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Disability Rights

Launch of Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Action Plan

Sarah - not her real name - studied law at university. Not only did she earn a good law degree, she won the university medal. She also won competitions for mooting- conducting mock trials for those of you smart enough not to have chosen law as your profession. She could not get a job - or even an interview - with the Australian public service because she has a significant disability, including using a wheelchair, and some verbal communication issues.

20 February, 2014

Rights and Freedoms

Why I’ll take the approach of a classical liberal to human rights

As Human Rights Commissioner I want to promote a culture of rights and responsibilities so that every Australian understands their rights and confidently stands up for them against government encroachment. Because human rights are a political construct, there are numerous ways that they can be...

18 February, 2014

Disability Rights

Human rights: everyone, everywhere, everyday

Maria has cerebral palsy and little speech. She wanted to tell police about a sexual assault, but there was no communication support worker to help with the statement. The police relied on Maria's parents to provide communication support. Maria was uncomfortable giving personal details of the...

13 February, 2014

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Close the Gap 2014 Parliamentary Breakfast

Speech by Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner and Kirstie Parker, National Congress of Australia's First Peoples

12 February, 2014

Mick Gooda speaking in front of two small microphones

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

We need to fix the Constitution, says Social Justice Commissioner

30 January, 2014

Rights and Freedoms

Freedoms versus anti-discrimination laws? A false debate

Responsibility, anti-discrimination laws, human rights and freedoms - these words have been at the center of an ideological debate about how to protect fundamental freedoms, including freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom from detention without trial. But if we are serious about...

22 January, 2014

Disability Rights

Wooden escalators just aren't cricket

17 December, 2013

Disability Rights

Speech to Australia's Network on Disability International Day Function

Click here to download presentation slide I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. *Slide with contact details* I've pondered for a while how to theme this speech. After all, it’s my last international day as Commissioner, as my term concludes in July next year. And 2013 - a huge year of...

4 December, 2013

Children's Rights

Young people seeking asylum – protecting their rights in Australia

Young people seeking asylum – protecting their rights in Australia Practitioners Workshop, ‘Improving Services for Unaccompanied Minors & Young People Seeking Asylum’ CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY 1. Acknowledgments Thank you, Pino, for your introduction. Thank you also to Australian Red Cross for the...

4 December, 2013

Disability Rights

Launch of Telstra's 6th Disability Action Plan

Geoff Scott is your average Aussie bloke- so like most Australians, he's a prospective Telstra customer. Only difference is that Geoff is deaf.

3 December, 2013

Disability Rights

ABS International Day of People with Disability

I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. I have a dream that my children will grow up in a nation where they are not judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character. Who said these words? Martin Luther King. If I can adapt that quote, I have a dream that my...

2 December, 2013

Disability Rights

Presentation to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

I acknowledge the traditional owners of this land. Thanks for the chance to have this discussion this afternoon. It's a relatively small group so I hope it can be quite informal. We've just seen one of the films from the Australian Human Rights Commission's Twenty Years: Twenty Stories project. I...

2 December, 2013

Disability Rights

We have to stop this

“Are you talking about rape? I’ve been raped many times. You just have to get used to it.” Imagine that your daughter, sister, mother, wife, girlfriend or female friend had the grave misfortune to have this happen to her - and that this statement, thick with defeat and resignation, was her response...

26 November, 2013

Rights and Freedoms

Freedom of Speech and Racial vilification: one man’s freedom ends where another’s starts

The Sydney Institute Tuesday 26 November 2013 6pm Venue: King & Wood Mallesons, Level 61, Governor Phillip Tower, 1 Farrer Place, Sydney (Check against delivery) I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to the Sydney Institute speakers program and to discuss two freedoms- freedom of speech...

26 November, 2013

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Working with communities to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

Australasian Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Conference, Royal Brisbane and Royal Women’s Education Centre, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane - Abstract

20 November, 2013

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Launch of Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Action Plan

Why I’ll take the approach of a classical liberal to human rights

Human rights: everyone, everywhere, everyday

Close the Gap 2014 Parliamentary Breakfast

We need to fix the Constitution, says Social Justice Commissioner

Freedoms versus anti-discrimination laws? A false debate

Wooden escalators just aren't cricket

Speech to Australia's Network on Disability International Day Function

Young people seeking asylum – protecting their rights in Australia

Launch of Telstra's 6th Disability Action Plan

ABS International Day of People with Disability

Presentation to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

We have to stop this

Freedom of Speech and Racial vilification: one man’s freedom ends where another’s starts

Working with communities to address Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders

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