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Asylum Seekers and Refugees
8 October 2014Opinion pieceKeeping asylum seeker children in detention doesn't stop people smugglers - so why do it?
The former and current ministers for immigration and border security, Chris Bowen and Scott Morrison, agree on one thing: that asylum seeker children are not detained to deter people smuggling. Rather, it appears that patrol boats and naval frigates, commanded by a three star general, and a refusal to allow refugees to settle here, have reduced the number of boats reaching Australia. Why… -
Commission – General
14 December 2012SpeechFederal Anti-discrimination Law - 2004
In May last year I stepped down from my position as a Judge of the Federal Court to accept the role as President of HREOC. It has been a time of new challenges, such as the need to balance the legislative and administrative responsibilities that the Commission has been given by the federal government, with the important role of advocating for the rights of those on the margins of Australian… -
Commission – General
3 April 2017Speech
Hobart Oration
Explore a speech by Professor Gillian Triggs, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, in relation to the state of human rights in Australia. -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageSubmission to the Law Reform Commission
"Not every disturbance or catastrophe qualifies as a public emergency which threatens the life of the nation, as required by article 4, paragraph 1. The Covenant requires that even during an armed conflict measures derogating from the Covenant are allowed only if and to the extent that the situation constitutes a threat to the life of the nation. If States parties consider invoking article 4… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Commission submissions: P v P
1.1 It is submitted that the law in Australia is both uncertain and unsatisfactory as to the issue of whether a child's view should ordinarily be taken into account by a court when that court is considering whether to authorise medical treatment on the child. -
Commission – General
18 March 2013Webpage
What are human rights?
Learn about Australia's international human rights commitments and the future of human rights legislation. -
14 December 2012Book page
Annual Report 2001-2002: Chapter 1
The Commission is an national independent statutory body established under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986. It has a President and five Commissioners. The five positions are currently held by three persons. Please refer to the organisational chart on page 16 for further information. -
Rights and Freedoms
21 August 2019Project
Freedom of Religion
For over 20 years now, the Commission has advocated for more comprehensive legal protection in Australia for freedom of thought, conscience and religion. -
Rights and Freedoms
20 January 2021Webpage
International engagement
Understand how The Australian Human Rights Commission, as the accredited national human rights institution for Australia, engages with UN mechanisms to promote and protect human rights both domestically and internationally. -
Age Discrimination
13 March 2024SpeechA Human Rights Act and older people
OPAN National Older Persons Reference Group Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM FAAL FRSA FACLM(Hon) Abstract The presentation will focus on the Commission’s proposed model for a Human Rights Act in Australia and how it may support the rights of older people. Introduction [Thank you to organisers….] I would like to begin my contribution by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
10 October 2014Opinion piece
Magna Carta shelters asylum-seekers
NEXT year is the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, signed reluctantly by King John at the demand of his rebellious barons in 1215. Buried in the middle of this foundational document of English constitutional law — setting out the single measure for wine and ale and the rights of widows on the death of their husband — are these words: “No freeman is to be taken or imprisoned or disseised… -
Rights and Freedoms
21 April 2020Opinion piece
Resisting extremism in a pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic spread to this big island of ours, our leaders made a momentous decision: they decided to save as many human lives as possible. This was the right decision. It shows we as a country care about human life above all else. But now we face an even harder question: how to save lives while preventing economic collapse and staying true to our democratic values? In order… -
8 December 2020Book page
Part 4: Healthy and engaged lives
Learn how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls face challenges with their health, wellbeing and education and how this is being addressed. -
Education1 April 2016Webpage
A Brief Human Rights Timeline
Explore the Brief Human Rights Timeline to trace the evolution of ethical behaviour, justice, and human dignity across civilizations. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
8 November 2013Webpage
Index of Commission's work
Major publications The Forgotten Children: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014 (2015) Asylum seekers, refugees and human rights: snapshot report 2013 Human rights standards for immigration detention (2013) An age of uncertainty: Inquiry into the treatment of individuals suspected of people smuggling offences who say that they are children (2012) A last resort?… -
Disability Rights
14 December 2012Project
The Sterilisation of Girls and Young Women in Australia: 1997 report
The legal framework regulating sterilisation of children in Australia was set out by the High Court in Marion's Case in 1992. It sought to ensure heightened accountability in decision making in an area where children are at significant risk of grave abuse of their fundamental human right to bodily integrity. It held that: -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC REPORT NO. 37 (2007) - Report of an inquiry into Dr Julie Copeman’s complaint that Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service terminated her employment on the basis of her trade union activity
Pursuant to section 11(1)(d) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ('HREOC Act'), I attach a report of my inquiry into a complaint made by Dr Julie Copeman. I have found that Dr Copeman's employment as a general medical practitioner was terminated by Derbarl Yerrigan Health Service (her employer) in circumstances that amounted to discrimination, and that such… -
Legal
27 March 2013Publication
Minister for Immigration and Citizenship v SZQRB [2013] FCAFC 33
Summary: The Full Court of the Federal Court restrained the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship from removing the applicant asylum seeker to Afghanistan until his claims for protection have been assessed according to law. The Court held that the International Treaties Obligations Assessment was affected by jurisdictional error as the wrong legal test was applied and procedural fairness was… -
Rights and Freedoms
14 December 2012Speech
Diversity in Health 2003: Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM
Conference Convenors and Co-directors, distinguished guests from both Australia and overseas, ladies and gentlemen, all. I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we stand and by so doing remind ourselves that Australia’s cultural traditions stretch back many thousands of years.
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