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16 March 2022Conciliation register
2020-08-01
The complainant is blind and requires sighted assistance to fill out and sign print application forms. He said that he requested assistance from the respondent bank to fill out an investment growth bond application form and was told he would be charged a fee of $2,600. The bank said there had been miscommunication on the issue and explained the fee quoted to the complainant was a fee for… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2021-02-08
The complainant purchased some items at an outlet of the respondent charity. He claimed a store attendant asked him where he was from. He alleged that when he informed her he was from China, she made comments to the effect that 'the Chinese are doing lots of nasty things to the world' and 'Chinese are disgusting'. The respondent charity said the person involved had a different recollection… -
Rights and Freedoms
8 May 2024Media Release60% student discount announced for landmark national human rights event
Organisers of a major national human rights conference have just announced a 60% discount for students who want to attend the historic gathering in June during the Vivid Sydney festival. Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference is set to attract hundreds of delegates from across Australia’s human rights, civil society, legal, justice,… -
8 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-04-02
The complainant was 69 years of age and has osteoarthritis. He said his local supermarket changed its payment policy to only allow payment by credit or debit card. He alleged this practice was discriminatory because older persons and persons with disability were more likely to experience difficulties in obtaining and using credit and/or debit cards. The respondent supermarket advised it… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
15 March 2022Media ReleaseCommissioner backs calls for no more guns in communities
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO has joined calls for no more guns to be carried by police officers in communities, and has extended her heart and thoughts to the family of Kumanjayi Walker, the Yuendumu community and Warlpiri people at this very difficult time. Commissioner Oscar said, “Walker’s family have been brave, courageous, and… -
30 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-02-11
The complainant advised she is a South Sea Islander and her husband and children are Aboriginal. She is 53 years of age and worked as an animal facility officer with the respondent local council. The complainant alleged that, during a conversation, a colleague referred repeatedly to ‘Abos’ and said words to the effect that ‘they are okay when they are not drunk’. She alleged that when… -
Disability Rights
14 May 2020Media ReleaseDisability Discrimination Commissioner joins Play by the Rules
Disability Discrimination Commissioner Dr Ben Gauntlett will join the management committee of Play by the Rules, the national program to make grass roots sports safe, fair and inclusive. Dr Gauntlett joins his Australian Human Rights Commission colleague, Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins (co-chair), and South Australia’s Equal Opportunity Commissioner Dr Niki Vincent representing… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
25 June 2019Media Release
Hear Us, See Us exhibition launched at UN Human Rights Council
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO has launched the Hear Us, See Us exhibition at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland. The exhibition includes photos and videos of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and girls who took part in national consultations for the Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) project -
10 February 2021Conciliation register
2019-07-02
The complainant is a lower-leg amputee and uses a prosthesis. He said that in the past, when travelling through an airport, he has advised security staff that his prosthesis may trigger alarms when scanned and officers have scanned him using a handheld wand, conducting visual inspections of metal zippers, buttons and rivets if required. He alleged that when travelling through the respondent … -
11 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-01-13
The complainant was employed with the respondent government agency. She alleged that a much older member of senior management groomed her over a period of time in a manner that constituted sexual harassment, including by approaching her at work and work drinks, connecting with her on a social networking site and privately messaging her on that site to tell her she was amazing. She said she… -
Rights and Freedoms
20 May 2024Media Release
Rights-based solutions to critical social issues set to take centre stage at landmark forum in Sydney
With a plethora of issues currently impacting significantly on the rights of people across Australia, an upcoming landmark national conference during the Vivid Sydney festival is set to explore a range of new approaches to protecting and promoting human rights in Australia. Concerns about racism and freedom of speech stemming from the impact of the war in Gaza; Australia’s domestic violence,… -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2021-02-13
The complainant is Sikh and Punjabi and wears a turban over his unshorn hair. He alleged the respondent university required him to wear the graduation trencher hat in order to participate in his graduation ceremony. The complainant said he could not fit the trencher over his turban and could not remove the turban for religious and practical reasons. He alleged university staff were rude and … -
14 April 2022Conciliation register
2021-04-13
The complainant is from Sri Lanka and was employed as a casual team member at the respondent supermarket. He alleged the respondent manager reduced his shifts while employing new Anglo-Saxon/white Australian staff. He also alleged Anglo-Saxon/white Australian staff were allocated less onerous duties, such as selling cigarettes and newspapers and monitoring self-checkout counters as opposed… -
8 April 2022Conciliation register
2020-10-08
The complainant’s son has fragile X syndrome and an intellectual disability and needs assistance when handling money, paying bills and accessing his bank account. The complainant had been assisting her son with his banking at the respondent bank and claimed the bank told her that third-party authorisation would continue after he turned 18. She alleged that when her son turned 18, the bank… -
30 September 2020Conciliation register
2019-02-13
The complainant worked for the respondent television production company as a crew member. She alleged a colleague sexually harassed her, including by making comments about her appearance and slapping her on her buttocks. She also alleged two other colleagues observed the conduct and one said 'nah, she wants it hey', to which the other said ' yeah mate she does' in relation to inferred sexual… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
20 March 2024Media Release
Commission celebrates official launch of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner June Oscar AO has launched a dedicated Institute to elevate the voices and solutions of First Nations women and girls – the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Institute for First Nations gender justice. The Australian-first Institute, housed at the Australian National University (ANU) on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country, ensures the… -
Race Discrimination
16 November 2021Media ReleaseNew guidelines to address spectator racism in sport
A new set of guidelines will help Australian sports organisations act effectively and consistently in responding to incidents of spectator racism and preventing racism from occurring at sporting events. Major professional sports organisations including the AFL, Cricket Australia, NRL, Tennis Australia, and some of the nation’s largest stadiums have already endorsed the guidelines, and more… -
Commission – General
27 October 2022Media ReleaseCommission welcomes passage of new Bill to strengthen its independence
The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the passage in the Senate today of the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment (Selection and Appointment) Bill 2022. The Bill ensures Commissioner appointments are publicly advertised and subject to an open, transparent and merit-based process, in line with our international commitments. It removes the possibility of… -
Age Discrimination
2 May 2023Media ReleaseAgeism keeping older people out of the workforce
Ageism is blocking older people from the workforce, findings from a survey of HR professionals about attitudes to older workers show. A partnership between the Australian HR Institute and the Australian Human Rights Commission, the 2023 Employing and Retaining Older Workers Survey found one in six organisations will not consider hiring people aged 65 and above while only a quarter are open… -
Commission – General
12 March 2024Speech
A Revitalised National Human Rights Framework for Australia
Marking the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Fraser Oration Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM FAAL FRSA FACLM(Hon) Introduction Vice-Chancellor, Duncan Maskell, Dean Matthew Harding, Mrs Tamie Fraser and the Fraser family, Melbourne Law School staff, distinguished guests, friends I would like to begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land…