News

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

10th Anniversary of the UN General Assembly adopting the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) ACT Human Rights Commission

[Introduction in Bunuba] Jalangurru garrwarri balanggarri. Good afternoon everyone. Thank you Violet Sheridan for your warm welcome to country. I would like to begin by acknowledging your people, the Ngunnawal people, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which we meet today. Thank you President...

13 September, 2017

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Key Forum on Education, Garma Festival

Garma Festival 2017 June Oscar Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Australian Human Rights Commission Key Forum on Education Friday 4 August 2017 Acknowledgements and Intro [Introduction in Bunuba] Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Yolngu yani u...

4 August, 2017

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

National Suicide Prevention Conference

Acknowledgements and Intro [Introduction in Bunuba] Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Yagara a yani u. Balangarri wadjirragali jarra ningi – gamali ngindaji yau muwayi nyirrami yarrangi thangani. Yaningi miya ngindaji Muwayi ingga winyira ngarragi thangani. Yathawarra, wilalawarra...

27 July, 2017

Rights and Freedoms

Sydney Town Hall: Australians of the Year 2017

CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY Sydney Town Hall: Australians of the Year 2017 It is wonderful to see so many of you here tonight to celebrate these four great Australians of the year and to learn about their vision for human rights in the future. Thank you to the Australia Day Council for the chance to...

14 June, 2017

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Mabo Lecture - National Native Title Conference 2017

Speech given at the National Native Title Conference, Townsville Introduction in Bunuba Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Gurambilbarra Walgurakaba yani u. Balangarri wadjirragali jarra ningi – gamali ngindaji yau muwayi nyirrami ngarri thangani. Yaningi miya ngindaji Muwayi ingga...

6 June, 2017

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Uluru Statement ‘cannot be ignored’

Australia’s human rights bodies tell political leaders: Uluru Statement ‘cannot be ignored’ Australia’s federal, state and territory human rights bodies have urged political leaders to work across party lines to deliver Constitutional reform for Australia’s First Peoples. In a joint letter, the...

5 June, 2017

Disability Rights

National Disability Services NSW State Conference ‘Turning Plans into Outcomes’

I acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation and pay my respect to their elders past and present. I also pay respect to Aboriginal people present here today. Anne Bryce – thank you for the introduction. NDS board members, NDS members...

23 February, 2017

Asylum Seekers and Refugees

Protecting refugees

As recent reports allege asylum seekers are being removed from Manus Island and returned to their place of origin, Commission President, Professor Gillian Triggs, reflects on the nation's responsibilities.

13 February, 2017

Children's Rights

Is jail the answer for Australian kids?

This year around 900 children and young people will spend Christmas in jail. More than 5 per cent of this population are between 10 and 12 years old and 74 per cent of this age group are Indigenous. Most have been charged or convicted with petty crimes, like graffiti, vandalism, shop lifting or fare...

22 December, 2016

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Listen to us: we know what we need

Decades of reports and inquiries have largely echoed what Indigenous leaders have long asked for: we want Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be at the heart of any reform agenda involving our people, says Robynne Quiggin. The 2016 Social Justice and Native Title Report details the...

7 December, 2016

Children's Rights

Launch of Children's Rights Report 2016

Introduction Good morning everyone. I want to begin by speaking about an artwork submitted by a young person detained in a youth justice centre. This was sent to me as an entry to an art competition I ran for children and young people in youth justice centres this year. I asked them to show me how...

2 December, 2016

Rights and Freedoms

Human rights in action: the role of social workers in detention

Speech to Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Queensland State Social Work Conference University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus – Lecture Theatre Room 234, Parnell Building Check against delivery Acknowledgements: the traditional Aboriginal owners of the land, the Turrbal and Jagera...

25 November, 2016

LGBTIQ+

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance Harmony Park, Goulburn St, Surry Hills Edward Santow, Human Rights Commissioner Check against delivery Acknowledgements Gadigal people of the Eora Nation Elders in the trans community, past and present. In particular, those people who have been victims of hate crimes...

20 November, 2016

Children's Rights

Children's Week Address: Don't be scared - it's just information!

Introduction I would like to start by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Arrernte people, and pay my respects to elders past, present and future. I would also like to thank Geraldine for the Welcome to Country, and to Tiara for her fabulous emceeing here tonight...

4 November, 2016

Rights and Freedoms

Peering through human rights-tinted glasses

Annual Lecture, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law. Given at the State Library of Victoria on 7 October 2016. This year, we celebrate (or mourn, according to your perspective) the 60th anniversary of the first computer to defeat a human in chess. It occurred, predictably enough, in Los Alomos, and...

7 October, 2016