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14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Report No.32
Pursuant to section 11(1)(f)(ii) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act1986 (Cth) I attach a report of my inquiry into a complaint by Ms Stacey Scheff of Justice Action on behalf of federal prisoners detained in NSW correctional centres against the State of NSW, Department of Corrective Services and the Commonwealth of Australia, Attorney-General’s Department. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 July 2021Opinion pieceReturn to country endangered by failure to invest
Covid-19 has triggered the most significant return to country by First Nations people since the homeland movement commenced in the 1960s. Thousands, like myself, returned to remote communities out of necessity. Facing the unknown, our family leaders who could made the courageous decision to gather loved ones and travel out to country, with minimal resources. Importantly, Australian… -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageSAGE: Submission to Inquiry into Aboriginal Customary Law in NT
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner has also made a submission to this inquiry. To access that submission click here. -
Business and Human Rights
14 December 2012SpeechRaising the Bar: Corporate Social Responsibility and Human Rights
At ‘Raising the Bar: Leading Sustainable Business in 2008’ Annual National Conference of the Australian Centre for Corporate Social Responsibility -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechSite navigation
I am very grateful for this opportunity to address this speech night. 1998 is an historic year. Not only does it mark the 130th anniversary of Brisbane Grammar School, the oldest secondary school in Brisbane, it also marks the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They are both significant anniversaries and they are tied together by the importance they place on the role… -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012SpeechSpeech to Employers Network on Disability International Day of People with Disability cocktail party (2009)
In the United States, 54 years ago today, Rosa Parks was arrested. Rosa Parks was a black woman, arrested for refusing to sit at the back of a bus. It's appalling to think this occurred. It's even more appalling that 54 years later in Australia, many people with disability can't even get on the bus. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012SpeechLawasia Conference
In the contemporary world, and particularly amongst developed economies, many of us believed that the culture of civil liberties, freedoms and non-discrimination are reasonably well established and these precepts have clear links to innovation, creativity and the broader concepts of economic productivity and a well functioning civil society. Indeed, I believe that many of us had come to accept… -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2002: Native title: the way forward
In the past 12 months the High Court has handed down several significant decisions which clarified the principles upon which the recognition and extinguishment of native title are determined. These principles are set out and discussed in the first three chapters of this report. In clarifying these principles, some of the Judges of the High Court have been mindful of their effect on Indigenous… -
Race Discrimination
16 March 2015Opinion pieceFree thinking?
Many say freedom of expression means nothing if it doesn’t entail a freedom to offend others. Enjoying such freedom means that you may also have to tolerate hurtful or distasteful speech. But what if the burden of tolerance is not borne equally? What if some forms of speech wound not merely sensibilities but also another person’s dignity? How should a liberal democracy treat forms of speech… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
10th International Criminal Congress
The topic of this seminar is ‘Criminal Justice in a climate of fear’. The word terrorism is not mentioned and yet the subject invites discussion of the impact of terrorism on life and laws in Australia. -
Commission – General
14 December 2012Speech
Site navigation
As the world awaits the birth of the new millenium with a level of anxiety we come to associate with expecting parents, I am pleased to note that the United Nations, in nominating 1999 the International Year of Older Persons, has not, at the last, forgotten the grandparents. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012Speech
LAUNCH OF THE NATIVE TITLE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE REPORTS
The two reports launched in Adelaide today provide a scorecard on how Australian governments are meeting their obligations to ensure that Australia's Indigenous peoples can fully exercise their rights and interests. -
14 December 2012Book page
A last resort ? Preface
This is an important report. It deals with our treatment of children in the most recent wave of boat people seeking refuge and a better life on our shores. It does so in the knowledge that there is a tension created by the community expectation that the Government will defend Australia's security while simultaneously upholding individual rights - the notion of the 'fairgo' for all. The report… -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
Thank you for the opportunity to address an issue, which I believe, is another stain on Australian history. The systematic neglect and abuse of children in our IDCs is shameful and must end. It is intolerable that our senior politicians claim that a simple majority gives them the mandate to practise policies that ignore established standards for the care and nurturing of children. -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Speech
Deafness Forum presentation to Princess Alexandra Hospital
I was particularly pleased to receive the invitation from Deafness Forum to participate in this event to recognise the access initiatives developed by Princess Alexandra Hospital . -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Report No. 20
10.1 Whether there was an act or practice in terms of the HREOC Act 10.2 Whether there was a distinction, exclusion, or preference on the basis of criminal record 10.3 Whether the distinction, exclusion or preference nullified or impaired equality of opportunity or treatment in employment or occupation 10.4 Whether the distinction, exclusion or preference was based on the inherent requirements of… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
21 October 2013PublicationCasenote: FKAG v Australia and MMM v Australia
The UN Human Rights Committee has found that the indefinite detention of 46 refugees with adverse security assessments was arbitrary and amounted to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
CHEN YUAN FA v Federal Government
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ( Commission') was established by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ("the HREOC Act"). On 13 April 1995, His Honour Justice Carr directed that leave be granted to the Commission, pursuant to s.11(1)(o) of the HREOC Act, to file and serve written submissions in these matters limited to the issues referred to… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
CHEN YUAN FA v Federal Government
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ("the Commission") was established by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ("the HREOC Act"). On 13 April 1995, Carr J. directed that leave be granted to the Commission, pursuant to s.11(1)(o) of the HREOC Act, to file and serve written submissions in these matters limited to the issues referred to… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission Submission Amicus Curiae - Vickers v Ambulance Service NSW
These submissions are filed on behalf of the Acting Disability Discrimination Commissioner ('the Commissioner') in the event that leave is granted by the Court for the Commissioner to appear as amicus curiae in these proceedings pursuant to s 46PV(2) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ('HREOC Act'). Such leave was sought by the Commissioner by way of Notice of…