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Rights and Freedoms
11 September 2020SubmissionReview of Australian Federal Police Powers (2020)
The ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ (the Commission) makes this submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) in relation to its ‘Review of AFP Powers’. -
Rights and Freedoms
31 August 2020Submission
Review of the ‘declared areas’ provisions (2020)
The Commission considers that the declared areas provisions place significant restrictions on the human rights of persons affected by them. -
Rights and Freedoms
12 August 2020Media Release
Combatting modern slavery in property and construction
The ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ and KPMG Banarra are today launching their first of five sector specific guides to help Australian businesses understand and manage their modern slavery risks. Property, Construction and Modern Slavery: Practical responses to managing risks to people, is a practical guide to help this industry respond effectively to the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth)… -
Rights and Freedoms
28 July 2020Opinion piece
Wearing a mask will protect human liberties, not infringe upon them
There’s been a lot of talk, anger and resistance to the changes of our rights and freedoms as Australia deals with the COVID-19 pandemic. In some way or another, each and every one of us has encountered restrictions – on our freedom of movement, the right to peaceful protest, the ability to engage in public areas without wearing masks and the requirement to provide personal information for… -
Rights and Freedoms
3 July 2020Submission
Inquiry into the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Amendment Bill 2020
The Bill would amend the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s (ASIO’s) compulsory questioning powers under the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 (Cth) (ASIO Act). -
Rights and Freedoms
28 June 2020Media Release
Implementing OPCAT in Australia released
The Commission has today released recommendations for how Australia should implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). Implementing OPCAT in Australia is the final step in the Commission’s consultation process with civil society, inspectorate and monitoring bodies, and a number of state and territory… -
Rights and Freedoms
26 June 2020Publication
Implementing OPCAT in Australia (2020)
1. Introduction The Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) aims to improve how people’s human rights are protected when they are detained. It does this by providing for a rigorous process of independent inspections of all places of detention in a country’s jurisdiction. In so doing, OPCAT enables a light to be… -
Rights and Freedoms
25 June 2020Publication
Freedom of Religion in Australia: a focus on serious harms (2020)
The right to freedom of religion is recognised in international human rights law and receives some protection in Australia’s federal, state and territory laws. -
Rights and Freedoms
27 April 2020Media Release
Commission welcomes COVIDSafe App
The ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ has welcomed the COVIDSafe App as an important public health initiative, which can help protect the rights of Australians to health and life. The App also opens the possibility of easing restrictions on other human rights, such as freedom of movement and freedom of association. Human Rights Commissioner Edward Santow said, “The Commission welcomes the… -
Rights and Freedoms
21 April 2020Opinion piece
Resisting extremism in a pandemic
When the COVID-19 pandemic spread to this big island of ours, our leaders made a momentous decision: they decided to save as many human lives as possible. This was the right decision. It shows we as a country care about human life above all else. But now we face an even harder question: how to save lives while preventing economic collapse and staying true to our democratic values? In order… -
Rights and Freedoms
9 April 2020E-bulletin (Monthly)
Community update: COVID-19 (April 2020)
Community Alert Commissioner Update - COVID-19 Dear friends, We are living through an extraordinary challenge for our society and our community—A public health crisis the world has not seen since the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918. These remarkable times have seen our governments take unprecedented measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic to save lives. The actions taken by our … -
Rights and Freedoms
6 March 2020Speech
Is it coming up roses yet? Women in the 21st century
Union, University and Schools Club * check upon delivery Introduction Thank you to the Union, University and Schools Club for inviting me to speak and to Dr Mary Forbes for reaching out to. This is a wonderful event. Full of pride, full of celebration—and full of women and supportive men! Let me begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the land on which we meet, the Gadigal… -
Rights and Freedoms
4 March 2020Publication
Mr Nauroze Anees v Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs)
Learn about the case of Mr. Nauroze Anees v. Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Home Affairs). -
Rights and Freedoms
31 January 2020Media Release
Commission warns on Religious Discrimination Bill overreach
In its submission on the latest draft of the Religious Discrimination Bill, the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ warns that elements of the Bill are inconsistent with international human rights law. The Commission is particularly concerned that exemptions for ‘statements of belief’ in the Bill would override existing federal, state and territory discrimination laws on grounds such as race,… -
Rights and Freedoms
19 December 2019Speech
Human Rights Awards - Keynote speech 2019
Human Rights Awards Keynote Speech delivered by Commission President, Prof. Rosalind Croucher AM, at the Human Rights Awards, held at the Fullerton Hotel, Sydney. Check Against Delivery Thank you for that warm welcome to country. I pay my respects to the Gadigal people of the Eora nation—the traditional custodians of this land—to their elders, past and present, and to the future generations… -
Rights and Freedoms
13 December 2019Media Release
Rosemary Kayess wins 2019 Human Rights Medal
Leading disability rights activist Rosemary Kayess has won the prestigious 2019 Human Rights Medal in recognition of her work in international human rights law for people with disability. Ms Kayess, a tireless advocate for equal rights for people with disability in Australia and worldwide, contributed to drafting the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and -
Rights and Freedoms
12 December 2019Media Release
Human Rights Award medal announced today
A former Socceroo, a disability rights activist, the author of best-seller Dark Emu, a leading business consultant, and a campaigning lawyer from Queensland are waiting to hear if they will be awarded the prestigious Human Rights Award medal on Friday. The winners in all nine categories of the ºÚÁÏÇ鱨վ’s annual Human Rights Awards will be announced today at a… -
Rights and Freedoms
9 December 2019Video
Human Rights Day 2019 - Message from Commission President