News

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

AAG Elder Abuse and Neglect Conference

It is with respect and gratitude that I acknowledge that we sit today on the lands of the Larrakia peoples (Darwin) / Arrente peoples (Alice Springs). Thank you to (Ms) Bilawara Lee – Elder on campus at CDU (Darwin); Dr Patricia Miller AO (Alice Springs) for your generous welcome to country on behalf of the Larrakia peoples (Darwin) / Arrente peoples (Alice Springs). My people are the Gangulu from the Dawson Valley in Central Queensland. On behalf of my Elders I also pay tribute to your Elders, both past and present, for their continued struggle for their country and their culture.

5 September, 2012

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Justice reinvestment and its importance to Aboriginal communities

I would like to begin by paying my respects to the Dharawal people, the traditional owners of the land where we gather today. I am a Gangulu man from Central Queensland. Gangulu country takes in what is known as the Dawson Valley area and extends to just east of the Carnarvon Gorge. So, as is our practice, can I pass on from the Gangulu peoples to the Dharawal peoples our greetings and acknowledgements for your continued resilience and determination to keep your culture alive and thriving over the last 220 years?

1 August, 2012

Race Discrimination

Mental Health Impacts of Racial Discrimination in Victoria

Good afternoon and thank you for being here for the launch of the Mental Health Impacts of Racial Discrimination in Victorian Aboriginal Communities Report. And I am proud to be launching this Report on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and I pay my respect to elders both past and present.

14 January, 2012

Age Discrimination

Tackling Age Discrimination in the Labour Market: the role of the Australian Human Rights Commission (2011)

I start by acknowledging the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, the traditional owners of the land upon which we meet. I pay my respects to their elders, both past and present.

13 December, 2011

Commission – General

The empowered citizen: the importance of education and equality for a modern democracy (2011)

I would like to begin this evening by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Awabakal People. I pay my respects to their elders past and present.

30 August, 2011

Age Discrimination

Reflections on age discrimination: The price we pay for growing older

But first let me acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. I pay my deepest respects to their elders both past and present.

21 June, 2011

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

People power is a force in this country

Co-chairs of the Close the Gap Campaign for Indigenous Health Equality - Dr Tom Calma, National Coordinator Tacking Indigenous Smoking, and Mr Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner

10 March, 2011

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Towards a reconciled Australia: National Press Club speech (2010)

With respect and gratitude I acknowledge that we sit on the lands of the Ngunnawal peoples and I thank the Traditional Owners for allowing us to do so.

3 November, 2010

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Social Justice Report 2009 and the Native Title Report 2009 Launch

Good morning, I would like to begin by paying my respects to the Gadigal peoples of the Eora nation, the traditional owners of the land where we gather today. I pay my respects to your elders past and present. And thank you, Allen Madden, for your generous and warm welcome to country for all of us here at Redfern today.

Disability Rights

World Mental Health Day Address

Thank you for the opportunity to speak here today, World Mental Health Day. I am very pleased that World Mental Health Day this year is dedicated to the theme Human Rights and Mental Health. This theme recognises that mental health issues are human rights issues - a view argued strongly and consistently by our Human Rights Commission for many years.

Commission – General

Enhancing Equality: Reforming Anti-Discrimination Laws to Make Australia Fairer

I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Wurundjeri people, and I pay my respects to their elders past and present.

Commission – General

Seventh International Conference for National Human Rights Institutions

Torture and various forms of terrorism have been practiced throughout history, though never on the scale we are now confronted with. The first visual records of police interrogation were discovered in a four thousand year old tomb in ancient Egypt. Since the pharaohs there have been many refinements in methods of inducing physical pain and gathering intelligence, most notably during the Spanish Inquisition, but more recently in the modern totalitarian state.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Site navigation

I would also like to thank the Law Council of Australia and its Advisory Committee on Indigenous Legal Issues for inviting me to deliver this address, and to take part in the customary law panel discussion later today.

Disability Rights

Is there a slow lane on the information superhighway?

The title I have taken for these remarks is "Is there a slow lane on the information superhighway". I fear that by now there may already be something dated or quaint in using the term "information superhighway". I am going to use it anyway, and perhaps make matters of style worse by adding reference to a slow lane, because I think a few important issues are suggested by this title.

Commission – General

President speech: How human rights can promote the wellbeing of children in Australia

I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation, and pay my respects to their elders past and present.