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Employers19 February 2015Quick Guide
Training
Training for both employers and employees is a key aspect of preventing discrimination and harassment in the workplace. Organisations and employers can undertake training to better understand how they can prevent discrimination and harassment in their workplace. They can also provide training for staff on their rights and responsibilities regarding discrimination and harassment in the… -
Employers19 February 2015Quick Guide
Social Media
Social media postings can be against the law if they discriminate against, harass, bully or racially vilify a person. Discrimination occurs when a person is treated less favourably than another person because of a particular attribute they have. Harassment or bullying can amount to discrimination in some circumstances. Inappropriate posts, comments or content shared on social media can… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Policies
The type of policies your organisation should put in place will depend on the needs and circumstances of your particular workplace. Some organisations choose to have a single workplace policy which prohibits discrimination, bullying, and harassment on a range of grounds, including a person’s sex, race, disability, age or sexual orientation. Others may decide there is a need for an additional… -
14 December 2012Book page
It's your right! - DVD Unit 3
It's your right! - DVD Back to It's your right! homepage (All video clips are in .avi format) Unit 3: Applying to the Australian Human Rights Commission video clips Scene 1: In a coffee shop, with Cheri [7.36MB] Click here for transcript Scene 2: In Hayat's living room [2.93MB] Click here for transcript Scene 3: In Hayat's living room, with Maureen [7.76MB] Click here for transcript Scene 4 … -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC - Annual Report 2001 - 2002: Statement from the President
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission occupies a unique place in Australian society. It sits independent of Government, yet it is not what is traditionally known as a non-government organisation (NGO) or an advocate. -
14 December 2012Book page
Decision on inquiry: Summer Hill
In July 1999 the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission received a representative complaint under the Disability Discrimination Act ("DDA") lodged on behalf of people who use wheelchairs regarding current lack of accessibility of Summer Hill railway station, and seeking implementation of accessibility at that station this financial year. -
Sex Discrimination
26 February 2018Media ReleaseAppalling behaviour at university residential colleges
As students and staff around Australia return to university, the Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins is urging Australian universities to continue the work needed to prevent sexual harassment and sexual assaults on campus. “Since the release of the landmark Change the course: National report on sexual assault and sexual harassment at Australian universities, my team and I have met… -
Employers19 February 2015Quick Guide
Sexual Orientation, Gender and Intersex Discrimination
The Sex Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone because of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. Sexual orientation discrimination happens when a person is treated less favourably than another person in a similar situation because he or she has a sexual orientation towards persons of the same sex; persons of a different sex; or persons of… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Questions in Job Interviews
Asking applicants certain questions in a job interview may disadvantage some people and could amount to discrimination. Employers are required by law to avoid discrimination when recruiting staff. Employers should not seek unnecessary and potentially discriminatory information from applicants when they develop selection criteria or prepare interview questions. It could be discrimination if … -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Job Advertisements
How a position is advertised is crucial to attracting the right sort of people for the job. A good advertisement will focus exclusively on the essential skills and abilities needed to do the job. Only refer to personal characteristics, such as age, sex, marital status or race, if they are part of the genuine requirements of the job. A discriminatory advertisement can limit the range of… -
Rights and Freedoms
19 August 2016SpeechTony Blackshield Lecture
HUMAN RIGHTS AND THE OVERREACH OF EXECUTIVE DISCRETION: CITIZENSHIP, ASYLUM SEEKERS AND WHISTLEBLOWERS It is a special pleasure for me to speak in honour of Professor Blackshield, who is a long time colleague of mine in the law. He is a constitutional law scholar of the highest order and one of the most influential figures in Australian legal education over the last 50 years. I have two… -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageCommission submission - Minh Dung Luu
1. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ("the Commission") was granted leave by his Honour Justice Marshall on 5 June 2001 to intervene in these proceedings pursuant to s 11(1)(o) of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (the "HREOC Act"). -
Legal
14 December 2012Webpage
Submission: Commission intervener
1.1 On 8 February 2002, the Full Court granted leave to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ("the Commission") to intervene in this appeal, pursuant to s.92 of the Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) ("Family Law Act"). -
Employers19 February 2015Quick Guide
Unjustifiable Hardship
People with disabilities can face significant barriers in many parts of their lives, including getting into and staying in the workforce and accessing public buildings and facilities. The Disability Discrimination Act makes it against the law to discriminate against people with disabilities in many areas of public life, including employment, using goods and services and accessing public… -
Employers18 February 2015Quick Guide
Harassment
Harassment can be against the law when a person is treated less favourably on the basis of certain personal characteristics, such as race, sex, pregnancy, marital status, breastfeeding, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status. Some limited exemptions and exceptions apply. Harassment can include behaviour such as: telling insulting jokes about particular racial… -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC - Annual Report 2001 - 2002: Chapter 1: The Commission
The Commission is a national independent statutory body established under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986. It has a President and five Commissioners. The five positions are currently held by three persons. -
14 December 2012Book page
AusHRC 44: Mr Toro-Martinez v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Immigration and Citizenship)
Dear Attorney I attach my report of an inquiry into the complaint made pursuant to section 11(1)(f)(ii) of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) by Mr Toro-Martinez. I have found that the acts and practices of the Commonwealth breached Mr Toro-Martinez’s right not to be subject to arbitrary detention and his right to protection of and freedom from arbitrary interference with… -
15 June 2015Book page
6 Economic and social benefits of employing people with disability
Improving employment outcomes for people with disability will provide significant benefits to workplaces, the economy, the community and individuals themselves. Employment can provide people with disability with increased income, and with this, higher living standards and financial independence. Employment can contribute to a sense of identity and self-worth and have positive health impacts… -
14 December 2012Book page
Mandatory detention laws in Australia
Mandatory detention laws were enacted in Western Australia and the Northern Territory in 1996 and 1997 respectively. Essentially these laws require courts to impose minimum sentences of detention or imprisonment for people convicted of certain offences. They effectively remove judicial discretion in relation to those offences. -
14 December 2012Book page
HREOC Report No. 10 - Human rights violations in the Perth Immigration Detention Centre
Human Rights Commissioner's Report No.10 (29 June 2000) is titled Report of an Inquiry into Complaints of Acts or Practices Inconsistent With or Contrary to Human Rights in an Immigration Detention Centre. It deals with a complaint by a Nigerian national detained at the Perth Immigration Detention Centre. The complaint included allegations that the detainee was handcuffed, shackled, placed in a…