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14 January 2021Conciliation register
2019-05-07
The complainant has post-traumatic stress disorder, prolonged bereavement disorder and anxiety. He advises that he experienced difficulty in writing due to his disability. The complainant sought to lodge a complaint with the respondent government agency and was informed complaints must be made in writing. He alleged the agency declined to accommodate his disability by taking a statement by… -
Complaint Information Service16 September 2021Webpage
Fact Sheet: Respect@Work - Changes to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986
On 11 September 2021 the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Act 2021 (Cth) (the Act) came into effect. The Act makes important amendments to the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) (the SDA) which were recommended by the Australian Human Rights Commission in the Respect@Work: National Inquiry into Sexual Harassment in Australian Workplaces. -
Technology and Human Rights
23 November 2020Media ReleaseHistorical bias in AI systems
Learn more about how historical bias in data sets can negatively impact developing and deploying ethical AI. -
14 December 2012Book page
A Report on Visits to Immigration Detention Facilities by the Human Rights Commissioner 2001
1.1 Background to this report 1.2 Compliance with human rights obligations 1.3 Conduct of visits 1.4 Overview of immigration detention facilities 1.5 Response by Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2006: Chapter 3: Addressing the fundamental flaw of the new arrangements for Indigenous affairs – the absence of principled engagement with Indigenous peoples
This is the third successive Social Justice Report to report on the implementation of the new arrangements for Indigenous affairs at the federal government level. The past two Social Justice Reports have emphasised the importance of governments ensuring the effective participation of Indigenous peoples in decision making that affects our lives. This includes the development of policy, program… -
Rights and Freedoms
13 May 2022SpeechWhither human rights and freedoms protections in Australia?
As I reflect on the past two years, it is clear that the pandemic has brought a renewed national focus on the importance of centralising considering rights and freedoms during times of crisis — a greater ‘rights consciousness’. -
11 February 2021Conciliation register
2020-02-13
The complainant worked as a childcare worker for the respondent childcare centre. She developed a pregnancy-related medical condition and asked for adjustments to accommodate her condition, including reduced hours and weightlifting restrictions. She said these requests were accommodated initially. However, she alleged that after a period of leave, she was informed that on her return, she… -
30 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-02-01
The complainant is 72 years of age and claimed the respondent financial institution declined his application for a credit card despite him meeting relevant income threshold requirements. He claimed the financial institution told him that his age was a factor in the decision to decline the application. The financial institution confirmed it declined the complainant’s application for a credit… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
4 August 2023Webpage
Indigenous Rights & the Voice
The Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum proposes a mechanism that addresses Indigenous peoples’ right to participation in decision making, and the right to consultation with government. The Voice could also promote the realisation of other human rights for Indigenous peoples, including to ensure the full realisation of rights to health, education, housing and the protection of Indigenous… -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
9 October 2019Media ReleaseCourt finds asylum seekers entitled to fair process
Up to 71 asylum seekers who missed out on making an application for a protection visa were still entitled to a fair assessment of their claims the Full Federal Court has held. The Court accepted submissions from the Australian Human Rights Commission that an internal process established by the Department of Home Affairs should have provided them with procedural fairness. As a result of the … -
11 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-02-01
The complainant is 72 years of age and claimed the respondent financial institution declined his application for a credit card despite him meeting relevant income threshold requirements. He claimed the financial institution told him that his age was a factor in the decision to decline the application. The financial institution confirmed it declined the complainant’s application for a credit… -
11 February 2021Conciliation register
2020-02-14
The complainant was employed with the respondent investment firm as a business partner in corporate trust. She alleged that while she was on maternity leave to have her third child, the firm employed someone to permanently fill her role without consulting her or discussing her return to work. She said that when she sought to return to work on a part-time basis, the firm asked her to move to… -
30 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-02-02
The complainant is Deaf and claimed that on several occasions his bank tried to communicate with him by telephone regarding his accounts. He claimed this required him to attend a branch in person to conduct his banking or to enlist the assistance of another person to communicate with the bank by telephone, meaning he needed to disclose his personal banking security information to that person… -
Rights and Freedoms
26 June 2020Publication
Implementing OPCAT in Australia (2020)
The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) aims to improve how people’s human rights are protected when they are detained. -
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
23 October 2019Publication
Mr BP, Ms BQ and Miss BR v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs) (2019)
Report into complaint of breach of non-refoulement obligations, arbitrary interference with family and failure to consider the best interests of the child -
10 February 2021Conciliation register
2020-01-01
The complainant’s 15-year-old son has Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention-Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder and can become distressed when in crowded and noisy environments. The complainant claimed he was unable to take his son to a multi-day agricultural show because organisers did not schedule a day with reduced noise and crowds in order to accommodate the needs of people with… -
Sex Discrimination
28 November 2022Media ReleasePassage of ‘Respect@Work’ Bill is a major step in preventing harassment
The Bill creates a positive duty requiring employers to implement measures to prevent sexual harassment, sex discrimination and victimisation, and confers new regulatory powers on the Commission. -
2 July 2021Conciliation register
2020-06-11
The complainant has anxiety and Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder, as well as other medical conditions. He applied for total and permanent disability, income protection and life insurance with the respondent insurer through the respondent superannuation fund. The complainant alleged his application for life insurance was originally approved with certain exclusions and his… -
8 December 2020Book page
Part 2: Supporting strong families and communities
Learn about issues that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls face and the legal and social initiatives that work to address them. -
21 May 2020Conciliation register
2018-11-22
The complainant alleged the respondent charitable organisation withdrew an offer of employment after she disclosed her pregnancy. On being advised of the complaint, the organisation agreed to participate in conciliation. The complaint was resolved with an agreement that the organisation pay the complainant $5,000. The organisation acknowledged the complainant was provided with inadequate