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21 January 2020Conciliation register
2018-05-04
The complainant sought to enrol her two youngest children at the respondent K-12 private school, which their older siblings already attended. She alleged the school refused her daughter’s enrolment because she has autism without taking steps to assess her support needs and refused to enrol her brother because of his association with her. On being advised of the complaint, the school agreed… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees16 July 2019Publication
Lives on hold: Refugees and asylum seekers in the 'Legacy caseload' (2019)
This report examines the human rights implications of policies affecting asylum seekers in the ‘Legacy Caseload’. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice28 May 2020Opinion piece
Learning from crisis
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… -
11 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-01-13
The complainant was employed with the respondent government agency. She alleged that a much older member of senior management groomed her over a period of time in a manner that constituted sexual harassment, including by approaching her at work and work drinks, connecting with her on a social networking site and privately messaging her on that site to tell her she was amazing. She said she… -
26 September 2019Conciliation register
2018-04-01
The complainant was employed as a construction supervisor with the respondent construction company and has depression arising from a work-related injury. He alleged the company did not accommodate his disability and ultimately made his position redundant. He also alleged a manager referred to his time off work due to his disability as “a holiday” at a supervisors’ meeting. The company… -
26 September 2019Conciliation register
2018-01-02
The complainant worked as a sales assistant in a liquor store owned by the respondent supermarket. He advised he took time off work to undergo treatment for cancer and injured his finger while on leave. The complainant claimed he became depressed after his manager disclosed his disability to staff and customers. He advised he was cleared to return to work on modified duties after several… -
Race Discrimination10 July 2014Speech
The Asianisation of Australia?
Keynote speech to Asian Studies Association of Australia Annual Conference, “AsiaScapes: Contesting Borders” -
27 September 2019Conciliation register
2018-08-07
The complainant's 13-year-old son has mild autism and anxiety and played a team sport with the respondent community sporting club. The complainant alleged that the club’s coaches removed her son from a team, saying his anxiety and shyness with other members of the team would cause confusion and ‘let down’ the team. The complainant’s son was no longer involved with the club at the time the -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
HREOC submission to Inquiry into Immigration Detention in Australia
Recommendation 1: The Migration Act should be amended so that detention occurs only when necessary. This should be the exception not the norm. It must be for a minimal period, be reasonable and be a proportionate means of achieving at least one of the aims outlined in international law (ExComm Conclusion 44). These limited grounds for detention should be clearly prescribed in the Migration Act. -
21 January 2020Conciliation register
2018-05-06
The complainant’s son has an acquired brain injury, intellectual disability, autism, Opposition & Defiance Disorder and other impairments and attended the respondent public high school. The complainant alleged the school did not appropriately support her son, failed to develop or implement a behaviour support plan, refused her request for a teacher’s aide and suspended her son on several… -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
1. Introduction 2. Adequacy of current educational provision 3. Educational programs in NSW government schools 4. Temporary Protection Visa Holders enrolled in government schools. 5. Cost of educating child asylum seekers and students on temporary protection visas 6. Support for children and families who have been released from detention 7. Recommendations Appendix 1 -
Rights and Freedoms14 December 2012Speech
Human Rights in Contemporary AustraliaDr Sev Ozdowski (2001)
Despite its rather grand title, this presentation will be a relatively modest attempt to set out the key challenges for human rights in Australia as I see them at the outset of my term as Human Rights Commissioner. -
Disability Rights14 December 2012Speech
Pokemons in the Amazon Jungle
I am here today representing, firstly, the Australian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), and, second, I'm here to represent at least 20% of the population, and 20% of your customers and users if you are a web developer or web content manager: of course, I'm referring to people who have a disability. -
27 September 2019Conciliation register
2018-06-10
The complainant is Aboriginal and worked in an administrative role at the respondent government agency. She alleged that over several years disparaging comments about Aboriginal people were made towards her, she was not promoted because of her race and she was subjected to undue performance management. The complainant claimed she had made several complaints about the alleged discrimination… -
21 January 2020Conciliation register
2018-05-11
The complainant is vegan and worked for the respondent car repair company. He claimed two managers told him veganism was a feminine attribute and imputed he was homosexual because of his veganism, calling him ‘fag’, ‘poof’ and ‘gay’. He claimed one of the managers sexually harassed him by showing him pictures of naked women on the work computer. The complainant said he took time off work due… -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
"I'm the boss, so that's the way it is!"
I would like to begin by thanking the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) for inviting me to address you today, and to thank you for your attendance. -
Commission – General14 December 2012Speech
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I was invited to pick my own topic for discussion. As an ex-judge being invited to speak to students of the law, I assumed that I was expected to speak on something related to the administration of the law from a judge's perspective. And as President of Australia's Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC), I assumed I was expected to mention the role of human rights promotion in our… -
Legal14 December 2012Webpage
Tasmania: Charter of Rights
[1] For further discussion see John von Doussa QC, ‘In defence of human rights’, Address to the UNSW Law Society’s Speakers Forum, 24 August 2006; Commissioner Graeme Innes ‘The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and the Protection of Human Rights at a federal level’, Address to the ANU Bill of Rights Conference. Both speeches are available at http://www… -
Commission – General14 December 2012Webpage
Links to Human Rights Organisations and Resources
This website contains links to other websites that are external to the Australian Human Rights Commission. The Commission takes reasonable care in linking websites but has no direct control over the content of the linked sites, or the changes that may occur to the content on those sites. It is the responsibility of the user to make their own decisions about the accuracy, currency, reliability and… -
21 May 2020Conciliation register
2018-11-18
The complainant’s son has depression, which can manifest as self-harming behaviour and suicidal ideation. He attended Year 10 at the respondent private school. The complainant alleged that the school excluded her son when made aware of his disability, but allowed him to return following provision of a medical certificate. The complainant’s son had some time off school following an incident…