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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
HREOC Annual Report 2003-2004 : Chapter 3: Monitoring Human Rights
Along with its human rights education and promotion function, the Commission undertakes a monitoring role in relation to human rights standards. This monitoring role ranges across the work of the individual Commissioners who examine and report issues of race, sex and disability discrimination and human rights, to the assessment of legislative proposals and presentation of submissions through the… -
14 December 2012Book page
2008 Immigration detention report - Summary of Observations following the Inspection of Mainland Immigration Detention Facilities
This report contains a summary of observations by the Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Graeme Innes AM, and staff of the Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) following visits to Australia’s immigration detention facilities, and to people in community detention, between June and September 2008. The contents of the report are based on direct observations made during the… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
11 October 2017PublicationInspection of Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre
This report contains an overview of key observations and concerns arising from the Australian Human Rights Commission’s inspection of the Maribyrnong Immigration Detention Centre (MIDC) in March 2017. -
Race Discrimination
7 June 2019Publication
Let’s talk race: A guide on how to conduct conversations about racism (2019)
The Australian Human Rights Commission has developed this guide to assist Australian organisations in conducting meaningful and productive conversations about racism. It can be used in conventional workplaces, community groups, faith organisations, sporting clubs as well as other organisations. -
31 July 2013Book page
1 Summary
Under section 501 (and/or sections 501A and 501B) [1] of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) (Migration Act), a non-citizen’s application for a visa may be refused or their visa may be cancelled if they do not satisfy the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (the Minister), or the Minister’s delegate, that they pass the ‘character test’. During the 2011-12 financial year 88 people had their… -
Rights and Freedoms
17 June 2022SpeechReflections 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… -
14 December 2012Book page
Executive Summary
This executive summary is divided into two parts. Part A sets out the major findings and recommendations of the National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (the Inquiry). Part B provides a chapter summary of the Inquiry's report: A last resort? -
Children's Rights
27 October 2017SpeechChildren’s rights to safety and to a holistic education
Good morning everyone and thank you Katharine O’Donnell, ANZELA National President, for inviting me to be part of what I hear has been a stimulating event to date and to present the Dr Ann Shorten Memorial Lecture. I too would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet today, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, and pay my respects to elders past, present… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
8 January 2014Publication
A last resort? National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
This is an important report. It deals with our treatment of children in the most recent wave of boat people seeking refuge and a better life on our shores. It does so in the knowledge that there is a tension created by the community expectation that the Government will defend Australia's security while simultaneously upholding individual rights - the notion of the 'fairgo' for all. The report… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
17 April 2013Publication
Tell Me About: Bridging Visas for Asylum Seekers
1. What are bridging visas? Bridging visas are temporary visas which allow people to legally reside in the Australian community while they are applying for a longer term visa, appealing a decision relating to their visa, or making arrangements to leave Australia. Bridging visas can be granted to different groups of people, including asylum seekers who are seeking protection as refugees in… -
Children's Rights
30 June 2014Speech
Safeguarding mental health of children, ensuring opportunity to thrive
Safeguarding mental health for children and ensuring opportunity, a speech by Megan Mitchell National Children's Commissioner. -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
COMMISSIONER OZDOWSKI: Welcome to everyone. I would like to formally open this public hearing, the first of a series of hearings to be conducted around Australia. My name is Sev Ozdowski and I am the Human Rights Commissioner of Australia, and I have with me two Assistant Commissioners; to my right Professor Trang Thomas who is Professor of Psychology at the Royal Melbourne Institute of… -
Sex Discrimination
21 June 2019Publication
Independent review of residential colleges at the Uni of New England
The Australian Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’) was engaged by the University of New England (UNE) to undertake an independent, expert led review of the seven residential colleges at UNE. The review process led to a comprehensive understanding of: the culture at each of the seven UNE colleges, specifically in relation to attitudes towards women, sexual assault and sexual harassment -
3 October 2014Opinion piece
Time to strengthen our lax surrogacy laws
Nationwide regulations are urgently needed to cover situations when Australians are engaging surrogates to have children for them. The range of assisted reproductive technologies available today presents many legal, moral and ethical challenges. These are challenges we can no longer ignore and require national, state and international leadership. In Australia, altruistic surrogacy is… -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
The current mandatory detention policy of the Commonwealth of Australia breaches the fundamental principle of the rights of the child which is that children should be able to develop to their full potential. The policy breaches every article of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The policy violates the right to health as established by international law. -
Employers29 April 2016Speech
HR Leaders Forum
Rights and Responsibilities: Creating Better Workplaces for all Australians -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
This submission addresses some of the issues and questions raised in the background papers prepared by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) and in relation to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989) and the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951) and its 1967 Protocol (the Refugee Convention). The conclusions drawn in this submission arise… -
Children's Rights
10 October 2014Opinion piece
It's time to strengthen our surrogacy laws to help protect children
NATIONWIDE regulations are urgently needed to cover situations when Australians are engaging surrogates to have children for them. The range of assisted reproductive technologies available today presents many legal, moral and ethical challenges. These are challenges we can no longer ignore and require national, state and international leadership. In Australia, altruistic surrogacy is… -
LGBTIQ+
5 December 2016SpeechWorld AIDS Day breakfast: Hobart
Terrace Room, Best Western Hobart, 156 Bathurst St, Hobart Speaking notes CHECK AGAINST DEIVERY Acknowledgements: Muwinina [pron: ‘mou wee nee nar’] people TasCAHRD (who invited me to speak) Elders in the LGBTI community. Introduction 15 years ago, when I was an idealistic law student with lots of enthusiam and no grey hair, I went to South Africa with a vague desire to help in the newly