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Rights and Freedoms

Free speech is best medicine for the bigotry disease

THE proposed amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act provide the basis for correcting the legal limits of free speech, ­promoting pluralism, opposing reprehensible racism and highlighting the importance of ­responsibility. Arguably the most important change is assessing an 18C violation based on...

Category, Opinion
Age Discrimination

Age Discrimination, the new challenge for teachers

1. Introduction Thank you for your introduction, and I thank the NSW Teachers Federation for inviting me to speak to you today. I start by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land upon which we meet today, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay my respects to elders both past and...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Freedoms versus anti-discrimination laws? A false debate

Responsibility, anti-discrimination laws, human rights and freedoms - these words have been at the center of an ideological debate about how to protect fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom from detention without trial. But if we are serious about...

Category, Opinion
Rights and Freedoms

Freedom of speech is not in danger in Australia (2013)

Freedom of speech is alive and well in Australia but, with respect to Voltaire, we will not defend to the death those who abuse this right by vilifying others in public on the ground of race.

Category, Opinion
Age Discrimination

The Rights of Older People and Age Discrimination in Australia (2012)

It may surprise you to hear me start by saying that in many ways the research that comes from gerontology is at the forefront of age law reform. Gerontologists give us the evidence and information to advocate for age friendly laws and policies. Your work assists us to understand that while most of us develop along a similar trajectory in the early years of life, our ageing at the latter stages of life is very different, and our laws and policies should respect those differences.

Category, Speech
Age Discrimination

Age 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...

Category, Speech
Age Discrimination

Building a better cultural inheritance for an ageing Australia

Hon Dr Kay Patterson AO Age Discrimination Commissioner Keynote Address to National Press Club of Australia, Canberra Wednesday, 28 June, 2023 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Welcome Thank you Andrew Tillett (National Press Club Vice President) for your kind introduction. I am sometimes introduced...

Category, Speech
Age Discrimination

Human Rights Don't Diminish With Age (2023)

Hon. Dr Kay Patterson AO Age Discrimination Commissioner Speech to Chris Barnard Nursing Agency (CBNA) MACG Grand Cedar, Ashwood VIC, 3 May 2023 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Welcome everyone - I wish to acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Bunurong people as the traditional owners of the lands from...

Category, Speech
Age Discrimination

Keynote Address to the Law Council of Australia

Mr Robert Fitzgerald AM, Age Discrimination Commissioner Friday, 31 May 2024 CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Introduction I would like to thank the Law Council of Australia for this invitation to speak at your National Elder Law and Succession Law Committee meeting, and to your committee chair, Darryl Browne...

Category, Speech

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