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The first twelve months of the federal government's new arrangements for the administration of Indigenous affairs has ended. The primary focus of this period has been on abolishing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and creating new processes to engage with local Indigenous communities and coordinate mainstream delivery of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait…

Welcome to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's Brisbane public hearing on the National Inquiry into Discrimination against People in Same-Sex Relationships: Financial and Work-Related Entitlements and Benefits.

There is no simple way to solve complex human rights issues. From the challenges that face a person with a disability seeking independent living, through to immigration detention policy, the promotion of rights and freedoms must address issues for individuals as well as the need for broader, systemic change. The Commission uses a range of integrated approaches, while also focusing on…

The Commission’s vision is of and for an Australian society in which the human rights of all people are respected and promoted. Our task is to find practical, pragmatic ways to turn the rhetoric of human rights into an everyday reality for all Australians and build a more tolerant and inclusive community. As this report indicates, this past year has been a period of substantial achievement…

Dr Ozdowski has made public education on human rights a priority for his term. Other priority areas are the elderly in our ageing society and children. Dr Ozdowski is working to progress the Commission’s 2000 recommendations for alleviating age discrimination, as set out in the report Age matters: a report on age discrimination.

The Commission would like to thank the children and young people who participated in the project and demonstrated great courage in allowing us to hear and tell their often painful and traumatic stories, in a hope that things would change for the better.

The Australian Human Rights Commission visited immigration detention facilities in Darwin from 6 to 10 September 2010. Click here to read a public statement outlining key observations and concerns arising from the Commission’s visit.

Our response to the Key Issues for Comment contained in your Discussion Paper follows. You will note that throughout this document we have referred to "Advance Directives" as we feel strongly that this is a preferable term, for the reasons stated below.

Discrimination: Any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference made on a particular basis such as race, religion, national origin which has the purpose or effect of denying recognition, enjoyment, or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights and freedoms in society.

I would once again like to thank the Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria for their assistance in arranging the hearings and for hosting us in their offices both yesterday and today.

The Complaint Handling Section had a productive year investigating and conciliating complaints of alleged discrimination and human rights breaches; providing information to the public about federal anti-discrimination and human rights law through its Complaint Information Service and community education and liaison program; and providing complaint investigation and resolution skills training to…