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14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2003: Chapter 3: Indigenous participation in decision making – Transforming the relationship between government and Indigenous peoples
The twin pillars of the government's approach to Indigenous policy in 2003 continued to be practical reconciliation, with its emphasis on service delivery in core areas of disadvantage, and mutual obligation, with its emphasis on reciprocity and individual responsibility. Through both of these policies, the government has identified moving Indigenous people beyond welfare dependency and enabling… -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageSubmission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee
A similar but not identical Bill was put before the Federal Parliament in April 1998, a week after the commencement of my Presidency. The Commission opposed many of that Bill's provisions and continues to oppose those provisions that exist in the current Bill as well as new ones. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission submissions: Christie
1. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission makes two submissions with respect to the interpretation of s.170DF(2)(f) of the Industrial Relations Act 1988 (Cth). They are: -
14 December 2012Book page
Bringing them Home - Appendix 7
Established the Northern Territory Aboriginals Department with responsibility for the control and welfare of Aborigines and `to provide where possible for the custody, maintenance and education of the children of aboriginals'. -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
1. The provisions made by Australia to implement its international human rights obligations regarding child asylum seekers, including unaccompanied minors. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Inquiry into the Sex and Age Discrimination Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (2010)
the Commission in its Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the inquiry into the effectiveness of the SDA in eliminating discrimination and promoting gender equality (the Senate Committee); and -
14 December 2012Book page
Bringing them Home - Appendix 9 Recommendations
1. That the Council of Australian Governments ensure the adequate funding of appropriate Indigenous agencies to record, preserve and administer access to the testimonies of Indigenous people affected by the forcible removal policies who wish to provide their histories in audio, audio-visual or written form. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission Submission - ON COMMON DIFFICULTIES FACING ABORIGINAL WITNESSES
The communication difficulties that may be faced by Aboriginal people in the legal system have long been recognised.1 In the Queensland context, these have been well documented by Dr Diana Eades 2 and the Criminal Justice Commission (CJC).3 These issues are also dealt with in detail in the Equal Treatment Benchbook of the Supreme Court of Queensland (‘the Queensland Benchbook’)4 and… -
14 December 2012Book page
Privacy - National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
(1) For the purpose of the performance of its functions, the Commission may make an examination or hold an inquiry in such manner as it thinks fit and, in informing itself in the course of an examination or inquiry, is not bound by the rules of evidence. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 December 2012WebpageReparations and the Waitangi Tribunal
Tena koutou katoa. I have no expert knowledge of the legal or political context in Australia insofar as it applies to indigenous peoples here and even less on the issue of the controversial topic of the stolen generations. It would be utterly inappropriate therefore for me to express any view on the issues particular to this country. What I can do is talk to you a little bit about the process… -
15 July 2014Book page
Chapter 3: How do we keep moving forward? A road map for our future
3.1 Introduction In chapters 1 and 2, I look back over the past 20 years that the Social Justice Commissioner position has been in place and think about the journey and our learning over this time. In this chapter, I want to explore how those lessons can take us forward to chart a confident course into the future and how the realisation of our rights can produce long term sustainable… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
10 January 2014WebpageAsylum seekers and refugees guide
Learn everything about refugee and asylum seeker issues, such as immigration detention, legal rights, protection visas and enhanced screening. -
Commission – General
8 April 2013PublicationKnow your rights: About us
The Australian Human Rights Commission is the nation’s independent human rights body. We work to find practical and long-term solutions to the human rights issues facing people in Australia, as well as to build greater understanding and respect for human rights in our community. -
Rights and Freedoms
18 May 2013Webpage1981-86 Human Rights Commission Occasional Papers
These papers have been added to this site for research and historical purposes. Australia's first federal Human Rights Commission was established by the Fraser Government under the Human Rights Commission Act 1981. The first Commission was replaced by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (now renamed as the Australian Human Rights Commission) in December 1986. The first… -
Rights and Freedoms
1 May 2013Webpage
Right to security of the person and freedom from arbitrary detention
Learn how under human rights law, no person can be held under arbitrary arrest or detention, including persons in immigration detention. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Villawood
1. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (the Commission) welcomes the opportunity to make this submission to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works (the PWC) on the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre Redevelopment Project. -
14 December 2012Book page
Law Society Journal - Customary law and international human rights: The Queen v GJ
THE ROLE THAT ABORIGINAL customary law has, or should have, in the criminal codes and sentencing acts of the Commonwealth, states and territories has been the subject of detailed consideration for some time.1 -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
Human Rights, Governance and Decision Making
Good morning, and thank you for the opportunity to speak at this conference. I'm very pleased to be here. Firstly as a senior Commonwealth public servant not based in Canberra I immediately warm to this forum. The challenges of interacting with, and learning from, our colleagues are increased greatly by the fact that we aren't located in the city viewed by most commonwealth public servants as… -
14 December 2012Book page
Questions and answers on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (2009)
On Friday 3 April 2009, the Australian Government will make a statement in support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This will reverse Australia’s previous opposition to the Declaration. Under the Coalition Government, Australia was one of four countries that voted against the Declaration when it was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in… -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012SpeechMeeting with National Disability Advisory Council
You might have noticed that somehow governments never seem to want the same long term commitment from Human Rights Commissioners. In fact, they often seem quite happy to see us arrive at the end of a term of office ... .