A joint submission by People With Disability Australia (PWDA), Children and Young people with Disability Australia and the Human Rights Law Centre, has outlined the importance of an Australian Charter of Human Rights for people with a disability and the need for human rights to be at the heart of government laws, policies and services.
Read MoreWestern Australia has a unique opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to the health and equality of women and all people who experience pregnancy by reforming the state’s outdated abortion laws, the Human Rights Law Centre have told the McGowan Government in a submission to inform the government's drafting of new abortion laws.
Read MoreThe US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that recognised abortion as a constitutional right, is a devastating blow to the lives of women in America and highlights the need for vigilance in Australia, the Human Rights Law Centre warned today.
Read MoreThe Federal Court has ordered that a case against the Federal Government, seeking fair and equal access to the age pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, will be heard by the Full Court of the Federal Court later this year to determine important questions of law.
Read MoreA Federal Court case against the federal government, seeking fair and equal access to the Age Pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, will return to court today for an interim hearing.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre is urging Parliament to oppose the Morrison Government’s deeply unbalanced Religious Discrimination Bill, which is being introduced into Parliament today.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre is urging members of Victoria’s Legislative Council to support equality for all by passing the Equal Opportunity (Religious Exceptions) Amendment Bill 2021.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre is urging Parliament to oppose the Morrison Government’s deeply unbalanced Religious Discrimination Bill, which is being introduced into Parliament today.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre today called on the Morrison Government to ensure its proposed Religious Discrimination Bill protects everyone equally.
Read MoreA Federal Court case has been launched against the Morrison Government, seeking fair and equal access to the Age Pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Read MoreAustralia’s human rights performance was in the spotlight tonight as the Australian Government appeared before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva for its major human rights review that happens every four to five years.
Australia’s human rights performance will be in the spotlight tonight as the Australian Government appears before the Human Rights Council in Geneva for its major human rights review that happens every four to five years.
The Human Rights Law Centre has urged the New South Wales Parliament reject a bill that would create unbalanced protections against religious discrimination.
Read MoreIn response to Premier Andrew’s declaration of a state of disaster in Victoria, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, legal and human rights organisations are calling for strong safeguards to ensure that police powers are exercised fairly and proportionately during the public health crisis.
Read MoreThe rise in racially motivated incidents targeting people from Asian backgrounds during the COVID-19 pandemic reinforces the need for the Andrew’s Government to fix Victoria’s anti-hate laws, a Parliamentary committee will be told today.
Read MoreAny attempt by the Morrison Government to turn the Northern Territory into a Cashless Debit Card trial site during the COVID-19 pandemic would be irresponsible and potentially deadly.
Read MoreThe Andrews Government must take a stand against rising hate in the Victorian community, say a coalition of Union, civil society, faith-based and human rights groups who will give evidence on Wednesday to a Parliamentary Inquiry considering proposed changes to Victoria’s anti-vilification laws.
Read MoreAs International Women’s Day nears, the UN has heard that Australia is set to undermine people’s healthcare, while giving religious bodies unprecedented privileges to discriminate with laws that will make it harder for women to access contraception and abortion.
Read MoreThe safety and dignity of women seeking reproductive health services is a step closer to being protected in Western Australia, with the Government today committing to introduce laws to end the harassment of women at the doors of abortion clinics.
Read MoreWomen’s rights and legal experts have warned that the Morrison Government’s latest version of the Religious Discrmimination Bill threatens to erode decades of progress on reproductive healthcare access.
Read MorePeople’s healthcare will be undermined, while religious bodies are given unprecedented privileges to discriminate in the revised Religious Discrimination Bill, the Human Rights Law Centre has warned in a submission to the Attorney-General’s Department.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre is strengthening its work by joining the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO). INCLO is a network of 15 independent, national human rights organisations from different countries working together to promote fundamental rights and freedoms.
Read MoreThe Morrison Government’s amendments to the Religious Discrimination Bill have made the bill worse overall, the Human Rights Law Centre has warned.
Read MoreToday as we celebrate Human Rights Day, we are delighted to launch our Annual Report for 2019.
Read MoreThere is a grave risk the Morrison Government is “stumbling zombie-like into a digital welfare dystopia” if serious changes aren’t made to Australia’s social security system, the United Nations expert on poverty has warned.
