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Race Discrimination
19 December 2024Media ReleaseCommission delivers interim report on racism at Australian universities
The initial stages of a study about racism at Australian universities being undertaken by the Australian Human Rights Commission have revealed a range of concerns from both students and staff in relation to their experience of racism on university campuses. -
25 September 2013Book page
6 Some regulatory challenges
The challenge of finding the appropriate balance between rights is not one which is specific to the Internet.It is difficult to know if Australian laws that limit freedom of expression in the interests of other rights, or on other permissible grounds, have ‘drawn the line’ appropriately without a comprehensive review of such laws. In New Zealand, a legislative review undertaken by the New… -
Commission – General
10 December 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)President's message | December 2024
It's Human Rights Day; a day to reflect on human rights challenges and progress. 76 years ago today, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, one of the pinnacles of human achievement. In adopting the Declaration after the horrors of World War 2, the international community said, “never again”. The Declaration lists 30 rights that are essential for all of us… -
12 December 2024Conciliation register
2024-07-01
The complainant has a vision impairment and tried to obtain a quote for car insurance from the respondent insurer’s website, but found the website inaccessible. He claimed that when he contacted the insurer, he was informed it did not offer products for people with a vision impairment. The insurer advised that in response to the complainant’s original complaint to the insurer, it had made… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
9 December 2024Media ReleaseWomen in immigration detention at serious risk of harassment and violence
The Australian Human Rights Commission has called for significant reform to the country’s immigration detention system, after a new report into the treatment of women in detention found their rights, safety and wellbeing are being widely overlooked. These failures, it found, are compounding the risk to women of harassment, violence, and ill health. -
Sex Discrimination
4 May 2018Opinion pieceTime for some home truths about sexual harassment
The following opinion piece by the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins was published in the Age newspaper on May 3, 2018 It’s time for some home truths about how we are talking about and dealing with sexual harassment cases. We need to stop talking about so-called ‘‘hush money’’ and refocus our attention on the basic values of fairness and justice. In 2016, AFL chief executive… -
14 December 2012Book page
7 Some further aspects of the treatment of the young Indonesians
As discussed in Chapter 1, Australia’s international human rights obligations require that individuals who say that they are children be given the benefit of the doubt and treated as minors unless there is proof to the contrary. In the case of unaccompanied children, this should lead to consideration by the State of what steps need to be taken to ensure their special protection and care. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
12 December 2024Opinion piece
Women in immigration detention are trapped in a system designed for men. Many have not hugged a family member in years
In an opinion piece published in The Guardian, Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay Commissioner Finlay describes the harrowing experiences faced by many women in immigration detention and calls for urgent reform to address these human rights failures. It follows the release of the AHRC report into the issue. -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Opinion pieceEveryone needs a safety net at some point in their lives (2009)
The Australian Human Rights Commission has this week lodged its submission with the National Human Rights Consultation, recommending that Australia implements a human rights act. -
LGBTIQ+
17 September 2015Opinion pieceI want to hold your hand: LGBTI people have some surprisingly modest aspirations
Visibility remains one of the greatest challenges in tackling the legacy of state-sanctioned discrimination against people on the basis of their sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status. In the past 30 years we’ve made great strides in ensuring people are treated equally before the law and government simply because of who they are. Led by John Gorton, the commonwealth… -
Children's Rights
26 November 2024Opinion pieceAustralian parents and kids deserve better
In a joint op-ed, National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds and Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay contend that the proposed ban on social media access for Australians under 16 merely addresses surface issues without improving overall safety on these platforms. -
Commission – General
5 December 2024Speech
Tim McCoy dinner
It’s pretty special for me being here tonight as the speaker at the Tim McCoy dinner. There’s so many people in this room tonight who have played a big part in my life - making me a better human rights advocate and a better person. The McCoy Dinner is always a great celebration of the community legal and broader legal aid and social justice sectors. A meeting of the pioneers who set up CLCs… -
Rights and Freedoms
4 December 2024Opinion piece
The 41,000 urgent priorities our new anti-slavery commissioner has to tackle
In an opinion piece published in the Sydney Morning Herald, Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay reflects on the prevalence of modern slavery in Australia, as she welcomes the appointment of the country's inaugural Anti-Slavery Commissioner. -
Race Discrimination
6 December 2024Speech
Framework launch speech
The National Anti-Racism Framework launch speech by Giridharan Sivaraman emphasizes the importance of First Nations-centered anti-racism efforts in Australia. -
14 December 2012Book page
Community arrangements for asylum seekers, refugees and stateless persons - Some barriers to use of community arrangements
Despite the significant positive developments of the past two years, the Commission remains seriously concerned about some aspects of Australian law and policy on asylum seekers, refugees and immigration detention. The Commission is primarily concerned about the prolonged or indefinite detention and lack of durable solutions or substantive visa pathways for certain groups of people in immigration… -
13 November 2024Conciliation register
2024-04-02
The complainant finds it difficult to stand for extended periods of time without short periods of rest due to a number of medical conditions. On commencing employment with the respondent clothing retailer, she requested some adjustments to accommodate her disability, including a kneeling stool and/or cushioned mat. She alleged the retailer denied her request, cancelled her induction training… -
Children's Rights
21 November 2024News story
Proposed Social Media Ban for Under-16s in Australia
The Australian Government is proposing laws that will require technology companies to restrict individuals under the age of 16 years from accessing their social media platforms. -
Race Discrimination
29 November 2024Speech
Launch of the National Anti-Racism Framework
Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman launched the National Anti-Racism Framework on 26 November at Parramatta Townhall. -
Age Discrimination
29 November 2024Webpage
About the Age Discrimination Act
Learn how to file a complaint under the Age Discrimination Act with the Australian Human Rights Commission, understand exemptions, and discover the Commissioner's priorities. -
17 September 2024Conciliation register
2023-08-08
The complainant (C) is a national LGBTIQ+ organisation whose purpose is to improve the wellbeing and circumstances of LGBTIQ+ people in Australia and their families and children. C alleged that the first respondent statutory officeholder decided not to recommend that topics relating to gender identity, innate variations of sex characteristics and sexual orientation be included in the 2021…