australia’s First… -
Rights and Freedoms
18 November 2022Speech
Housing and human rights - rights where it matters
Sandy Duncanson Memorial Lecture Housing and human rights – rights where it matters Hobart, 11 October 2022 Abstract Homelessness can happen to anyone. People with disability are at an increased risk and they are joined by a growing invisible cohort of older women. COVID-19 was a trigger for state governments to find shelter for people living rough, illustrating that solutions to… -
14 December 2012Book page
2011 Immigration detention at Curtin
For more than a decade, the Australian Human Rights Commission has called for reforms to Australia’s system of mandatory and indefinite immigration detention – both in light of the impacts it has on people’s mental health and wellbeing, and because it leads to breaches of Australia’s international human rights obligations. During this time, the Commission has investigated… -
14 December 2012Book page
Community arrangements asylum seekers, refugees + stateless persons
“In Australia, if you have a pet, you take your pet out at least once a week. I haven’t had an excursion in the two years I’ve been in detention ... I don’t even know what Australians look like.” -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into Australia’s agreement with Malaysia in relation to asylum seekers
Recommendation 1: Asylum seekers should not be transferred from Australia to Malaysia under the Arrangement between the Government of Australia and the Government of Malaysia on Transfer and Resettlement. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
23 January 2013PublicationImmigration detention on Christmas Island - Observations from visit to Immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island
Immigration detention on Christmas Island Observations from visit to Immigration detention facilities on Christmas Island -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the Welfare Reform and Reinstatement of Racial Discrimination Act Bill 2009 and other Bills
There is intense hurt and anger at being isolated on the basis of race and subjected to collective measures that would never be applied to other Australians. The Intervention was received with a sense of betrayal and disbelief. Resistance to its imposition undercut the potential effectiveness of its substantive measures. -
Disability Rights
29 September 2016SpeechEqual before the law? How the criminal justice system is failing people with disability
I acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we meet and pay my respect to their elders past and present. I am delighted to be here today to deliver the 2016 Annual Costello Lecture. Last year, the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, delivered a lecture on business and human rights, proposing that the corporate world is both a cause and… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Consideration of Australia’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture
The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT) in its consideration of Australia’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Project
Discrimination in Employment on the Basis of Criminal Record
In recent years the Australian Human Rights Commission has received a significant number of complaints from people alleging discrimination in employment on the basis of criminal record. The complaints indicate that there is a great deal of misunderstanding by both employers and people with criminal records about discrimination on the basis of criminal record. -
15 July 2014Book page
Chapter 3: How do we keep moving forward? A road map for our future
3.1 Introduction In chapters 1 and 2, I look back over the past 20 years that the Social Justice Commissioner position has been in place and think about the journey and our learning over this time. In this chapter, I want to explore how those lessons can take us forward to chart a confident course into the future and how the realisation of our rights can produce long term sustainable… -
Sex Discrimination
31 May 2016SpeechAustralasian Law Reform Agencies Conference
Domestic and family violence and human rights - We all have a right to live our lives free from violence, especially in our relationships, our families and in our homes.