Read MoreUN child rights experts have called on all Australian Governments to raise the age at which they can lock children up from 10 to 14 years and to ban the use of solitary confinement and the use of force including restraints on children.
Read MoreThe Morrison Government must ensure that the rights of doctors to freedom of religion do not unfairly trump the rights of people to non-discriminatory health care, the Human Rights Law Centre said in its submission on the Religious Discrimination Bill.
Read MoreThe Morrison Government’s proposed Religious Discrimination Bill fails to strike a fair balance between freedom of religion and the rights of other people, the Human Rights Law Centre has warned.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre and Equality Australia have joined over 1300 non-governmental organisations from 174 countries in calling for the renewal of the UN role focusing on the rights of LGBTQ people around the world.
Read MoreDevelopments in technology should not come at the cost of our human rights, the Human Rights Law Centre has told the United Nations’ independent expert on poverty.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre joined community organisations to call on the Parliament not to rush to pass more income tax cuts before the elections, and to reverse those already legislated to go to high income-earners after 2020.
Read MoreOn International Women’s Day the UN will hear that the Australian Government is penalising single mothers with babies as young as six months through a punitive program that is making life harder for parents.
Read MoreThe Morrison Government has proposed a Bill which legal experts and LGBTI groups say would entrench unfair and outdated discrimination against lesbian, gay, bi and trans students, resulting in a stalemate with Labor and the Greens.
Read MoreExemptions which allow religious schools to turn away transgender students or sack gay teachers should be removed in the wake of an urgent inquiry conducted by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee.
Read MoreFederal laws should be amended to protect students and staff from discrimination, the Human Rights Law Centre said today in its submission to the Senate committee reviewing laws that allow faith-based schools to discriminate against LGBTIQ people.
Read MoreThis week marks one year since Australians overwhelmingly voted ‘Yes’ to the question of whether LGBTI Australians can marry the person they love.
Read MoreRemote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities struggling under the Australian Government’s racially discriminatory remote work for the dole program would be worse off under a proposed new penalty system, a Senate Committee inquiry has been told.
Read MoreThe Australian Government has been urged to improve its track record on women’s rights overnight by an expert UN Committee on women’s rights.
The UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women made its criticism after a robust review earlier this month to assess Australia’s progress on ending discrimination against women.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre has today asked the High Court to review a decision by the Northern Territory Court of Appeal regarding an Aboriginal man who was charged 28 times for breaching misguided and discriminatory alcohol laws.
Read MoreThe Australian Government will face intense scrutiny of its treatment of women and girls in next week at the United Nations.
Read MoreTransgender people in Queensland will have the dignity of living their true lives, following a significant birth certificate reform passed by the State Parliament tonight.
Read MoreNew criminal offences will make it easier to charge and prosecute prejudice motivated threats or incitement of violence, under new laws tabled by New South Wales Parliament this week.
Read MoreIn a joint statement to the UN Human Rights Council, the Aboriginal Peak Organisations NT and Human Rights Law Centre urged the Australian Government to abandon its racially discriminatory ‘Community Development Program’ and replace it with an Aboriginal-led model.
Read MoreAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote communities are being denied basic rights and fair payment for work as a result of a racially discriminatory Federal Government program. That was the message the Human Rights Law Centre had for the Senate Committee examining the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Government’s remote work for the dole program.
Read MoreThe Federal Government’s Welfare Reform Bill contains unfair and needlessly punishing measures, while giving too much power over the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote communities to an unelected bureaucrat, the Human Rights Law Centre has told a Senate inquiry.
Read MoreAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in remote communities are being denied basic rights, equal treatment and fair payment for work, as a result of Federal Government policy, the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency and the Human Rights Law Centre told a Senate inquiry.
Read MoreToday the Human Rights Law Centre will appear before the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Human Rights Sub-Committee to give evidence for the inquiry into the status of the human right to freedom of religion or belief.
Read MoreAs of today, same sex couples have equal access to assisted reproductive technology and unpaid surrogacy in South Australia. The last direct discrimination against LGBTIQ couples in South Australian legislation has now been removed, but federal marriage equality laws still need to be passed for same sex couples to be treated equally in Australia.
