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Rights and Freedoms
17 January 2019SpeechEchoes of breaking glass: reflections on Kristallnacht
CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY We know the basic facts of Kristallnacht. On the 9th and 10th of November 1938, mobs attacked Jews in Germany and neighbouring states. They did so freely; without restraint. Many Jews were killed, many more were injured, and many more than that were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Jewish businesses were destroyed; schools and cemeteries vandalised. Over 1000 … -
Legal
26 February 2016SubmissionSubmission to Inquiry into the Regulatory and Legislative Aspects of Surrogacy Arrangements (2016)
Table of Contents 1 Introduction 2 Summary 3 Recommendations 4 Surrogacy and human rights 4.1 What is surrogacy? 4.2 Human rights issues in surrogacy arrangements 5 Current regulation of domestic surrogacy in Australia 6 Options for future domestic regulation: increase consistency and certainty domestically 6.1 Previous attempts at national consistency 6.2 Identifying people willing to enter… -
LGBTIQ+
15 August 2023Media ReleaseCommission welcomes resolution in Census inclusion complaint
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) today welcomes the resolution of a discrimination complaint brought against the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) over the 2021 Census. The complaint, filed with the AHRC by community organisation Equality Australia and individual April Long, argued that the survey failed to ask meaningful questions to properly count members of the LGBTIQA+ -
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… -
Sex Discrimination
10 October 2019Project
Indigenous Defence Project
Defence has requested the Australian Human Rights Commission to complete a project on the attraction, recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Defence Australian Public Service (Defence APS). -
LGBTIQ+
12 June 2019Publication
Guidelines - Including transgender and gender diverse people in sport
These Guidelines have been developed to provide guidance to sporting organisations on promoting the inclusion and participation of transgender and gender diverse people in sport. -
Children's Rights
12 July 2019SpeechChildren’s Rights in Australia: looking back and moving forward
Good morning everyone. I’d like to begin today by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land, the Widjabul people of the Bundjalung nation. I acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make. I also pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. I’d also like to thank Professor Anne Graham for inviting me to speak to you today. And I also want to … -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Submission: Australia's Future Tax System (Retirement Income System) (2009)
The Australian Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’)[1] makes this submission to the Review Panel on Australia’s future tax system (‘the Review’). The submission specifically addresses Australia’s retirement income system. -
Rights and Freedoms
31 January 2020Media Release
Commission warns on Religious Discrimination Bill overreach
In its submission on the latest draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill, the Australian Human Rights Commission warns that elements of the Bill are inconsistent with international human rights law. The Commission is particularly concerned that exemptions for ‘statements of belief’ in the Bill would override existing federal, state and territory discrimination laws on grounds such as race,… -
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… -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2006: Chapter 2: Economic Development Reforms on Indigenous land
In 2006 the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet made a revealing statement about Indigenous affairs. He argued that his own government’s policy performance in the Indigenous portfolio had been a failure. He went further to say that while well intentioned, the policies and approaches of the past 30 years had contributed to poor outcomes for Indigenous people. -
Commission – General
8 March 2023News story
Forum aims to strengthen human rights in the Pacific
The Commission joined an important conversation about establishing and strengthening National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) across the Pacific region. -
Rights and Freedoms
8 July 2021News story
Commission’s report into prolonged detention following visa cancellation
The Government should appoint an independent reviewer to examine the basis for the continued detention of people who have been in immigration detention for prolonged periods, including a detailed assessment of any risk they pose to the community, the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission has said in a report tabled in Parliament today. The AHRCA Report 141 ( Immigration… -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Proposed Wild Rivers Declarations
‘The human right to water entitles everyone to sufficient, safe, acceptable, physically accessible and affordable water for personal and domestic uses.’[11] There is a fundamental link between accessing water and living in dignity which means that the human right to water is receiving increased attention and recognition both in Australia and worldwide.[12] The right to water is linked… -
Commission – General
7 September 2020E-bulletin (Monthly)
September ebulletin
However, given the extraordinary circumstances of 2020 we believe a new and different approach is needed to celebrate the many human rights heroes who have emerged this year. -
Rights and Freedoms
17 January 2019Media Release
Encryption law falls short on rights safeguards
Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow warns significant threats to human rights remain despite some improvements to Australia’s encryption law. “Police and security agencies must be equipped with robust powers to protect our national security. However, these powers need independent oversight, to ensure any impact on our human rights is proportionate to the relevant risks,” said… -
Children's Rights
6 April 2022Publication
Keeping kids safe and well: your voices
Children and young people are experts in their own lives, and their insights are critical for understanding how we can better support their safety and wellbeing. -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
HREOC Submission: Productivity Commission on the Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) makes this submission to the Productivity Commission in its Inquiry into Paid Maternity, Paternity and Parental Leave (‘the Inquiry’). -
Children's Rights
12 May 2023News story
Webinar recording: Now is the time to reimagine schools
Global thought leaders invite the Australian community to reinvent schools as places that equally support children's learning and wellbeing -
Rights and Freedoms
8 May 2020News story
Commission position on the draft ‘COVIDSafe App’ Bill
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the release of the exposure draft of the Privacy Amendment (Public Health Contact Information) Bill 2020 (the ‘draft Bill’). This sets out the legal protections for the Australian Government’s contact-tracing COVIDSafe App. The Commission has previously welcomed the development of the COVIDSafe App as an important public health initiative,…