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Commission – General
3 September 2024SpeechLaw 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. -
Children's Rights
10 October 2024Opinion pieceAustralia 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. -
14 December 2012Book page
Law Society Journal 2009: What will constitute a legitimate interference with rights?
A recent decision of the full Federal Court in Bropho v State of Western Australia[1] has created the opportunity to reconsider the operation of s 10 of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth). Section 10(1) of the RDA is unique in discrimination law around the country. It is concerned with the operation and effect of laws rather than with making the actions of individuals unlawful. -
23 January 2014Book page
3. What is the difference between a TPV and a bridging visa?
Like TPVs, bridging visas are temporary visas. They allow people (including asylum seekers) 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. The key difference is that bridging visas are granted to asylum seekers before any decision is made about whether they… -
14 December 2012Book page
Community Partnerships for Human Rights: What projects are we doing?
In 2006 the Ministerial Council on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs endorsed the National Action Plan to Build on Social Cohesion, Harmony and Security. As part of the National Action Plan, the Commission was one of seven Commonwealth agencies funded to undertake a range of projects. -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2006: Information Sheet 1: What makes good Indigenous policy?
There is an urgent need for sound policy in Indigenous affairs. Chapter 1 of the Social Justice Report 2006 considers what some of the key elements of good Indigenous policy making are. -
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… -
14 December 2012Book page
Human Rights, Equality and Fundamental Freedoms: What Difference does a Human Rights Act Make?
On 11 December 2008, the Commission presented the fifth of its seminar series celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, entitled ‘Human Rights, Equality and Fundamental Freedoms: What Difference does a Human Rights Act Make?’. The seminar was chaired by Graeme Innes AM, Human Rights Commissioner and Disability Discrimination Commissioner and featured two… -
Commission – General
6 March 2013Speech
Asylum Seekers, Marriage Equality and Racial Vilification: What role for the AHRC? (2012)
Speech delivered to the Anglo-Australasian Lawyers Society -
Commission – General
4 October 2024Media Release
Commission President reiterates calls for upholding human rights as violence in the Middle East escalates
As the violence in the Middle East escalates, and with the approaching anniversary of the brutal 7 October attacks by Hamas and the start of Israel’s devastating and continuing response, the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission has reiterated its call for upholding human rights and international humanitarian law. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
President Speech: What does it mean to believe in human rights in Australia today?
I would like to begin by acknowledging the Traditional Owners of this land, the Pambalong clan of the Awabakal people, and pay my respect to their elders, past and present. Today I would like to explore the question: ‘What does it mean to believe in human rights in Australia today?’ This is an ambitious project, and I am aware that the question does not have a short and simple answer. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012SpeechSpeeches 2007: 40 years on: what does the ‘Yes’ vote mean for Indigenous Australians?
Anglicare, Tasmania Annual Social Justice Lecture 22 August, 2007 TOM CALMA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner National Race Discrimination Commissioner Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
14 August 2014SpeechSister Clare Condon - Sanctioned Violence: What does it do to our society and relationships?
I acknowledge the Gadagal People of the Aora nation on whose land we meet. I pay my respects to the elders past and present. I come here today as an ordinary citizen. I am not an academic, nor a lawyer. I am simply a concerned citizen. There are many nuances to the meaning of the word violence. It is about violating another; abusing and damaging; often about the abuse of power. It is… -
Disability Rights
25 August 2015PublicationWilling to Work - Booklet 4: what you can do about employment discrimination
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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… -
15 June 2015Book page
5 What do we know about employment discrimination and the labour force participation of people with disability?[6]
The Australian Human Rights Commission has a statutory responsibility to investigate and conciliate complaints of discrimination based on a person’s disability. Each year, the Australian Human Rights Commission receives a significant number of disability discrimination complaints related to employment. In 2013-14, 830 complaints were received under the Disability Discrimination Act and 33%… -
Legal
14 December 2012SpeechLaw Seminar 2008: Housing and Homelessness – What’s Human Rights got to do with It? by Cassandra Goldie
Paper presented at the Homelessness and Human Rights Seminar Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 12.30 – 2pm, Monday 7 April 2008 133 Castlereagh Street, Sydney, NSW -
Rights and Freedoms
4 September 2024SubmissionInquiry into the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Bill 2024 (No. 2)
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomed the opportunity to make this submission to the Senate Economics Legislation Committee in relation to its Inquiry into the National Housing and Homelessness Plan Bill 2024 (No. 2). This Private Members Bill, sponsored by Ms Kylea Tink MP and Senator David Pocock is to be commended for applying a human rights-based approach to housing policy (direct… -
17 September 2024Conciliation register
2023-08-08
The complainant (C) is a national LGBTIQ+ organisation whose purpose is to improve the wellbeing and circumstances of LGBTIQ+ people in Australia and their families and children. C alleged that the first respondent statutory officeholder decided not to recommend that topics relating to gender identity, innate variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation be included in the 2021… -
31 July 2013Book page
4 What are the human rights issues raised by refusal or cancellation of visas under section 501?
The Commission has a number of concerns about the impact on the human rights of people whose applications for visas are refused or whose visas are cancelled under section 501 of the Migration Act. The Commission is particularly concerned about the consequences for: refugees who have their applications for protection visas refused on character grounds long-term permanent residents of…