Read More“The push to weaken the laws by some has run aground. It’s hard to imagine what those pushing for change want people to be able to say that they currently can’t. Any move to weaken the law itself would have sent a green light to racism,” said the Human Rights Law Centre’s Director of Legal Advocacy, Adrianne Walters.
Read MoreToday the South Australian Parliament has passed a law allowing equal access to assisted reproductive treatment and unpaid surrogacy for same-sex couples. This removed the last direct legal discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people from the statute books of the state.
Read MoreIn a recent Victorian decision, a mother and daughter, Betty and Maria Matsoukatidou, won an important Supreme Court Human Rights Charter case on the fair hearing and equality obligations owed by courts to self-represented litigants, and in particular those with learning disabilities.
Read MoreLeading national marriage equality advocacy groups Australians for Equality (A4E) & Australian Marriage Equality (AME) today welcomed the release of a consensus report from the Senate Select Committee on the Government’s Draft Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill.
Read MoreThe Australian Government should allow for marriage equality without introducing new carve-outs from Australia’s anti-discrimination protections, said the Human Rights Law Centre today in its submission to a senate inquiry into the Government’s exposure draft Same-Sex Marriage Bill.
Read MoreThe Northern Territory Government should demonstrate its commitment to women’s health and equality by modernising the Territory’s outdated abortion laws said the Human Rights Law Centre today in a submission to the Northern Territory Government’s discussion paper on abortion law reform.
Read MoreThe Australian Government must maintain strong and effective laws against racial hatred the Human Rights Law Centre said today in its submission to a parliamentary inquiry.
Read MoreThe state apology to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) people delivered by the South Australian Premier this afternoon was welcomed by community advocates, ahead of the expected passage of a suite of reforms to tackle discrimination against LGBTIQ people.
Read MoreThe Australian Government must maintain strong and effective laws against racial hatred, Aboriginal, ethnic and human rights organisations said today in a joint letter that responds to the inquiry into the racial vilification protections in the Racial Discrimination Act.
Read MoreDoor stop and photo opportunity with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community advocates and families ahead of vote in SA parliament on LGBTIQ equality bills.
Read MoreA network of more than 90 LGBTI organisations and leaders across the nation have signed a joint statement calling on supporters of marriage equality in the parliament to unite and work together to find a pathway to achieve marriage equality in this term of Parliament.
Read MoreA network of almost 90 LGBTI organisations and leaders have again come together releasing a statement calling for parliament to block the plebiscite legislation.
Read MoreA network of almost 90 LGBTI organisations and leaders have again come together releasing a statement calling for parliament to block the plebiscite legislation.
Read MoreOvernight the Government released the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill, which proposes marriage equality but contains concerning exemptions that would allow discrimination against same-sex couples.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre worked with Transgender Victoria, FTM Shed, Minus 18 and other trans, gender diverse and intersex organisations to put together a video to inform parliamentarians about the importance of reforms to Victoria’s birth certificate laws. Watch the video here.
Read MoreA network of organisations and leaders of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities released a statement today condemning the Plebiscite (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill.
Read MoreOn Tuesday, the Victorian Legislative Assembly will debate proposed birth certificate reforms that will remove barriers for trans, gender diverse and intersex people accessing birth certificates that reflect the gender they live as.
Read MoreAdvice from one of Australia’s top constitutional barristers, Bret Walker SC, has confirmed that there are no legal barriers to the parliament introducing amendments to the Marriage Act that would come into force automatically upon a successful plebiscite vote.
Read MoreNew legislation introduced by the Victorian Government into parliament today will remove barriers to trans, gender diverse and intersex people accessing birth certificates that reflect their gender identity.
Read MoreWith the future of marriage equality in Australia uncertain, same-sex couples in Victoria will now benefit from a raft of changes that improve recognition of their relationships.
Read MoreQueensland must reform its outdated abortion laws, the Human Rights Law Centre said in a submission to the Queensland Parliament’s inquiry into abortion law reform. The HRLC called on the Queensland government to decriminalise abortion and ensure women can safely access abortion services.
Read MoreIn a historic vote, the United Nations Human Rights Council has agreed to appoint an Independent Expert dedicated to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people from violence and discrimination worldwide.
