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Rights and Freedoms
22 April 2021Media ReleaseGreater scrutiny of emergency powers needed
The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for greater accountability to be embedded in laws that extend the Commonwealth’s power in the event of national emergencies. In its submission to a Senate inquiry examining the National Emergency Declaration Act 2020, the Commission recommended five changes to legislation that was enacted by parliament in 2020. Human Rights Commissioner… -
Commission – General
15 March 2024SpeechAustralian Human Rights Commission’s complaint handling jurisdiction
Civil Justice Research Conference 2019 Macquarie University, Sydney Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM [ Professor Croucher spoke to this paper] Abstract The complaint handling role of the Australian Human Rights Commission from time to time attracts some attention in the media—but not always for constructive reasons. This presentation set out the real story. It is one that is a worthy… -
Technology and Human Rights
25 May 2023Webpage
About Human Rights and Technology
Human Rights-Centred Design and Deployment Too often the technology industry adopts a 'move fast and break things' ethos, pursuing innovation with reckless abandon. Human rights are often overlooked in this race when designing and deploying new and emerging technologies. The Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, seeks to ensure human rights-centred design and deployment of… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
15 June 2021Media ReleaseCommission urges immediate action on COVID-19 risk to people in immigration detention
The Australian Government must act urgently to reduce the number of people in closed immigration detention in response to the ongoing risks posed by COVID-19, according to a new report by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Management of COVID-19 risks in immigration detention recommends new safety measures be introduced to protect people in immigration detention, and the wider community… -
Technology and Human Rights
16 May 2023Submission
Privacy Risks in the Metaverse
Learn more about how Metaverse technologies are threatening our human right to privacy in the digital age. -
Rights and Freedoms
3 September 2021Webpage
Human rights considerations for vaccine passports and certificates
Learn how vaccine passports are more likely to be consistent with human rights principles when they are used as a tool to improve public health outcomes. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
9 July 2019SpeechIntervention on Deprivation of Liberty
I am Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. I am making this statement on behalf of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Australia’s ‘A status’ NHRI.’ I begin by thanking the Australian Government for supporting my Wiyi Yani U Thangani project which is enabling Indigenous women and girls to have their voices heard at the national level for the first… -
Rights and Freedoms
28 June 2020Media Release
Implementing OPCAT in Australia released
The Commission has today released recommendations for how Australia should implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). Implementing OPCAT in Australia is the final step in the Commission’s consultation process with civil society, inspectorate and monitoring bodies, and a number of state and territory… -
Commission – General
22 May 2020Opinion piece
COVID-19's unexpected lessons
Six weeks ago I returned to my traditional homeland near Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia. Thanks to modern technology, I am working remotely and continuing my duties as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. Like many Aboriginal people, I chose to return to country because COVID-19 travel restrictions made homeland communities the safest place to see out the… -
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… -
8 December 2020Book page
Part 1: Our women and girls' voices
Discover a national conversation on how to promote the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls and their communities. -
Technology and Human Rights
4 October 2023News story
Ethical AI and Global Governance
Learn more about why the global governance of AI must be ethical and centre on human rights to ensure widespread adoption. -
Race Discrimination
19 April 2021Media ReleaseStop mass incarceration to prevent deaths in custody
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO said Australia must stop the “mass incarceration” of its Indigenous people or else deaths in custody will continue to occur. Commissioner Oscar said her thoughts are with all the families who have lost loved ones over recent months, and in the 30 years since the Report of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
17 January 2019Media Release
New approach to Closing the Gap Strategy welcomed
The Close the Gap Campaign has welcomed the COAG agreement to work in genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the Refreshed Closing the Gap Strategy. COAG has recognised that in order to effect real change, governments must work collaboratively and in genuine, formal partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as they are the essential… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
4 August 2023Webpage
Symbolic change or substantive reform
The difference between symbolic change and substantive reform in the context of the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament and the Australian Constitution. -
Technology and Human Rights
1 June 2023News story
Protecting your Human Rights in the Digital Age
Learn more about the Australian Human Rights Commission's work on privacy, AI, misleading content and human rights in the digital age. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
18 March 2020Media Release
We say: No more preventable deaths
The Close the Gap Campaign has warned that only systemic reform will make up for the harrowing failure of the last 12 years of government policy on closing the gaps in health equity, social and economic disadvantage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The 2020 Close the Gap Campaign report, again written by the Lowitja Institute and released today, sets out a blueprint for… -
Legal
22 March 2024Speech
Probate and Lunatics: A Curious Cameo of Supreme Court History
ANZOA meeting Perspectives on Fairness Meeting of the Minds Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Acknowledgment I would like to begin my presentation by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land where I am delivering my presentation today, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay my respects to the elders, past, present and… -
Rights and Freedoms
30 March 2019Speech
‘Free and Equal’: Making Human Rights Education a Priority
National FutureSchools Expo and Conferences 21 March 2019, Melbourne Introduction I pay my respects to the Wurudjeri peoples of the Kulin nation who are the traditional custodians of this land—to their elders, past and present, and to the future generations, the children and young people that look to us as educators. I also extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander -
Disability Rights
29 September 2023Media ReleaseCommission welcomes ‘historic and transformative’ Disability Royal Commission report
Read our media release welcoming the release of the final report from the Disability Royal Commission, noting the huge significance the report’s contents will have for people with disability and their loved ones for decades to come.