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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
24 May 2023News storyUluru Statement ‘cannot be ignored’
Australia’s human rights bodies tell political leaders: Uluru Statement ‘cannot be ignored’ Australia’s federal, state and territory human rights bodies have urged political leaders to work across party lines to deliver Constitutional reform for Australia’s First Peoples. In a joint letter, the Australian Council of Human Rights Authorities (ACHRA) says the Uluru Statement from the Heart … -
Age Discrimination
8 August 2023SpeechBuilding 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 incorrectly, but maybe more accurately, as the Ageing Discrimination Commissioner. I wish to acknowledge… -
Rights and Freedoms
3 May 2024Opinion pieceWe need debate on sensible limits on free speech
When president Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the 1941 State of the Union address he spoke of four essential human freedoms people “everywhere in the world” ought to enjoy. The very first of these was freedom of speech and expression. Free speech was listed first because it is the bedrock of democracy. Salman Rushdie famously described it as “the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 April 2023Media Release
Commission welcomes banning of spit hoods by AFP
A decision by the Australian Federal Police to end the use of spit hoods has been welcomed by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Today the AFP announced the AFP and ACT police will no longer use spit hoods, and instead the AFP will provide ‘alternative equipment and implement procedures to better protect officers from spitting and biting.’ The decision follows a review initiated last… -
Children's Rights
3 July 2023Project
Transforming child justice to improve safety and wellbeing
The National Children’s Commissioner is investigating youth justice reform in Australia, aiming to protect children’s rights and reduce crime involvement. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 March 2024Speech
The Perils of Independence
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s role in protecting human rights in Australia Sir Ronald Wilson Lecture 2021 Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Acknowledgements Thank you Matthew McGuire for your welcome to country and Kendra Turner as MC. I am speaking from the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, in the city… -
Age Discrimination
26 April 2023Media Release
State AG inaction enables power-of-attorney parasites: Commissioner
Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner says thousands of older Australians are being robbed and cheated out of millions of dollars every year because of a dysfunctional enduring power-of-attorney (EPOA) framework. The Commissioner is calling on state and territory Attorneys-General to commit to fixing the problem at the Standing Council of Attorneys-General meeting in Darwin this week… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
30 March 2023Media Release
Deadline extended for no-cost applications to attend landmark First Nations women’s summit
The deadline for sponsored delegate applications for the Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit has been extended to Sunday 2 April 2023. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
2 April 2024Media Release
Katie Kiss commences as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
Australia’s new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, said in the wake of the devastating outcome of last year’s Voice referendum, Australia must consider the next steps, and prioritise finding ways to heal and soothe divisions. This includes making meaningful progress in addressing the systemic and structural discrimination experienced by First… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
10 May 2023Media Release
First Nations women respond to Banksia Hill riots with call for immediate reform to youth justice
First Nations female leaders from across Australia are demanding immediate reform to Western Australia’s approach to youth justice in the wake of today’s riots at the Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre. Hundreds of First Nations women are attending the Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit in Canberra this week, including Commissioner for Children and Young People WA Jacqueline McGowan… -
Technology and Human Rights
6 May 2024Opinion pieceProtecting Free Speech Doesn’t Mean Dismissing Online Safety
This opinion piece by Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, appeared in The Australian on Monday 29 April 2024. When President Roosevelt gave the 1941 State of the Union Address he spoke of four essential human freedoms that people ‘everywhere in the world’ ought to enjoy. The very first of these was freedom of speech and expression. Free speech was listed first because it is the… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
7 May 2023Media Release
Young First Nations women to raise their voices at historic forum
150 young First Nations women will gather in Canberra tomorrow to help set an agenda for change in relation to the rights, health, safety, wellbeing and prosperity of young Indigenous women and girls. The Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Youth Forum is a precursor to the landmark Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit (May 9 – 11), Australia’s most significant gathering ever of First… -
Rights and Freedoms
15 March 2024Speech
Free + Equal: Australian Conversation on Human Rights Opening Remarks
Opening Remarks Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Check against delivery Your Excellency, Dr Michele Bachelet, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Australian Human Rights Commission Commissioners—Dr Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan, Sex Discrimination… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 March 2024Media Release
Commission welcomes new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the appointment of Katie Kiss as the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. Ms Kiss is a proud Kaanju and Birri/Widi woman who grew up in Rockhampton, Central Queensland on the lands of the Darumbal People. She is currently the Executive Director of the Interim Truth and Treaty Body supporting Queensland’s Path… -
Sex Discrimination
22 February 2024News story
Positive Duty: Supporting safe, inclusive and respectful workplaces
In December 2023, the Australian Human Rights Commission convened a panel of experts to discuss the positive duty under the Sex Discrimination Act, compliance and enforcement policies, and efforts to address workplace sexual harassment and other unlawful behavior. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
8 May 2023Media Release
Landmark Summit to elevate the voices and transform the lives of First Nations women and girls
Australia’s most significant gathering ever of First Nations women begins in Canberra today. The Summit is designed for First Nations women to speak on their own terms to government, policymakers and service providers about addressing issues affecting First Nations women and girls. Together, they will put forward the actions to reshape many of the policies and programs that impact their… -
Age Discrimination
13 March 2024Speech
A Human Rights Act and older people
OPAN National Older Persons Reference Group Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM FAAL FRSA FACLM(Hon) Abstract The presentation will focus on the Commission’s proposed model for a Human Rights Act in Australia and how it may support the rights of older people. Introduction [Thank you to organisers….] I would like to begin my contribution by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
20 March 2024Media Release
Commission celebrates official launch of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO has launched a dedicated Institute to elevate the voices and solutions of First Nations women and girls – the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations gender justice. The Australian-first Institute, housed at the Australian National University (ANU) on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, ensures the… -
Business and Human Rights
25 August 2023News story
Strengthening Our Response to Slavery
Learn more about how to reform the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) to better protect people from slavery and trafficking. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
11 May 2023Media Release
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to ‘design’ their future with new national approach to First Nations gender justice
Bold new approaches from First Nations Australian women for improving their future have been unveiled at a historic summit in Canberra, including a new National Framework for Action and a new dedicated First Nations Gender Justice Institute at the Australian National University. The new measures have been highlighted at the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) National Summit, Australia’s…