Read MoreThe United Nations Human Rights Council is on the cusp of establishing an Independent Expert to tackle violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Human Rights Law Centre joined in a statement delivered to the Council in Geneva overnight supported by 627 civil society organisations representing 151 countries.
Read MoreThe HRLC's Expungement Legal Service can assist people to apply for historical convictions for decriminalised homosexual activity to be expunged. We provide free and confidential legal help to anyone affected by these laws in Victoria. Our team is staffed by LGBTIQ identifying lawyers and includes a volunteer lawyer with personal experience of the climate and police attitudes before the old laws were repealed.
Read MoreRights groups have applauded the Victorian Government for today's formal state apology to people convicted under unjust laws against homosexual acts. The Human Rights Law Centre’s Director of Advocacy, Anna Brown welcomed Premier Daniel Andrews’ heartfelt speech and said the apology recognises the harm that these discriminatory laws have caused
Read MoreThe Australian Government’s response overnight at the UN in Geneva to a major review of its human rights record has failed to address the serious concerns raised by the international community.
Read MoreA new research project is aiming to better understand and tackle the harm caused by so-called gay conversion therapy and the ex-gay movement in Australia.
Read MoreThe announcement by the Queensland Attorney-General that the Queensland Law Reform Commission will examine how historical convictions for consensual homosexual conduct can be removed from a person’s criminal record has been welcomed by community and legal groups.
Read MoreRainbow families and community advocates are calling on Members of Parliament to support the Adoption Amendment (Adoption by Same-Sex Couples) Bill 2015 to be debated in the Victorian Parliament tomorrow.
Read MoreThe announcement by Victorian Minister for Equality Martin Foley that the Government will this week introduce laws to remove discrimination faced by same-sex couples in the area of adoption has been welcomed by community and legal groups.
Read MoreA law proposed in the Queensland parliament this afternoon will restore the ability of same-sex couples to enter into civil partnerships and hold state sanctioned ceremonies.
Read MoreVictoria’s Charter of Human Rights would be made more effective, practical and accessible through a range of recommendations made in a report following a review of the Charter’s first eight years of operation.
Read MoreEqual opportunity laws should proactively tackle discrimination and promote equality, according to a large coalition of community organisations and legal experts.
Read MoreProperly paid parental leave isn't a 'rort' - it's a human right, writes the HRLC's Rachel Ball.
Read MoreThe Government’s budget proposal to reduce parental leave payments is a retrograde step that will further entrench women’s inequality.
Read MoreVictoria is on the cusp of a reform that would see the State’s last law to directly discriminate against same-sex couples consigned to the dustbin of history, writes the HRLC's Anna Brown.
Read MoreToday the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) will commence a High Court challenge against the ‘paperless arrest’ regime in the Northern Territory that gives police new detention powers.
Read MoreMany children will benefit from removing discrimination in adoption laws, the independent review of Victoria’s adoption laws has been told in submissions lodged by community groups this week.
Read MoreA push to ensure that people with disabilities fully enjoy the right to vote has been welcomed by the Human Rights Law Centre.
Read MoreRights groups today welcomed the passage of the Criminal Records Amendment (Historical Homosexual Offences) Bill 2014 through the NSW Parliament. Commenting on the significance of the announcement, NSW GLRL Convenor, Justin Koonin said that members of his community had been waiting a very long time for justice.
Read MoreThe HRLC’s Director of Advocacy and Strategic Litigation Anna Brown has been recognised for her work to advance the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.
Read MoreTonight the Victorian Parliament became the first Australian jurisdiction to formally acknowledge that sex between consenting men should never have been a crime.
Read MoreThe United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a landmark resolution on combating violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The HRLC’s Directory of Advocacy, Anna Brown, was present in Geneva and worked together with advocates on the passage of resolution.
Read MoreThe United Nations Human Rights Council is set to vote on an historic resolution tackling violence and discrimination against sexual minorities. The HRLC's Directory of Advocacy, Anna Brown, is present in Geneva and delivered a statement to the Council calling on the international community to support a resolution condemning violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Read MoreThe NSW Government will join Victoria in erasing the criminal records of men who were convicted for having consensual sex in the past when homosexuality was illegal.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre and the Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby today welcomed the Victorian Government's announcement that it will introduce legislation to erase the criminal records of people convicted of unjust crimes before 1981 when homosexuality was illegal.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre has welcomed the announcement that the Australian Government has “taken off the table” proposals drafted by the Commonwealth Attorney General, George Brandis, to weaken Australia’s racial discrimination laws.
