Rights and Freedoms
Introduction Good morning everyone, thank you for inviting me to come to speak to you today, and for the warm welcome.I would like to acknowledge the Ngunnawal people, who are the traditional owners and custodians of the land upon which we meet today. I pay my respects to their elders, past and...
Rights and Freedoms
Freedom of speech is alive and well in Australia but, with respect to Voltaire, we will not defend to the death those who abuse this right by vilifying others in public on the ground of race.
Rights and Freedoms
The proposed anti-discrimination law has critics, but it delivers a balanced package. If the release of the exposure draft of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 was intended to stimulate public discussion about an important reform initiative, it has clearly done what it set out to do.
Rights and Freedoms
Learn about the right to seek asylum from persecution.
Rights and Freedoms
Religion in the public square Religion in the Public Square Colloquium, Assembly Hall, Melbourne The Honourable Catherine Branson QC, President, ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ 23 July 2010 Acknowledgement of Country I would like to begin today by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land...
Rights and Freedoms
Learn about the harsh realities of homelessness.
Rights and Freedoms
The ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ has this week lodged its submission with the National Human Rights Consultation, recommending that Australia implements a human rights act.
Rights and Freedoms
Australia is a great country to live in — for most of us most of the time. We don’t suffer the terrible poverty witnessed in some parts of the world, our judicial system works well by international standards and most of us can vote in elections by secret ballot. Most of us can live pretty safely, say what we like most of the time and, if we are so inclined, practise our faith in peace. Most of us have access to decent education and health services.
Rights and Freedoms
People often ask me why I feel so strongly about human rights. Perhaps it is fate - both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and I were born 60 years ago. But I think it is simpler than that - I want to feel proud of the Australia that I live in.
Rights and Freedoms
In 2006, I was a member of the Government-appointed Sheller Committee, which recommended the establishment of an independent review of counter-terrorism laws.
Rights and Freedoms
Click here to return to the Articles and Opinion Pieces Index Bill of rights is essential to best serve human rights Author: President John von Doussa Published: The Sydney Morning Herald, Page 15 (Thursday 9 October 2008) and On Line Opinion (Wednesday 15 October 2008) Five years ago I began my term...
Rights and Freedoms
The new century has thrown up enormous challenges, as well as breathtaking opportunities to us all. One such challenge is the protection of human rights.
Rights and Freedoms
As the Government points out on its Australia 2020 Summit website, the new century has thrown up enormous challenges, as well as breathtaking opportunities to us all.
Rights and Freedoms
This is an often depressing tour that we at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) undertake every year to monitor the conditions of immigration detention in Australia for compliance with internationally recognised human rights obligations. We tour and inspect the facilities, interview the staff and meet with the detainees themselves.
Rights and Freedoms
In the post-September 11 world, debate about counter-terrorism is often characterised as an argument between 'the realists', who appreciate the need for tough new counter-terrorism laws, and 'the out of touch', who fail to take the terrorist threat seriously.
