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Rights and Freedoms

Loss of freedoms and rights has harmed us

OPINION November 18, 2021 Ronald Reagan famously said that “freedom is a fragile thing and it’s never more than one generation away from extinction”. For many Australians, until recently, freedom has been something we have largely been able to take for granted in our daily lives. But with millions...

Category, Opinion
Race Discrimination

Commemorating one year since the Christchurch mosque attack

Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan and Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow have commemorated the one-year anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attack. In a joint statement, they said: “The Christchurch massacre was deeply traumatic for New Zealand’s Muslim community. That...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

Statement by Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow

“The Commission will consider the Religious Freedom Review, and any proposals for reform, once the report is officially released. “Any law reform proposal must protect the rights of everyone in Australia. “The Commission made six recommendations to the Review. In addition to better public education...

Category, News
Rights and Freedoms

Religion and Human Rights in Modern Australia: Friends, Foes or Ships in the Night?

Western Sydney Open Forum CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Acknowledgements • Traditional Aboriginal owners: the Darug Nation • Dr Sev Ozdowski AM If you’ve read the papers or seen the news in the last few weeks, you might be forgiven for thinking that human rights are somehow radically incompatible with...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Religion and Rights in a Diverse, Multicultural Community

Lecture Theatre 9, University of Tasmania, Newnham Campus, Newnham Drive, Launceston CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Acknowledgements Traditional owners: Panninher and the Leterrermairrener People. Moderator: Professor Richard Eccleston, Director of the Institute for the Study of Social Change, University of...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

The lion and the lamb: freedom of religion in multicultural Australia

The lion and the lamb: freedom of religion in multicultural Australia Affinity Intercultural Foundation: Lunchtime Lecture Series CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Introduction Acknowledgements Gadigal people of the Eora nation; Ahmet Polat. The Hon Ray Williams MP (NSW Minister for Multiculturalism, and...

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Finding a balance for freedom of religion

Those of different beliefs need to be active in reshaping the conversation about religious freedom if it is to be preserved in law. Yesterday, the Australian Human Rights Commission hosted the first of many religious freedom round tables. These round tables have resulted from a year-long consultation...

Category, Opinion
Rights and Freedoms

Why Geert Wilders should be allowed to visit Australia

Our borders should not be used to control access to unpopular ideas, and in the internet age such efforts are futile. According to reports, Lebanese Muslim Association president Samier Dandan​ has advised the Prime Minister not to grant a visa to controversial Dutch MP, Geert Wilders, using the...

Category, Opinion
Rights and Freedoms

Religion, Law and Social Stability

Speech: ‘Religion, Law and Social Stability’ by Tim Wilson Australia’s Human Rights Commissioner 22nd Annual International Law and Religion Symposium, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Religious Freedom in a Secular Society

Freedom of religion is a close ally and friend of the absolute freedoms of thought and conscience. Government cannot regulate it, and nor should they. Equally, it is closely allied to freedom of expression.

Category, Speech
Rights and Freedoms

Charlie Hebdo V 18C: no contest

Charlie Hebdo would have risked being censored by the courts, but self-censorship is the reality of Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act.

Category, Opinion

Pagination

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