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Disability Rights
30 October 2020SubmissionSubmission in response to the National Disability Strategy: Position Paper (2020)
1. Introduction The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) welcomes the opportunity to provide the Department of Social Services (DSS) with this submission in response to the National Disability Strategy: Position Paper [i] (the Position Paper) regarding the development of a new National Disability Strategy (the New Strategy). The Commission is Australia’s national human rights … -
Legal
30 January 2019SubmissionTelecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018
1. Executive summary The Australian Human Rights Commission (the Commission) makes this submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, in response to its review of the Telecommunications and Other Legislation Amendment (Assistance and Access) Bill 2018 (Cth) (the Bill). The Explanatory Memorandum states that the purpose of the Bill is to introduce measures to… -
Race Discrimination
18 September 2024PublicationMapping government anti-racism programs and policies
This report enhances the Commission’s understanding of how Australia's national, state, territory and local governments engage in anti-racism work. It describes the nature and scope of their policies and programs over the past five years. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
23 October 2019Publication
Use of force in immigration detention
The issue of the use of force in immigration detention has been raised in a range of complaints against the Department of Home Affairs received by the Commission. This report deals thematically with 14 complaints. -
Rights and Freedoms
17 January 2019Project
Free and Equal: An Australian conversation on human rights
What makes an effective system of human rights protection for 21st century Australia? What are we doing well and what steps do we still need to take? -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
28 November 2022Media ReleaseNew report sets the stage for First Nations women to lead response to family and community violence
The report is an outcome of the recent Wiyi Yani U Thangani First Nations Women's Safety Policy Forum which was held virtually in September and which brought together over 150 participants from all around the country, the majority being First Nations women. -
Children's Rights
16 November 2021Media ReleaseProposal to raise the age does not go far enough
All 16 of Australia’s children’s commissioners, guardians and advocates say a commitment by state attorneys-general to develop a proposal to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 does not go far enough. In a joint statement, Australian children’s commissioners, guardians and advocates said: “We are pleased that some jurisdictions have for the first time indicated they will look at… -
Race Discrimination
17 March 2020Media Release
Commemorating one year since the Christchurch mosque attack
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan and Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow have commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attack. In a joint statement, they said: “The Christchurch massacre was deeply traumatic for New Zealand’s Muslim community. That trauma has echoed throughout the Muslim community in Australia and internationally.” “One year… -
Disability Rights
6 October 2020Submission
People with Disability and Employment (2020)
Submission to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability -
Sex Discrimination
28 January 2020Publication
Respect@Work: Sexual Harassment National Inquiry Report (2020)
Workplace sexual harassment is prevalent and pervasive: it occurs in every industry, in every location and at every level, in Australian workplaces. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
5 August 2020Media Release
Statement on Christmas Island immigration detention
The Australian Human Rights Commission is deeply concerned that the Australian Border Force plans to re-open the immigration detention facility at Christmas Island. The Commission has carried out inspections of Australia's onshore and offshore immigration detention facilities for many years. The Commission's advice has been consistent: Christmas Island is not an appropriate place for an -
Disability Rights
19 July 2019Speech
The critical task of changing community attitudes towards disability
The following speech was an opening presentation delivered by Disability Discrimination Commissioner Ben Gauntlett at a workshop on community attitudes towards people with disability convened by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Disability, held in Melbourne on June 28, 2019. Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, I too acknowledge my deep respect to the … -
Children's Rights
6 April 2022Publication
Keeping kids safe and well: your voices
Children and young people are experts in their own lives, and their insights are critical for understanding how we can better support their safety and wellbeing. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
16 March 2022News story
Urgent funding needed to support Indigenous community-led health solutions
The Close the Gap campaign has called for an urgent investment in community-led health services to improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the country. The 2022 Close the Gap Report: Transforming Power – Voices for Generational Change has 12 recommendations for large-scale transformation and systemic reform to avoid further preventable deaths and… -
Sex Discrimination
28 November 2022Publication
Time for respect: Fifth national survey on sexual harassment in Australian workplaces
For the first time, the survey also asked about workers’ views on the actions taken by their employer’s action to address workplace sexual harassment. -
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. -
Rights and Freedoms
2 September 2019Media Release
Commissioners call for compassionate approach for Tamil family
Australian Children’s Commissioner Megan Mitchell and Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow have today written to Minister David Coleman, calling for an urgent and compassionate resolution for the Tamil family detained in immigration detention on Christmas Island. “Given their connection to Australia, showing compassion and allowing the family to stay together in the only community the… -
Race Discrimination
31 October 2024Media Release
Dismantling systemic racism – perspectives from First Nations peoples
Governments must recognise systemic racism and its devastating impacts on Australia’s First Nations peoples and take urgent action to address it, a new report has found. Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman said, “Systemic racism, in law, policies and service delivery, has serious and ongoing consequences, including poor mental and physical health, economic disadvantage,… -
Age Discrimination
30 September 2019Media ReleaseInternational Day of Older Persons
The International Day of Older Persons is an opportunity to consider the contribution made by older Australian workers and the importance of creating age friendly workplaces. The percentage of Australians aged 65 and over in the labour force doubled between 2000 and 2015 - and 20% of people over 70 are still working. We need to continue this trend so individuals can contribute and continue… -
Age Discrimination
3 March 2020Project
Age Discrimination in Employment
The right to work is a fundamental human right, but one that far too many older people in Australia do not enjoy.