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Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechCreating a culture of human rights compliance
Debates about a charter of rights are often monopolised by the contentious issue of the proper role of the courts. While this is undoubtedly an important question, it overlooks the impact a charter would have on the role of Parliament as a guardian of rights of freedoms. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2008 - Case Study 2
The landscape of the Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) is under severe ecological stress. Issues such as salinity, poor water quality, stressed forests, dried wetlands, threatened native species, feral animals and noxious weeds are commonplace within the MDB. The reasons for this dramatic decline in river health are caused by water mismanagement including reversal of natural flow cycles and over… -
15 July 2014Book page
Chapter 1: How far have we come? Looking back on 20 years of the Social Justice Commissioner role
1.1 Introduction This year marks 20 years since the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (Social Justice Commissioner) role under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth). When I first started in this position I was asked if any of the previous Commissioners had left any words or notes of advice. I answered them ‘no, but they all… -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageDecision to decline to grant a temporary exemption sought by the University of Western Sydney
By this instrument, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (‘HREOC’) declines to grant to University of Western Sydney (‘UWS’) a temporary exemption pursuant to s 44(1) of the Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) (‘ADA’). -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Federal Discrimination Law: Chapter 6 - Practice and Procedure
The procedure for making complaints of federal unlawful discrimination is set out in Part IIB of the HREOC Act.[1] That procedure can be summarised as follows. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Review of Australia’s Fourth Periodic Report on the Implementation of the International Covenant on Economic Social and Cultural Rights
Recommendation 2: The Australian Government pass a federal Human Rights Act that includes recognition and protection of economic, social and cultural rights. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Northern Territory Emergency Response Review Board
The government has an obligation to take action to address violence and abuse, particularly where there is evidence that is it widespread. Governments that fail to do so are in breach of their obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRoC), the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the International Convention on… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Opinion pieceOpinion Pieces - Scrutinising our counter-terrorism laws (2008)
In 2006, I was a member of the Government-appointed Sheller Committee, which recommended the establishment of an independent review of counter-terrorism laws. -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012SpeechThe Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport: where are we?
I'd like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Ngunnawal people, in whose language Canberra means meeting place as you probably know. -
Complaint Information Service14 December 2012Publication
ADR as a tool for social change: a discussion (2008)
Human rights and anti-discrimination law in Australia, as in many countries in the Asia Pacific, provides for complaints about discrimination and violations of human rights to be resolved by conciliation. The use of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in this context has been criticised. In particular, it has been claimed that the individualised form of the complaint process, coupled with the… -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 06-07: Chapter 5 - Legal Services
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act gives HREOC the function of inquiring into complaints concerning breaches of human rights or discrimination in employment. HREOC attempts to resolve such complaints through conciliation where appropriate. If the matter is not resolved through conciliation and the President is satisfied that a breach of human rights or an act of discrimination… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
COAG Review of Counter-Terrorism Legislation
Division 104 of Part 5.3 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) provides for the making of control orders. A control order is an order issued by a court (either the Federal Court, Family Court or Federal Magistrates Court), at the request of a member of the Australian Federal Police (AFP), to allow obligations, prohibitions and restrictions to be imposed on a person, for the purpose of protecting… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
Graduation Address
I speak to you now, not as the Chancellor of this University, but as the President of Australia’s national Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. And while my remarks are addressed primarily to today’s graduands, I suspect what I am about to say will resonate among parents and friends. -
Education25 February 2015Webpage
Face the facts: Older Australians
Statistics from 2014 Back to main Face the Facts page Download in PDF (3.01 MB) Download in Word (8.44 MB) Every day, across the country, older Australians make an enormous contribution to our society. For example, Australians aged 65 years and over contribute almost $39 billion each year in unpaid caring and voluntary work. If the unpaid contribution of those aged 55 to 64 years is included… -
14 December 2012Book page
Overview: African Australians - Compendium (2010)
As Professor Graeme Hugo's background paper indicates, there is a long history of migration between African and Australia - however in recent years, it has accelerated. -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2007: Overview
The year 2007 is the fortieth anniversary of the 1967 constitutional referendum. The referendum changed the Australian Constitution however it didn’t specify directions to be taken. In many ways, it could be said that the referendum represented promises to Indigenous Australians for new ways of enjoying human rights, and promises to other Australians that Indigenous citizens could expect a… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
HREOC Submission: Productivity Commission on the Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) makes this submission to the Productivity Commission in its Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave (‘the Inquiry’). -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President speeches: Development, Security and Human Rights
This paper addresses one of the Forum themes: ‘Security and Human Rights’. Since 11 September 2001 governments around the world have responded to the threat of terrorism with tough measures to protect the lives and security of their communities – to protect their fundamental human rights. New security measures give government authorities unprecedented powers, which can seriously infringe the… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Native title payments discussion paper – Optimising Benefits from Native Title Agreements
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner has produced 15 Native Title Reports which include analyses and recommendations on the operation of the native title system and its effect on the exercise and enjoyment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.[1] Particularly relevant is the Native Title Report 2003, which provides a detailed comparative analysis of… -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2007-2008: Chapter 6 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
The past year has delivered some significant and promising new developments in indigenous affairs. the national apology to the stolen generations and the government’s commitment to the Statement of Intent to Close the Gap in health inequality both demonstrate a growing determination to face the challenges that confront Indigenous australians. i am pleased to say that hreoC has had a part in…