Read MoreAustralia’s current laws on marriage leave same-sex couples in a maze of legal uncertainty when it comes to recognition of foreign marriages, and are inconsistent with international law.
Read MoreNew figures revealed today show that a large majority of submissions to the Australian Government oppose controversial proposed changes to Australia’s racial vilification laws.
Read MoreOn the eve of the World AIDS Conference 2014, Victorian Health Minister David Davis announced plans to amend the Crimes Act to remove discrimination against people living with HIV. The announcement was cautiously welcomed by NGOs, but clarification was sought on key details.
Read MoreIn a joint open letter sent to Attorney-General George Brandis today, over 120 Aboriginal, ethnic, community, union, legal, religious and human rights organisations urged the Federal Government to abandon its controversial proposal to roll back racial vilification protections.
Read MoreThe Australian Government should not proceed with proposed changes to racial vilification laws, the Human Rights Law Centre has recommended in its submission to the public consultation process on proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act.
Read MoreA significant judgment today restored some balance to equal opportunity laws but has sparked calls for reform to limit discrimination by religious groups.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre has released an Information Paper to help individuals and organisations give feedback to the Federal Government on the proposed changes to racial vilification laws. The paper provides an overview of the current law and the proposed changes and also summarises the HRLC’s views on the changes.
Read MoreThe High Court has delivered a landmark judgment that recognises sex other than male or female, representing a victory for growing numbers of gender diverse people across Australia.
Read MoreThis page contains materials and background information on Australia’s racial vilification laws, as well as link to further materials.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre strongly criticised proposed new racial vilification legislation released earlier today by Attorney-General George Brandis.
Read MoreThe Federal Government’s mooted changes to racial vilification protections, reported today in The Australian, have caused serious concern among community organisations that work with people affected by racist hate speech.
Read MoreA new report highlights various ways in which Australia's co-operation with Sri Lanka’s military puts asylum seekers at risk. The report includes a DFAT cable obtained under Freedom of Information laws that reveals the Australia Federal Police declined to interview a man claiming to have been severely tortured after being sent back to Sri Lanka by Australia.
Read MoreAdvocates for sex and gender diverse communities will make written submission in a landmark case before the High Court examining whether legal documents should recognise sex categories other than just male and female.
Read MoreThe Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has found that the Philippines breached the rights of a mute and hearing impaired girl to non-discrimination under the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), in the investigation and trial of her alleged rape. The Philippines had, in investigating the crime and in the trial, failed to provide a free interpreter and had used stereotypes and gender-based myths, disregarding the victim’s specific situation as a girl who is both mute and hearing impaired. The Committee noted that the obligations of the State include the obligation to consider the specific situation of the complainant, being her age and disability.
Read MoreThe Queensland Government should scrap plans to introduce voter ID laws that could unnecessarily prevent an unknown number of Queenslanders from voting, the Human Rights Law Centre has told a parliamentary committee.
Read MoreRights groups have welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement today that it will legislate to erase the criminal records of homosexual men who were convicted for having consensual sex in the past when it was illegal.
Read MoreThe Parliamentary Committee that conducted an inquiry into NSW racial vilification laws tabled its Final Report on 3 December 2013. The Law and Justice Committee of the NSW Legislative Council was charged with a review of section 20D of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW), which sets out the criminal offence for serious racial vilification. The Human Rights Law Centre made a submission to the inquiry earlier this year.
Read MoreAlthough disappointed that the High Court has today overturned the ACT’s new same-sex marriage laws, marriage equality advocates have welcomed the court’s confirmation that the Federal Parliament does have the ability to legislate for marriage equality.
Read MoreAlthough disappointed that the High Court has today overturned the ACT’s new same-sex marriage laws, marriage equality advocates have welcomed the court’s confirmation that the Federal Parliament does have the ability to legislate for marriage equality.
Read MoreRacism remains widespread in the community and important protections against racial vilification must be retained in Australian law, says a broad coalition of organisations.
Read MoreRacism remains widespread in the community and important protections against racial vilification must be retained in Australian law, says a broad coalition of organisations.
