Rights and Freedoms
Storms on social media demonstrate we don't need laws to regulate free speech 鈥 social norms are enough Internet outrage tells us more about how we ensure civil conduct face-to-face, than how we behave online. People behave in strange ways online. But social media provides the clearest evidence of...
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
From cuts to youth welfare to the new Medicare co-payment, the budget will have a profound impact on Indigenous Australians. In an opinion piece published in The Drum, Mick Gooda asks: will the Federal Government speak to Aboriginal leaders before proceeding? I have spoken with many Aboriginal and...
Rights and Freedoms
Opinion by Human Rights Commissioner, Tim Wilson. First published in The Australian on 17 May 2014. Reform is not the end of debating free speech in Australia, it is the beginning The 鈥渇orgotten freedoms鈥 provide the foundations of our liberal democracy, and we have to reconnect with them. There are...
We all share a responsibility to lead cultural change for inclusion of people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex. Building on the previous work of the Commission, I鈥檒l be using my term as Human Rights Commissioner to ensure these issues are given national attention. It was an honour to be a keynote speaker at the Human Rights Forum of the Asia Pacific Outgames in Darwin.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
The title of this morning鈥檚 session is 鈥楻ecognition of Aboriginal people in the Constitution and the possibility of Aboriginal advancement鈥. Without a doubt, I see constitutional recognition as a pathway for advancement. I have said again and again, that is it is a real nation building opportunity and the benefits will extend to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and non-Australians alike. It is a journey that will mark our maturity as an inclusive, just nation.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today about politics and human rights. As you would know there is a lot of discussion about human rights in the political debate at the moment, which is a great thing because human rights is not something that many Australian鈥檚 feel is relevant to them.
Rights and Freedoms
Address to the National Press Club, Canberra
Rights and Freedoms
Before anyone screams "free speech", they should actually know what they are talking about. Earlier this week the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet released new social media protocols. The protocols limit the capacity of public servants to make statements that are "harsh or extreme in their...
Rights and Freedoms
Arguing that old rich white men have too much power is just a backdoor attempt at censorship, writes Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson, in an opinion piece first published on 5 April 2014 in The Australian.
Rights and Freedoms
Acknowledgements Thank you for your kind introduction. I would like to begin by acknowledging the Turrbal People, the traditional owners of the lands on which we are meeting today. I would also like to acknowledge: The Honourable Justice, Margaret McMurdo AC Queensland Law Society President, Ian...
Rights and Freedoms
THE proposed amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act provide the basis for correcting the legal limits of free speech, 颅promoting pluralism, opposing reprehensible racism and highlighting the importance of 颅responsibility. Arguably the most important change is assessing an 18C violation based on...
Age Discrimination
1. Introduction Thank you for your introduction, and I thank the NSW Teachers Federation for inviting me to speak to you today. I start by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land upon which we meet today, the Gadigal people of the Eora nation, and pay my respects to elders both past and...
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
Events on Manus Island have graphically and tragically brought to the attention of the Australian public the inappropriateness of the current arrangements for the regional processing of asylum seekers. I have been troubled by the loss of life and the injury that has occurred on Manus Island over this...
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