Search results

The Australian Human Rights Commission engages in social media to promote discussion and debate on human rights issues. We welcome feedback and suggestions, and endeavor to respond to messages. We ask that the conversation on our pages is tolerant of other people’s views.

Current tenders For information about Australian Government Tenders, please visit the AusTender website.

The Hon Catherine Branson was appointed President of the Australian Human Rights Commission on 7 August 2008 and commenced her five year term on 14 October 2008. On 12 July 2009 she additionally became the Human Rights Commissioner.

Discover the subject index of submissions to the Commonwealth Parliament.

The Australian Human Rights Commission considers that the fundamental human rights principle of equality means that civil marriage should be available, without discrimination, to all couples, regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. The Commonwealth Parliament, and some state parliaments are now considering legislation that would provide all couples with the same access to civil…

Australia has made good progress towards achieving gender equality in recent times. However, women still experience inequality and discrimination in many important parts of their lives.

Learn how the Human Rights Commission works to eliminate all forms of sex discrimination against women around the world.

One of the Commission's main roles is to try to resolve complaints made under federal human rights and discrimination law through a process called 'conciliation'

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Social Justice Commissioner was granted leave to appear as amicus curiae in two proceedings before the Queensland Supreme Court: Giblet & Ors v Qld & Anor, Chong & Ors v Qld & Anor.

Human rights issues raised by the transfer of asylum seekers to third countries’ sets out the Australian Human Rights Commission’s position in relation to steps taken recently by the Australian Government to transfer asylum seekers who arrive in Australia by boat to third countries for the processing of their claims for protection.

Review the Senate file listing from January 1, 2013, to June 30, 2013.

Disability discrimination happens when a person with a disability is treated less favourably than a person without the disability in the same or similar circumstances. For example, it would be ‘direct disability discrimination’ if a nightclub or restaurant refused a person entry because they are blind and have a guide dog.

Graeme Innes was Australia's Disability Discrimination Commissioner from 2005 - July 2014 . During that time he has also served as Australia's Human Rights Commissioner for three and a half years and as Race Discrimination Commissioner for two years.

Discover guides for filing complaints.

The Commission has a role to review legislation and make recommendations about laws and government policies and programs that involve human rights issues. Submissions are presented to government agencies, parliamentary committees and other inquiry bodies.

The Commission is able to grant temporary exemptions from some parts of the Sex Discrimination Act, the Disability Discrimination Act and the Age Discrimination Act.

The Conciliation Register provides summaries of a selection of complaints that have been resolved through the Australian Human Rights Commission’s conciliation process.

The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 protects individuals across Australia from direct and indirect discrimination in many parts of public life, such as employment, education and access to premises.

We regularly prepare and distribute media releases, opinion pieces, speeches, media kits and fact sheets on the work that the Commission undertakes. Our website also provides extensive research and project information.

Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Health Care for Asylum Seekers) Bill 2012 Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committees October 2012 Download in PDF [390 KB] Download in Word [300 KB] Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Background 3 Summary 4 Recommendations 5 Mental and physical health impacts of prolonged and indefinite…