Read MoreMarriage equality advocates, defending laws allowing same-sex couples to marry, will tomorrow apply to intervene in the Australian Government’s attempt to strike down the ACT's new same-sex marriage laws in the High Court.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre and has made public the legal advice it obtained from Mr Bret Walker SC and Perry Herzfeld, on behalf of Australian Marriage Equality, that confirms that the NSW Same-Sex Marriage Bill would be constitutionally valid. The advice follows reports that the Bill will be introduced and debated in the NSW Upper House on October 31st.
Read MoreLeading constitutional law experts have warned that the ACT’s marriage equality reforms will remain vulnerable to a High Court challenge unless they the ACT Government delivers on its commitment to pass amendments next week.
Read MoreA “game changing” expert legal opinion has found that a state-based same-sex marriage law proposed in Tasmania is constitutionally valid.
Read MoreOn 26 September 2013, the Tasmanian parliament passed the Anti-Discrimination Amendment Bill 2012 (Tas) that introduced new protections against discrimination and offensive conduct and also improved the capacity of the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Commissioner to deal with complaints.
Read MoreIn the wake of new federal anti-discrimination protections on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and intersex status, Tasmania’s Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 has stalled in the parliament.
Read MoreThis election marriage equality has received an unprecedented level of coverage. However lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) rights are broader than simply marriage equality.
Read MoreUrgent reform is needed to Victoria Police training and policies to end the harm caused by racial discrimination and deliver more efficient and effective policing.
Read MoreKaren was farewelled by the Victorian human rights community in a function held at the Commission’s offices in Carlton in July. Staff, government representatives and community leaders alike spoke of her capacity for innovation and strategic thinking to achieve practical outcomes and positive change. Her leadership, drive and appetite for tackling challenging and significant human rights issues will certainly be missed.
Read MoreAttorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC has asked the Australian Law Reform Commission to inquire into how to reduce legal barriers to people with disabilities.
Read MoreLong overdue legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people have coming into effect have been welcomed, but also highlight the need for systemic reform to Australia’s outdated discrimination laws.
Read MoreFriday 17 May is International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. The Human Rights Law Centre is proud to be supporting the No To Homophobia campaign to spread the message that there is no place for homophobic attitudes in modern Australia.
Read MoreLong overdue legal protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people should be incorporated into Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act immediately, the Human Rights Law Centre has said in a submission today to the Senate’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee currently examining the Government’s proposed amendments.
Read MoreUniversity of the Sunshine Coast’s Professor Neil Rees, co-author of Australian Anti-Discrimination Law, looks at what might have been had the Government’s anti-discrimination reforms been referred Australian Law Reform Commission
Read MoreThe Federal Government’s announcement that it has delayed its consolidation of anti-discrimination laws has been met with extreme disappointment amongst community and human rights groups.
Read MoreNSW racial vilification laws strike the right balance in protecting free expression but could be strengthened to ensure they more effectively protect individuals from racist hate speech.
Read MoreIn his authoritative report presented to the Human Rights Council on 4 March, UN Special Rapporteur on torture Juan Méndez takes a new, groundbreaking look at different aspects of healthcare treatment that he claims amount to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or torture.
Read MoreFor almost two years, Graeme Innes AM urged RailCorp NSW to get serious about its obligations towards Sydney’s rail passengers with disability by ensuring that its trains provide audible “next stop” announcements.
Read MoreVictoria Police will commence a public inquiry aimed at stamping out racial profiling in police practices as a condition of an agreed out of court settlement in Haile-Michael and Others v Commissioner of Police and Others [Court no. VID 969 of 2010] – a racial discrimination claim brought by Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre and a pro bono legal team on behalf of six young African-Australian men.
Read MoreAfter years of discussion and consultation, the Federal Government has all it needs to strengthen protections against unfair treatment and make anti-discrimination laws more effective, accessible and cost-efficient. Earlier today the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee released its report on the exposure draft of the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012.
Read MoreThe Victorian Government’s proposal to increase application fees and other charges for particular cases heard at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal may compromise the ability of ordinary Victorians to access the efficient and inexpensive justice the Tribunal seeks to provide.
Read MoreDespite needing some amendments, the Federal Government’s draft Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 has the potential to strengthen protections against unfair treatment and make anti-discrimination laws more effective, accessible and cost-efficient. This is the message the Human Rights Law Centre will deliver when it gives evidence today before the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee.
