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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
18 March 2020Media ReleaseWe say: No more preventable deaths
The Close the Gap Campaign has warned that only systemic reform will make up for the harrowing failure of the last 12 years of government policy on closing the gaps in health equity, social and economic disadvantage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The 2020 Close the Gap Campaign report, again written by the Lowitja Institute and released today, sets out a blueprint for… -
Rights and Freedoms
30 March 2019Speech‘Free and Equal’: Making Human Rights Education a Priority
National FutureSchools Expo and Conferences 21 March 2019, Melbourne Introduction I pay my respects to the Wurudjeri peoples of the Kulin nation who are the traditional custodians of this land—to their elders, past and present, and to the future generations, the children and young people that look to us as educators. I also extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander -
Rights and Freedoms
28 July 2020Opinion piece
Wearing a mask will protect human liberties, not infringe upon them
There’s been a lot of talk, anger and resistance to the changes of our rights and freedoms as Australia deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. In some way or another, each and every one of us has encountered restrictions – on our freedom of movement, the right to peaceful protest, the ability to engage in public areas without wearing masks and the requirement to provide personal information for… -
Children's Rights
6 February 2020Media ReleaseChildren’s Commissioner to Launch Final Report
Australia’s first Children’s Commissioner, Megan Mitchell will on Monday launch her final report – one of the most comprehensive assessments of children’s rights ever produced in Australia. The report makes clear that the mental health of Australian children is not being cared for sufficiently and that Governments must do more to ensure children’s wellbeing. Commissioner Mitchell said: “Not… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
16 March 2022Publication
Close the Gap (2022)
This year’s report, Transforming Power – Voices for Generational Change, is a small collection of the hundreds of stories that catalogue the success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led initiatives. -
Race Discrimination
30 March 2019SpeechRace Discrimination Commissioner, Mr Chin Tan, on Nelson Mandela Day
Thank you for the very kind welcome. May I extend particular thanks to the Nelson Mandela Day Commemorative Committee (NMDCC) for the invitation and for having me here this evening. Let me start by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this land where we gather tonight, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, and pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging. I would… -
9 May 2024Conciliation register
2021-06-05
The complainant has a lung disease and believed she would be eligible for an exemption from mask-wearing requirements imposed in response to COVID-19. She said she felt breathless when attending the respondent bank and so pulled her mask below her chin. She alleged a bank attendant and the branch manager insisted the mask must cover her nose and mouth. On being notified of the complaint the… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
24 May 2023News story
One year since the Uluru Statement called for Voice, Treaty & Truth
The Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO is encouraging all Australians to reflect on the call made by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Central Australia one year ago. On May 26 last year, First Nations peoples from around the country presented the historic Uluru Statement from the Heart. It called for: constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
24 May 2023News story
Uluru Statement ‘cannot be ignored’
Australia’s human rights bodies tell political leaders: Uluru Statement ‘cannot be ignored’ Australia’s federal, state and territory human rights bodies have urged political leaders to work across party lines to deliver Constitutional reform for Australia’s First Peoples. In a joint letter, the Australian Council of Human Rights Authorities (ACHRA) says the Uluru Statement from the Heart … -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
17 January 2019Speech
Healing Our Spirit Worldwide 8th Gathering Closing Keynote Address
Introduction in Bunuba Thank you. Jalangurru lanygu balangarri - good afternoon everyone. Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Gadigal yani U. Balangarri wadjirragali jarra ningi – gamali ngindaji yau muwayi nyirrami ngarri thangani. Yaningi miya ngindaji Muwayi ingga winyira ngirranggu thangani. Yathawarra, wilalawarra jalangurru ngarri guda. I speak to you in my first… -
Rights and Freedoms
9 July 2019Publication
Factsheet: Guide to the protections for freedom of religion (2019)
There are a number of protections for freedom of religion in Australian law. At the federal level, a person may make a complaint to the Australian Human Rights Commission or to the Fair Work Commission about discrimination on the basis of religion that occurs in the context of employment. -
Rights and Freedoms
18 November 2021Opinion piece
Loss of freedoms and rights has harmed us
OPINION November 18, 2021 Ronald Reagan famously said that “freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction”. For many Australians, until recently, freedom has been something we have largely been able to take for granted in our daily lives. But with millions of Australians only recently emerging from lengthy lockdowns, and every single one of us still… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 August 2019Speech
Garma: Voices speech
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO addressed Garma in the Northern Territory on August 3. The topic was 'Voices'. Jalangurru lanygu balangarri. Yaningi yatharra ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Gumatj, Yolngu yani U. Galwurruy, djawa, Djapirri and your family thank you for hosting us. I acknowledge the Yolngu Gamatji people of the land we gather… -
14 January 2021Conciliation register
2019-05-07
The complainant has post-traumatic stress disorder, prolonged bereavement disorder and anxiety. He advises that he experienced difficulty in writing due to his disability. The complainant sought to lodge a complaint with the respondent government agency and was informed complaints must be made in writing. He alleged the agency declined to accommodate his disability by taking a statement by… -
Disability Rights
19 July 2019SpeechRemember disability policy and research deals with the everyday lives
The following speech was an introductory address delivered by Disability Discrimination Commissioner Ben Gauntlett at a policy forum convened by the Centre for Research Excellence in Disability and Health, held in Canberra on July 18, 2019. Good morning and welcome to today’s policy forum, which has been organised by the Centre for Research Excellence in Disability and Health (CRE-DH). First… -
Rights and Freedoms
15 March 2024Speech
Free + Equal: Australian Conversation on Human Rights Closing Remarks
Closing Remarks Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Check against delivery For a start, thank you Julia, Dr Baird for that wonderful MC-ing of the day. What an array of fantastic insights! I said at the beginning that it would be challenging, insightful and exciting and I'm sure that, from my perspective, it's been every one of those things… -
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. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
17 March 2021Publication
Close the Gap (2021)
Leadership and legacy through crises: keeping our mob safe Prepared by the Lowitja Institute for the Close the Gap Campaign Steering Committee Foreword On behalf of the Close the Gap Campaign’s 54 members, we invite you to engage with our 12th annual report titled, Leadership and Legacy Through Crises: Keeping our Mob safe. This year’s report was produced by the Lowitja Institute, Australia… -
Disability Rights
30 June 2021Project
Reform 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 … -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
1 June 2021Speech
AIATSIS Summit Keynote Address: Truth for change—Reckoning with our past and transforming our nation
Introduction and acknowledgements Opening in Bunuba. Good morning everyone. I acknowledge the Kaurna peoples whose lands we gather on for this conference—I pay my respects to your elders, past, present and emerging. I also acknowledge all our peoples who have come from countries—First Nations—from across this vast continent, carrying many diverse and interconnected languages, cultural…