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Disability Rights
8 May 2020SpeechCOVID-19: Advancing Rights and Justice During a Pandemic
Columbia Law School Human Rights Institute Virtual Event Series May 7, 2020 Ben Gauntlett, Disability Discrimination Commissioner Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, fellow speakers. Thank you to Professor Emens for that kind introduction. COVID-19 exacerbates disadvantage – but in doing so it highlights the importance of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities … -
Rights and Freedoms
17 June 2022SpeechReflections on women and human rights
Thank you to the Lyceum Club for inviting me to speak, and to Christine Yeats and Judith White for your warm introduction. I recall that for my late mother, Dr Amy McGrath OAM, the revival of the Sydney Lyceum Club was very special. In sorting through papers of my parents, following the passing of my father, the Hon Dr Frank McGrath AM OBE, I found mother’s Lyceum Club card, membership… -
Commission – General
9 October 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)October 2024: Commission News | President's message
Dear friends, Australia is one of the safest, most stable and prosperous countries on the planet. For most of us, most of the time, it is a great place to live. For many Australians, human rights violations are things that happen to other people in other places, often overseas. This can lead to complacency about our own rights protection and the importance of protecting the rights of those… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
13 October 2020Opinion pieceWho are we leaving behind?
In presenting last week’s Federal Budget, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said, “we will get through this together.” Togetherness is an important value in Australia. It speaks to the basic liberal democratic principle that no-one in our community should be left behind. While much of last week’s Budget analysis focused on the details of tax breaks and tax cuts, at a basic level the Budget is also a… -
Children's Rights
11 October 2024Media ReleaseWe must ‘help way earlier’ – united call to address systemic failures of Australia’s youth justice systems
Joint media release: Justice Reform Initiative and Australian Human Rights Commission Law and justice leaders, parliamentarians, First Nations leaders, child safety advocates, community service providers, peak organisations, and people with lived experience of child imprisonment from around Australia will come together for a landmark parliamentary event in Canberra on Thursday. Amid an… -
Rights and Freedoms
15 November 2019Opinion piece
Freedom of speech and Annika Smethurst
Opinion piece by Commission President Rosalind Croucher published in the Australian newspaper The raids on the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst and the offices of the ABC have highlighted the vulnerability of press freedom in Australia compared to other similar liberal democracies. The offences being investigated, as set out in the relevant warrants, included alleged offences by… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
16 December 2020Opinion pieceWe have failed to recognise the contributions of First Nations women and girls
Our voices heard and understood. Our lives and expertise recognised. Our actions counted and invested in as critical to the health and wellbeing of society. These are the powerful and determined calls of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls in Australia today. They are set-out and responded to in the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices): Securing our Rights, Securing our… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
14 June 2024Speech
4th National Indigenous Empowerment Summit
‘Framing Indigenous empowerment with human rights: using the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for real change’ Wednesday 12 June 2024 Good Morning All My name is Katie Kiss. I am a proud Kaanju, Biri/Widi woman from North Queensland. I was born and raised on the lands of the Darumbal peoples in Rockhampton, in Central Queensland. Before I begin today, I pay my respects to the … -
Rights and Freedoms
14 April 2022Speech
Address to the 2022 Friendship and Dialogue Iftar Dinner
Affinity Intercultural Foundation, NSW Parliament House 13th Friendship and Dialogue Iftar Dinner Wednesday 13 April 2022 Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM As-salamu alaykum: may peace be upon you. Acknowledgements Our Parliamentary hosts, distinguished guests, of whom there are indeed many, friends. Thank you to Ahmet Polat and his team at Affinity Intercultural Foundation for… -
17 September 2024Conciliation register
2023-08-03
The complainant applied for a role with the respondent government agency but was unsuccessful because he has diabetes. The government agency claimed the complainant’s disability prevented him from safely performing the inherent requirements of the role but indicated a willingness to participate in conciliation to try to resolve the complaint. The complaint was resolved with an agreement that… -
17 September 2024Conciliation register
2023-08-01
The complainant advised she had depression for a short period in the past and that this does not impact on her ability to work. She applied for an increase to income protection insurance which was granted with an exception for mental health issues. She said she applied for a further two increases to her income protection insurance and claims the respondent insurer granted the first request… -
Rights and Freedoms
9 August 2019Speech
Human Rights are not a foreign language
Human Rights are not a foreign language—reflections on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission [∗] University of Adelaide Faculty of Law Tuesday 4 September 2018 Acknowledgement I would like to begin my presentation by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this land, and to… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
11 March 2021Speech
June Oscar's IWD Speech for Children's Ground
Yaningi warangira ngindaji yuwa muwayi ingirranggu, Bunuba yani U. I acknowledge all the traditional countries that we gather on today, and pay my respects to our elders everywhere, past, present and emerging. Happy International Women’s Week 2021! I really thank Jane and all the team, children and families of Children’s Ground for designing this event, and recognising the vital importance… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
19 August 2022Speech
Mabo at 30 – Boodjar: Boorda The Piddington Society
Jalangurru lanygu balangarri. Yaningi Yatharra ngindaji muwayi indirranggu, Noongar yani U. I acknowledge all the countries we gather on today. My deepest respects to all our elder’s past, present and emerging. I would also like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to the memory of Mr Eddie Koiki Mabo and his co-claimants Reverend David Passi, Sam Passi, James Rice and Celuia Mapo Salee… -
Race Discrimination
16 March 2021SpeechAustralia needs a National Anti-Racism Framework
Speech by the National Race Discrimination Commissioner, Chin Tan, ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. Hello everyone, wherever you are in Australia. I join you from the lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation. I pay my respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. Welcome to you and… -
17 September 2024Conciliation register
2023-08-04
The complainant is legally blind and was employed as a senior staff member with the respondent recruitment agency. He alleged other members of senior staff and the business owner discriminated against him because of his disability, including by ridiculing him for not using two computer screens, making derogatory comments about his disability and threatening to demote him when he sought to… -
Race Discrimination
2 October 2024Media Release
New handbook aims to shake up reporting on race in Australia
Journalists play a critical role in the way people are racialised. That’s why the Australian Human Rights Commission, in partnership with Media Diversity Australia, has produced the Race Reporting Handbook to help overcome misrepresentation and stereotyping. -
17 September 2024Conciliation register
2023-08-07
The complainant is a single mother of a school-aged child and worked in a management role with the respondent company. The company required staff in management to work on both days on weekends. The complainant said she informed the company she would be unable to work on both days on the weekend because of her family responsibilities. She said that, after initially accommodating her needs,… -
17 September 2024Conciliation register
2023-08-05
The complainant is from Papua New Guinea and is a person of colour. He was employed as an orderly with the respondent not for profit hospital. The complainant alleged he was subjected to racist slurs and conduct from various staff including a colleague performing mock tribal dances in front of him. The complainant alleged the hospital failed to act on his allegations of racial discrimination… -
Legal
30 May 2022Project
Human Rights Reports
The Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 empowers the Commission to investigate breaches of human rights and workplace discrimination. Reports to the Minister are prepared, including recommendations for action.