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Research project by the Australian Human Rights Commission: Prevalence of experiences of discrimination relating to pregnancy at work and return to work after parental leave The Sex Discrimination Commissioner, on behalf of the Commission, will conduct research to identify the prevalence of discrimination in relation to pregnancy at work and return to work after parental leave as follows: A …

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner thanks the following people and organisations for their assistance in preparing the Social Justice and Native Title Report 2013: Hans Bokelund, Chief Executive Officer Goldfields Land and Sea Council Elizabeth Bradshaw, Principal Advisor – Communities and Cultural Heritage, Communities and Social Performance Global…

Overview There have been a number of developments at the international level during the reporting period from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 (Reporting Period). Some of these developments have included specific engagement by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, while others have addressed issues that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. These include: the…

Overview This appendix reviews the following key developments in native title over the reporting period from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 (Reporting Period): native title determinations and agreements the proposed Native Title Amendment Bill 2012 (Cth) other legislative amendments including the Tax Laws Amendment (2012 Measures No 6) Act 2012 (Cth) and the Courts and Tribunals Amendment

5.1 Introduction The significant role of business to respect and support our human rights is increasingly being recognised. Although the protection of human rights remains the responsibility of government, business is realising that human rights are both relevant and fundamental to their operations. In many of the conversations I have had with business and community leaders across the…

4.1 Introduction Alcohol consumption, misuse and related harm are some of the most challenging issues confronting communities across the length and breadth of Australia. These challenges are not limited to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, but confront every demographic in Australian cities and towns. From Kings Cross to Halls Creek, St Kilda to Santa Teresa – communities…

2.1 Introduction [1] Successive Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioners (Social Justice Commissioners) have always shown constant leadership and advocacy in reporting on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights to our lands and waters in the 19 Native Title Reports written between 1994 and 2012. [2] These Reports consistently show that social justice…

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…

1.1 Introduction This year marks 20 years since the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (Social Justice Commissioner) role under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth). When I first started in this position I was asked if any of the previous Commissioners had left any words or notes of advice. I answered them ‘no, but they all…

Review a forward by Professor Mick Dodson on the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

It is with great pleasure that I present my fourth Social Justice and Native Title Report 2013 (the Report) as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. One of my primary responsibilities is to report annually on the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to make recommendations on the action that should be…

The commitment to close the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and life expectancy gap by 2030 was a watershed moment for the nation. Politicians, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health sector, and human rights organisations, made a public stand in committing to this agenda. As did the Australian public. To date almost 200,000 Australians have signed…

Australia's peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health bodies, health professional bodies and human rights organisations operate the Close the Gap Campaign. The Campaign's goal is to raise the health and life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to that of the non-Indigenous population within a generation: to close the gap by 2030. It aims to…

The deep-seated and complex nature of Indigenous disadvantage calls for policies and programs which are patient and supportive of enduring change... A long-term investment approach is needed, accompanied by a sustained process of continuous engagement... The new policy framework developed by COAG (as reflected in the National Indigenous Reform Agreement and the Closing the Gap strategy)…

The commitment to close the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and life expectancy gap by 2030 was a watershed moment for the nation. Politicians, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous health sector, and human rights organisations, made a public stand in committing to this agenda. And so did the Australian public. To date almost 200,000 Australians have…

In March 2008, the then Australian Government and Opposition in signing the Close the Gap Statement of Intent committed to closing the health equality gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians by 2030. They were followed by the then Governments and Opposition Parties in Victoria in March 2008; Queensland in April 2008, Western Australia in April…

(a) How did we get here? It is not credible to suggest that one of the wealthiest nations in the world cannot solve a health crisis affecting less than 3% of its citizens. Dr Tom Calma AO, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, 2005 [10] In 2008, the United Nations Human Development Index ranked Australia the third most developed nation in the world. Then, as now,…

(a) Progress against the achievement of life expectancy equality In 2009, the ABS began to estimate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life expectancy over periods of three years (to have a greater deaths certificates ‘pool’ than that provided by one-year periods) and to use the five-yearly Censuses to verify the accuracy of the identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander…

Principle 1: Strong leadership drives reform COSC agreed to the implementation of all the ADF Review’s recommendations and integrated these reforms into Pathway to Change. The most senior leadership has taken responsibility for the implementation of the ADF Review’s recommendations and COSC is updated on matters pertaining to its implementation. COSC issued a Foundation Statement which…

The ADF Review contained 21 recommendations. The Chiefs of Service Committee (COSC) agreed to 15 of these, with the further six agreed ‘in principle’. The Chief of the Defence Force stated that ‘in principle’ agreement indicates that the COSC unanimously agreed to the concept and intent of the recommendations, but practical implementation considerations require that a more detailed…