Read MoreProposed legislation introduced into Federal Parliament to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as Australia’s first inhabitants is an important stepping stone on the path to recognition of and equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution.
Read MoreThe HRLC welcomes the Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Bill 2012 as a culmination of many years of research, discussion and advocacy around the need to strengthen, modernise and streamline federal anti-discrimination laws. While there are aspects of the HRAD Bill that could be strengthened, the HRLC considers that the Bill improves protections against unfair treatment and makes anti-discrimination laws more effective, accessible and cost-efficient.
Read MoreOn 11 December 2012, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon – Joined by international musical artists Ricky Martin and Yvonne Chaka Chaka, amongst others – called for an end to violence and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre is assisting the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples to make submissions as “amicus curiae” in the High Court in the case of Maloney v The Queen. The case relates to the prohibition against racial discrimination and the rights to participation and self-determination.
Read MoreThe Australian Human Rights Commission and the Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick, have welcomed the passing of the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Amendment Bill in Parliament. Ms Broderick says it is a strong step toward both improving women’s workforce participation and closing the gender gap in Australia’s workforce.
Read MoreA new Bill proposed by the Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon, and Minister for Finance and Deregulation, Penny Wong, will strengthen protections against unfair treatment and make anti-discrimination laws more effective, accessible and cost-efficient.
Read MoreThe Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has launched an anti-hate campaign in response to the Commission’s research project, Reporting racism: what you say matters. Almost half of the people surveyed had witnessed racism happening to someone else and wanted to do something but didn’t know how to respond. The anti-hate website, http://www.antihate.vic.gov.au/, provides the solution. It also lets people know how they can take their complaint further or get more information from the Commission.
Read MoreThe Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission has released Held back: the experiences of students with disabilities in Victorian schools. The Commission undertook research examining the experiences of students with disabilities in Victorian Schools to learn how schools are meeting students’ needs, as well as understanding where practice might be improved.
Read MoreThe Australian Human Rights Commission considers that the fundamental human rights principle of equality means that civil marriage should be available, without discrimination, to all couples, regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity, Commission President Professor Gillian Triggs said.
Read MoreIn last month’s edition of Rights Agenda we reported on the launch a groundbreaking television campaign targeting homophobia, biphobic and transphobic harassment.
Read More“People with disabilities will be badly affected by the Qld state government’s axing of the Tenant Advice and Advocacy Service (TAAS) program” said Mr Ken Wade of disability advocacy organisation Queensland Advocacy Incorporated. The Housing Minister Dr Bruce Flegg announced the termination in late July, and services are expected to cease operation from Wednesday 31 October 2012.
Read MoreAfter three days in the Federal Magistrates Court, Graeme Innes' disability discrimination claim against RailCorp remains unresolved. Federal Magistrate Kenneth Raphael has adjourned the case until 22 November 2012, and ordered the matter to be further mediated by a registrar of the court.
Read MoreOn 29 August 2012, a coalition of leading disability, human rights and community organisations released the Disability Rights Now report, a comprehensive assessment of Australia’s compliance with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). The report makes over 130 recommendations for Australia to embed the rights, standards and obligations contained in the CRPD into all aspects of Australian law, policy and practice.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre is proud to be a key supporter of a groundbreaking television campaign targeting homophobia, biphobic and transphobic harassment, launched today by Victorian Ministers Mary Wooldridge and David Davis.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre has called on Professor Kuruvilla George to reconsider his position on the Board of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission in light of the conflict of interest between his position on gay and lesbian rights and his duties and functions under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010.
Read MoreStatement from the US Ambassador to Australia: Yesterday, the President shared that he personally supports the right of same-sex couples to marry. It will not change federal policy, because marriage has always been a state issue rather than a federal one.
Read MoreWhen Federal Parliament reopened last month, both major parties recommitted to Constitutional recognition for Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders. The Prime Minister also announced $10 million in funding to support community discussion and education about the proposed Constitutional reforms, which will be modeled on the recommendations of a 22-member expert panel.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre has welcomed proposed amendments to section 199 of the Disability Act 2006 (Vic) which will strengthen the extent to which that Act protects the human rights of people with intellectual disabilities. T
Read MoreAustralia's anti-discrimination laws must be amended to comply with international human rights standards and contribute to a fairer, healthier, more inclusive and prosperous community. In a major submission to the Commonwealth Attorney-General, who is reviewing the laws, the Human Rights Law Centre has called for the Government to use this critical opportunity to address gaps in the laws and strengthen existing protections.
