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Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Breastfeeding
It is against the law to discriminate against women who are breastfeeding. This includes women who need to express milk by hand or using a pump. There are some limited exemptions. Discrimination happens when a woman is treated less favourably because she is breastfeeding or needs to breastfeed over a period of time. It is also discrimination when there is an unreasonable requirement or… -
14 December 2012Book page
National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
Australia is a signatory to a number of International Conventions, which are relevant to mandatory detention of children in Australia’s immigration detention centres. Under International law, each of the conventions that Australia has ratified is binding on the Australian state, which is obliged to bring its domestic laws into conformity with their stipulations. In Australia, International… -
Legal14 September 2015Submission
Inquiry into the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill (No.1) 2014
Download PDF Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2. The Control Order regime 2.1 Expanding the grounds for a control order 2.2 A less targeted proportionality analysis 2.3 Attorney-General's consent 1 Introduction 1. The Australian Human Rights Commission makes this brief submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (Committee) in its Inquiry into the Counter -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Family Responsibilities
It is against the law for employers to discriminate directly against a person because of their responsibilities to care for a family member. This includes caring for a spouse or de-facto partner, child, grandchild, brother, sister, parent or grandparent. There are some limited exemptions. Discrimination happens when a person is treated less favourably than another person in the same or… -
14 December 2012Book page
A Last Resort? - Summary Guide (2004)
It was established to consider whether Australia's immigration detention laws and its treatment of children in immigration detention comply with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. -
24 April 2015Book page
3 Promotion and protection of human rights on the ground
3.1 Equality before the law and non-discrimination (a) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples has yet to be implemented in law, policy and practice. [12] Recommendation: The Commission recommends that Government develop, in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, a National Strategy to give effect to the -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Carers
Caring responsibilities can include caring for young children, for children or adults with disabilities, mental illness, chronic illness, or for older people. Many employees will have caring responsibilities at different times in their lives. Employers have an obligation to avoid discrimination against carers in some circumstances. Under the Sex Discrimination Act, it is against the law for … -
Legal14 December 2012Speech
Response to Lord Bingham’s speech: “Do Human Rights Acts Make a Difference?” - David Kinley
Conspicuously active in retirement! Perhaps most notably his Grotius Lecture in London last month in which he raised serious doubts as to the legality under international law of Britain’s invasion of Iraq. This is hardly the path of a man seeking a quiet retirement. -
14 December 2012Book page
Monitoring and reporting on laws and policy - Annual Report 2009-2010: Australian Human Rights Commission
The Commission assesses compliance with human rights principles by examining and reporting on issues of race, age, sex and disability discrimination and human rights. In doing so, we play a significant role in the monitoring of legislation and policy in Australia. -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Gov2.0 Roundtable on Accessibility for People with Disabilities (2009)
Last year a blind colleague of mine decided he needed a pet dog to be company for him and his teenage daughter. After checking various pet rescue websites and talking to various people, he found an 18-month-old German Shepherd / red Cattle dog cross that this bloke was giving away. He even brought the dog over in his car. -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the administration and operation of the Migration Act 1958
Thank you for inviting the Commission to make a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional References Committee's Inquiry into the administration and operation of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) ('Migration Act'). -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
INCORPORATING HUMAN RIGHTS PRINCIPLES INTO NATIONAL SECURITY MEASURES
Since the terrorist attacks on September 11 2001, Governments around the world have created a raft of new counter-terrorism laws. In Australia alone, over 40 new laws have created new criminal offences, new detention and questioning powers for police and security apparatus, new powers for the Attorney-General to proscribe terrorist organisations, new ways to control people’s movement and… -
Employers13 February 2015Quick Guide
Conciliation
If a complaint of discrimination or harassment is made to the Australian Human Rights Commission, the complaint may be resolved through a process known as ‘conciliation’. Conciliation is an informal, flexible approach to resolving complaints. The Commission tries to help everyone involved in the complaint to understand the issues and find a solution that is acceptable to everyone. We do not… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Languages
Treating someone differently because of the language that they speak may be against the law. Find out more in this quick guide for employers. -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2006
This appendix provides an overview of the main events with regard to the administration of Indigenous affairs to 30 June 2006. It commences with a summary table and is followed by a detailed description of each event. -
Employers19 February 2015Quick Guide
Working Hours
Offering employees flexible working hours, like other flexible work arrangements, is a way to create a productive workplace that is free of discrimination. In some circumstances, a rule that requires all employees to work certain hours can be indirect discrimination as it may have an unfair effect on some groups of people, such as people with disabilities, women who are pregnant or… -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Submission: Anti-Terrorism Bill (No 2) 2005
Recommendation 1: The Bill should be amended to include additional sub-clauses (in s105.4(4) and (6)), which require the issuing authority to be satisfied that the purpose for which the order is made cannot be achieved by a less restrictive means. -
Commission – General10 January 2024Video
What does 'human rights' mean to you?
10 December 2023 marked 75 years since the creation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In this first of a 5-part video series commemorating the anniversary from a local perspective, we hear from a diverse group of Australians about what human rights means to them. The Commission acknowledges this series comes at a time of major global crises. It is in the pursuit of peace, justice… -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 1999-2000: OH&S
The Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Committee met at least four times during the year. The Committee includes a staff health and safety representative and at least four corporate support staff. The Committee surveyed staff on their awareness of OH&S issues and as a result was then able to hold relevant training sessions on specific OH&S issues for staff and supervisors. The… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Flexible Work Arrangements
A growing number of organisations recognise that flexible work arrangements are vital to the successful recruitment and retention of their employees. Flexible work arrangements can also help employers meet their obligation to avoid discrimination against employees with disabilities, older employees and employees with family responsibilities. Flexible work arrangements can include: changing…