Refine results
-
Business and Human Rights
6 November 2024Opinion piecePandemic probe: Statistics can’t capture the loss of trust and confidence
The Covid-19 response inquiry report is an important first step, but there is much more that needs to be done if the government wants to start rebuilding public trust. The number one lesson should be that response measures do not operate in a vacuum. The full human impact needs to be understood and human rights need to be embedded into future emergency responses. The 877-page inquiry report… -
Commission – General
31 October 2024SpeechEastern Community Legal Centre Multidisciplinary Forum
Hugh de Kretser discusses the impact of multidisciplinary legal practice, highlighting the intersection of legal and social issues and the importance of integrated support. -
Commission – General
5 November 2024Publication
Annual Report 2023-24
Year in Review The Australian Human Rights Commission is a vital national institution which has been promoting justice and human rights for Australians for close to forty years. It is an honour to write this message as the Commission’s new President. In December 2023, the world commemorated 75 years of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Declaration lays the foundation for peace -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
6 November 2024Opinion pieceThe year our Voice broke: The fallout from the failed referendum
“It’s gone.” That’s what Mick Gooda said to me plaintively half an hour into counting the votes to enshrine a First Nations Voice to parliament in our constitution on October 14, 2023. I’d started that day – a year ago today – with a high level of optimism that Australia was going to do this, that Australia would get this right, that Australia would make history. How wrong I was. Instead,… -
Rights and Freedoms
30 October 2024News story
COVID Review a good start, but human toll must be recognised
The findings of a federal review into the country’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted more needs to be done by all levels of governments to acknowledge the human cost of the pandemic response and ultimately restore public trust, says Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay. -
Commission – General
31 October 2024Speech
Human Rights Act for NSW
Advocating for a NSW Human Rights Act, Hugh de Kretser emphasizes its importance for First Nations and all citizens, highlighting the need for comprehensive human rights protections. -
Children's Rights
10 October 2024SpeechNational Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds Press Club address
Read the speech to the National Press Club about her major report 'Help Way Earlier!: How Australia can transform child justice and improve safety and wellbeing'. -
Children's Rights
10 October 2024Opinion piece
Australia is failing its children. A ‘tough on crime’ approach to youth justice puts politics before prevention
In an opinion piece published in The Guardian Australian, National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds reflects on the urgent need for child justice reform after the release of a landmark report by the AHRC. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
12 February 2021Media Release
CLOSE THE GAP: We’re waiting but we will not be left wanting
The Close the Gap Campaign looks forward to seeing a comprehensive report on the refreshed targets for Closing the Gap by July. The campaign notes today’s announcement that the release of the Closing the Gap data has been pushed back to July in order to allow a full reporting year since the signing of the new National Agreement with the Coalition of Peaks on Closing the Gap. The Close the… -
Race Discrimination
21 October 2024Publication
Anti-Asian Racism Resources
Explore the Commission's anti-racism resources addressing settler colonialism, systemic racism, and anti-Asian racism in Australia, featuring expert insights and community-led solutions. -
Age Discrimination
14 October 2024SpeechAge Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald's Press club address
Why Australia Needs Ageism Awareness Day Shared Presentation with Dr Marlene Krasovitsky from EveryAGE Counts Wednesday, 25 September 2024 Check against delivery Introduction Thank you Marlene. It is a great joy to be here at this significant event. This is my third appearance at the National Press Club, but I'm now about 30 years older than the last time, so it's good to be back as an older… -
Race Discrimination
15 October 2024Media Release
Race Discrimination Commissioner condemns neo-Nazi rally in regional NSW
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, has condemned the neo-Nazi rally held in regional New South Wales on the weekend, warning it is further proof of the urgent need for a national strategy to combat racism. -
LGBTIQ+
17 September 2015Opinion pieceI want to hold your hand: LGBTI people have some surprisingly modest aspirations
Visibility remains one of the greatest challenges in tackling the legacy of state-sanctioned discrimination against people on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status. In the past 30 years we’ve made great strides in ensuring people are treated equally before the law and government simply because of who they are. Led by John Gorton, the commonwealth… -
Children's Rights
11 October 2024News story
NT Government urged not to lower age of criminal responsibility
The National Children’s Commissioner and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Commissioner have urged the Northern Territory Government to reverse its plan next week to introduce a new law to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to ten years. -
Commission – General
3 September 2024Speech
Law Institute of Victoria Legal Sector Dinner
Our legal system frequently provides unequal access to justice, with varying standards based on one’s identity, location, and financial status. Rights granted by law are ineffective if they cannot be enforced. A speech by Hugh de Krester. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
26 September 2024Media Release
NSW a step closer to truth telling
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss has welcomed the appointment of the NSW Treaty Commissioners announced today. “These appointments are a milestone in the beginning of the truth and treaty process in NSW,” Commissioner Kiss said. “I congratulate the NSW Government in taking this crucial step and working with the community towards self-determination… -
Commission – General
11 September 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)
September 2024: Commission News | President's Message
Dear friends, It was good to reflect at the recent Law Institute of Victoria Legal Sector Dinner on access to justice, the role of lawyers and the law. Too often our legal system delivers unequal access to justice – different standards of justice depending on who you are, where you live and how much is in your bank account. Laws granting people rights are meaningless if people can’t enforce… -
Children's Rights
20 August 2024Media Release
New report proposes transforming Australia’s approach to child justice and wellbeing
In a major new report, Australia’s National Children’s Commissioner is calling for significant changes to how our federal, state and territory governments approach child justice and the wellbeing of children who are or who are at risk of being caught up in the criminal justice system. -
Children's Rights
10 July 2024Media Release
Ineffective approaches to child justice creating more problems than they solve
The policies being promoted in the Queensland election campaign to address offending by children have been criticised by National Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss as a “race to the bottom”. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
24 July 2024Webpage
Informing the Agenda Project - About the Project (Participant Information Sheet)
Project Overview / Privacy Collection Statement The Australian Human Rights Commission invites you to contribute to the Informing the Agenda Project. 1. What is the Project about? The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner is inviting surveys and submissions as well as engaging in face-to-face and two online engagements to contribute to the Informing the Agenda Project ( Project)…