Read MoreFrom 1 February 2012, same-sex couples will be able to apply to the Australian Government for a certificate that enables them to marry overseas. When a couple wishes to marry overseas, they must usually apply to the Australian Government for a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI). The CNI confirms to the government in the country where the couple plans to get married that the Australian Government see no obstacle to the marriage.
Read MoreThe Australian Constitution should be amended to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and prohibit racial discrimination in line with key recommendations of an Expert Panel appointed by the Federal Government.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC) has unveiled a new website, www.equalitylaw.org.au, to encourage and facilitate discussions about the Australian Government’s consolidation process of federal anti-discrimination laws. There are a number of federal anti-discrimination laws in Australia which aim to tackle discrimination on the basis of race, sex, disability and age. In April 2010, the Australian Government committed to examining gaps in the existing anti-discrimination laws and consolidating them into a single Equality Act.
Read MoreOn 14 September 2010, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre wrote to the Attorney-General, the Hon Rob McClelland, urging that the promotion and protection of human rights be a key aim and instrument of the Gillard Government. The Centre set out ten policies which the Government should commit to and implement as a matter of priority and urgency for a fairer Australia.
Read MoreThe UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women has released its Concluding Observations following a review of Australia’s compliance with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Committee comments on a number of positive developments in Australia and welcomes the enactment of the Paid Parental Leave Act 2010, the ratification of the Optional Protocol to CEDAW and measures adopted to combat trafficking and support victims of trafficking. The Committee acknowledges the progress made in promoting women in leadership positions and notes that two of Australia’s highest public offices are occupied by women.
Read MoreA high-level UN committee has found that Australia needs to take urgent measures to address racism and racial discrimination, disadvantage and inequality. On 27 August 2010, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination released its Concluding Observations following a review of Australia’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD).
Read MoreThis Tuesday 10 August 2010 the Australian Government will attend a hearing at the United Nations in Geneva to explain some of its most controversial policies to an expert body on racism. The UN Committee on Racial Discrimination has asked Australia to provide it with information on how Australia is performing its legal obligations to respect, protect and promote the human right to equality and freedom from racial discrimination.
Read MoreAustralia is scheduled to be reviewed by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in relation to its compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in Geneva in August 2010. In July 2010, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, together with the National Association of Community Legal Centres, submitted a major NGO submission on Australia to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Read MoreThe Attorney-General and Minister for Foreign Affairs recently launched Australia’s Framework for Law and Justice in the Pacific. The Framework is a high-level statement of priorities intended to guide Australia’s work in the Pacific law and justice sector. The Framework commits Australia to help Pacific countries strengthen the rule of law and protect human rights.
Read MoreOn 9 March, the Equal Opportunity Bill 2010 was introduced into Victorian Parliament. The proposed legislative reforms include the establishment of new mechanisms designed to respond to systemic discrimination and promote substantive equality. The reforms respond to a major review of the Equal Opportunity Act 1995 conducted by Julian Gardner in 2007-2008 which found that Victoria’s anti-discrimination legislation is ineffective in addressing the systemic discrimination that is entrenched in our institutions and social structures. As the Attorney-General recognised in the Bill’s second reading speech, ‘Victorians are competing on uneven ground… we need to level the playing field’.
Read MoreIn a letter to the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and Minister Macklin, more than 150non-government organisations have strongly urged the Rudd Government to immediately reinstate the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) to apply to all measures of the Northern Territory Intervention.
Read MoreJust a few months after ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Australian Government has initiated a consultation on the Optional Protocol to the CRPD.
Read MoreIn February 2008, the HRLRC, together with the National Association of Community Legal Centres and Rights Australia, prepared a Briefing Paper on Key Human Rights Issues in Australia for Gay McDougall, UN Independent Expert on Minority Issues and Chair of the Coordinating Committee on UN Human Rights Council Special Procedures, in advance of her visit to Australia in April 2008.
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