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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 March 2024Media ReleaseCommission welcomes new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the appointment of Katie Kiss as the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. Ms Kiss is a proud Kaanju and Birri/Widi woman who grew up in Rockhampton, Central Queensland on the lands of the Darumbal People. She is currently the Executive Director of the Interim Truth and Treaty Body supporting Queensland’s Path… -
Rights and Freedoms
3 May 2024Opinion pieceWe need debate on sensible limits on free speech
When president Franklin D. Roosevelt gave the 1941 State of the Union address he spoke of four essential human freedoms people “everywhere in the world” ought to enjoy. The very first of these was freedom of speech and expression. Free speech was listed first because it is the bedrock of democracy. Salman Rushdie famously described it as “the whole thing, the whole ball game. Free speech is… -
Rights and Freedoms
22 March 2024Speech
The AHRC’s model for a Human Rights Act for Australia
ANU and Amnesty International Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM FAAL FRSA FACLM(Hon) [ Check against delivery] I would like to begin by acknowledging the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people, the traditional custodians of the land on which I am speaking today and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging and to any First Peoples attending. The Australian Human Rights Commission, as… -
9 May 2024Conciliation register
2021-06-07
The complainant is Aboriginal and cares for three children. She has fibromyalgia, depression, anxiety, and experiences chronic pain. The complainant worked as a health practitioner with the respondent Aboriginal health service, the only one in the area. She alleged the health service initially rejected a medical certificate because she consulted a colleague at the health service, questioned… -
Children's Rights
13 February 2024Media ReleaseAHRC welcomes announcement of National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner
The Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement today that a new position will be created for a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Commissioner. Advocates and peak bodies representing Australia’s First Nations children have long sought a National Commissioner to promote the rights, interests and wellbeing of First Nations children… -
Commission – General
29 November 2023News story
Kyiv-Copenhagen Declaration reaffirms commitment to preventing torture
The Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, recently travelled to Copenhagen to attend the 14th International Conference of National Human Rights Institutions. More than 85 NHRIs from around the world participated in the conference, which was co-hosted by GANHRI, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights, the Danish Institute for Human Rights, and the Office of the United… -
Commission – General
5 April 2024Webpage
Age Discrimination Commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald AM
Robert Fitzgerald commenced as Age Discrimination Commissioner on 2 April 2024. He is a respected lawyer and human rights and social justice advocate. -
Children's Rights
20 August 2024Project
‘Help way earlier!’ – transforming child justice
Read Help way earlier, a report by the National Children's Commissioner on how Australia can transform child justice to improve safety and wellbeing. -
Technology and Human Rights
6 May 2024Opinion pieceProtecting Free Speech Doesn’t Mean Dismissing Online Safety
This opinion piece by Human Rights Commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, appeared in The Australian on Monday 29 April 2024. When President Roosevelt gave the 1941 State of the Union Address he spoke of four essential human freedoms that people ‘everywhere in the world’ ought to enjoy. The very first of these was freedom of speech and expression. Free speech was listed first because it is the… -
Sex Discrimination
4 September 2023Media ReleaseDr Anna Cody commences as Australia’s Sex Discrimination Commissioner
Today the Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes Dr Anna Cody to the Commission as Australia’s new Sex Discrimination Commissioner. Dr Cody’s commencement as Commissioner follows the announcement of her appointment by the Federal Attorney-General in early July. Dr Cody said: “I’m honoured to be starting in the role and I’m aware of the responsibility it holds as well as the potential… -
Rights and Freedoms
16 October 2023Media Release
Finalists announced for 2023 Australian Human Rights Awards
Monday 16 October 2023: A diverse array of people and organisations from across Australia have been selected as finalists for this year’s Australian Human Rights Awards, the country’s premier national event for honouring and celebrating Australia’s human rights heroes. The 21 finalists were selected from over 260 nominations across five categories, including the prestigious Australian Human… -
Commission – General
3 May 2024E-bulletin (Monthly)
May 2024: Commission News | President's letter
Letter from the President: May 2024 It has been a challenging time, with the tragic events at Bondi and Wakeley casting a sombre shadow. It's imperative that we condemn these acts of violence in the strongest possible terms and work together to ensure such tragedies do not occur again. The aftermath of these attacks has sparked heated debate in the media about the right to free speech, and… -
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… -
Technology and Human Rights
23 February 2024Submission
Australia and Lethal Autonomous Weaponry
Learn more about Australia's approach to lethal autonomous weapons systems and what this means for human rights. -
Technology and Human Rights
2 October 2023News story
AI in Banking: A HRIA Tool for Banks
Learn more about the Commission's HRIA Tool: AI in Banking resource to allow banks to use ethical AI which protects human rights. -
Technology and Human Rights
19 December 2023Speech
Human Rights in AI-powered Immersive Worlds
Read Commissioner Finlay's speech at Metaverse Safety Week 2023 about the importance of human rights and technology. -
Age Discrimination
29 September 2023Opinion pieceReaching across generations brings benefits for everyone
By Commission President and Acting Age Discrimination Commissioner, Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM Every year on the International Day of Older Persons (IDOP), the world comes together to celebrate and reflect on the contributions of older people in our communities. This year’s IDOP theme is ‘Fulfilling the Promises of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights for Older Persons… -
Children's Rights
25 October 2023Media Release
National Children’s Commissioner urges governments to monitor child rights
Australia’s National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds is urging governments and service providers to implement a new national toolkit to help improve laws and policy decisions and monitor their impacts on children. -
Sex Discrimination
10 August 2023Media Release
Resource: workplace harassment, discrimination and victimisation
The Australian Human Rights Commission has launched a series of resources to help organisations and businesses understand and comply with their obligations under the positive duty. -
Race Discrimination
9 October 2023News story
Farewell to the Race Discrimination Commissioner
The Commission President and colleagues have joined to farewell and celebrate the achievements of Race Discrimination Commissioner Chin Tan