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Children's Rights12 September 2024News story
Children's Commissioner welcomes Senate Inquiry into child justice
National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds has welcomed the establishment of a Federal Senate Inquiry into Australia’s child justice system, saying it has come at a critical time to prevent further systemic failures harming children and young people. -
Race Discrimination25 July 2024Media Release
Race Discrimination Commissioner welcomes Multicultural Framework Review
Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman has welcomed the release of the Multicultural Framework Review by the Federal Government, calling it a significant step towards the greater recognition of the rights of racially marginalised Australians. The review, led by an independent panel, was released by Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Minister Andrew Giles on… -
Age Discrimination13 June 2024Media Release
Age Discrimination Commissioner: Australia has a long way to go to end elder abuse
Age Discrimination Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald AM has warned the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is likely to lead to an increased risk of elder abuse with Australia needing to further bolster its efforts to address the nationwide problem. Elder abuse is when harm is done to an older person by someone they know and trust, often a family member. It can take many forms, including neglect,… -
Commission – General29 July 2024News story
Hugh de Kretser commences as Human Rights Commission President
The new President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Hugh de Kretser, said maintaining the push to see a national Human Rights Act introduced will be among his key priorities, as he today commenced in the role. -
LGBTIQ+30 August 2024Media Release
Commissioner welcomes Government’s decision to include LGBTQIA+ Australians in next Census
Sex Discrimination Commissioner Anna Cody has welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to commit to including LGBTQIA+ Australians in the 2026 Census. -
Disability Rights28 August 2024Media Release
Government White Paper a good start to address aviation failures towards people with disability
The Disability Discrimination Commissioner has broadly supported reform initiatives by the federal government to improve the aviation industry, but warned the proposed changes may not be enough to fully address the discrimination and undignified treatment of people with disability. -
Children's Rights2 September 2024Media Release
A tragic start to National Child Protection Week
As the launch of National Child Protection Week throws the spotlight on creating better futures where children and young people flourish, the National Children’s Commissioner Anne Hollonds is speaking up for the thousands of children whose futures are bleak because Australian governments do not prioritise their human rights to safety, care and protection. Commissioner Hollonds said: “It was… -
Age Discrimination9 May 2024Media Release
Age Discrimination Commissioner calls for a Convention on the Rights of Older Persons
Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald AM, has called on the Federal Government to formally endorse the creation of a UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, in what he said remains a missing piece in the international human rights framework. Currently, there is no binding international instrument dedicated to the rights of older persons, like there is for race,… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice27 May 2024Media Release
Social Justice Commissioner: now more than ever, Australia must reconcile with its First Nations people
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, has marked the start of Reconciliation Week by calling on Australians to finally overcome generations of disadvantage and division when it comes to First Nations rights, and forge a path for unity. The Commissioner warned that systemic failures facing Indigenous communities in all sectors of society including… -
Race Discrimination9 May 2024News story
Commission to lead historic anti-racism study into universities
The Australian Human Rights Commission will lead a groundbreaking independent study to better understand and address the dangerous prevalence of racism at universities, after receiving $2.5 million in Commonwealth funding. Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman said the study will be “comprehensive”, with university students and staff to share their experiences of racism, and… -
Race Discrimination10 July 2024Media Release
New report finds governments at all levels across Australia failing on racism
A new report has found governments and their departments at all levels across the country are failing to adequately identify and address racism – even avoiding the term ‘racism’ – and that approaches across the board are ad-hoc, disjointed, reactive, and lacking coordination between governments, agencies and sectors. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice2 April 2024Media Release
Katie Kiss commences as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
Australia’s new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, said in the wake of the devastating outcome of last year’s Voice referendum, Australia must consider the next steps, and prioritise finding ways to heal and soothe divisions. This includes making meaningful progress in addressing the systemic and structural discrimination experienced by First… -
Rights and Freedoms14 August 2024Media Release
Commission supports Bill to recognise adequate housing as a human right
The Australian Human Rights Commission has supported a private member’s bill that would recognise the human right to adequate housing and support improved housing outcomes for all Australians. -
Age Discrimination28 March 2024News story
Robert Fitzgerald commences as Age Discrimination Commissioner
Find out about the Age Discrimination Commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald AM’s immediate and long-term priorities to eliminate ageism and age discrimination. -
Race Discrimination17 April 2024News story
Race Discrimination Commissioner urges unity in wake of Sydney attacks
Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, has urged communities to embrace compassion and reject division, following two stabbing attacks in Sydney this week. Commissioner Sivaraman extended his condolences to all impacted by the attack at the Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, and the deadly stabbings at Westfield Bondi Junction.; “Like the rest of the… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice29 July 2024Media Release
Commissioner Katie Kiss welcomes Malarndirri McCarthy as new Minister for Indigenous Australians
Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss has welcomed the appointment of Senator Malarndirri McCarthy as the new Minister for Indigenous Australians. Senator McCarthy was sworn in today following the resignation last week of former Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney, who has left the frontbench and will not contest the next election. … -
Race Discrimination4 March 2024Media Release
Giridharan Sivaraman commences as Race Discrimination Commissioner
Australia’s new Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, said a united approach to anti-racism was essential if our society is to better address and ultimately dismantle systemic racial discrimination in all its forms. Commissioner Sivaraman, who commenced in the role today, said his immediate priority will be to progress a National Anti-Racism Framework as a central reference… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice25 July 2024Media Release
Commissioner Katie Kiss pays tribute to Linda Burney
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss today paid tribute to Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney, who has resigned from the frontbench and will not contest the next election. -
Rights and Freedoms14 March 2024Speech
The Perils of Independence
The Australian Human Rights Commission’s role in protecting human rights in Australia Sir Ronald Wilson Lecture 2021 Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM President, Australian Human Rights Commission Acknowledgements Thank you Matthew McGuire for your welcome to country and Kendra Turner as MC. I am speaking from the traditional lands of the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, in the city… -
Disability Rights30 January 2024Media Release
Rosemary Kayess commences as Disability Discrimination Commissioner
Australia’s new Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Rosemary Kayess, said we need to reframe how Australians think about disability, and address social structures that prevent people with disability from participating equally in society. Commissioner Kayess said there is a unique opportunity to transform the lives of people with disability following the Disability Royal Commission and…