Australian Human Rights Commission
Statutory authority overview | |
---|---|
Formed | 1986 |
Preceding Statutory authority | Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission |
Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Australia |
Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
Minister responsible |
George Brandis, MP, Attorney-General of Australia |
Statutory authority executives |
Professor Gillian Triggs, President, Australian Human Rights Commission Mick Gooda, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Graeme Innes, AM, Disability Discrimination Commissioner Tim Wilson, Human Rights Commissioner Dr Tim Soutphommasane, Race Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, Sex Discrimination Commissioner The Hon. Susan Ryan, AO, Age Discrimination Commissioner Megan Mitchell, National Children's Commissioner Tim Wilson, Free Speech Commissioner |
Key documents |
Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth) Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) |
Website |
humanrights |
The Australian Human Rights Commission is a national human rights institution, established in 1986 as the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission and renamed in 2008. It is a statutory body funded by, but operating independently of, the Australian Government. It has the responsibility for investigating alleged infringements under Australia’s anti-discrimination legislation. Matters that can be investigated by the Commission under the Australian Human Rights Commission Regulations 1989 include "discrimination on the grounds of race or nationality, religious, colour or ethnic origin, racial vilification, age, sex or gender, sexual harassment, marital or relationship status, sexual orientation, gender identity, intersex status, actual or potential pregnancy, breastfeeding, trade union activity, criminal record, medical record, impairment or physical disability".[1]
Commission officebearers
The Commission falls under the portfolio of the Attorney-General of Australia.
Commission Presidents
The following individuals have been appointed as President of the Human Rights Commission, and its precedent organisation:[2]
Order | Official | Official title | Term |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Hon. Justice Marcus Einfeld, QC1 | President, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission | 1986–1990 |
2 | Sir Ronald Wilson, AC, KBE, CMG, QC | 1990–1998 | |
3 | Professor Alice Tay, AM | 1998–2003 | |
4 | Hon. Justice John von Doussa, AO, QC | 2003–2008 | |
5 | The Hon. Catherine Branson, QC | President, Australian Human Rights Commission | 2008–2012 |
6 | Professor Gillian Triggs | 2012–present | |
- 1 Einfield was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1997. However, his commission was revoked on 26 November 2008.[3]
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioners
The following individuals have been appointed as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner:[2]
Order | Official | Official title | Term |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Mick Dodson, AM | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner | 1993–1998 |
2 | Zita Antonios | 1998–1999 (acting) | |
3 | Dr Bil Jonas, AM | 1999–2004 | |
4 | Tom Calma, AO | 2004–2010 | |
5 | Mick Gooda | 2010–present |
Disability Discrimination Commissioners
The following individuals have been appointed as a Disability Discrimination Commissioners:[2]
Order | Official | Official title | Term |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Elizabeth Hastings | Disability Discrimination Commissioner | 1993–1997 |
2 | Chris Sidoti | 1998 (acting) | |
3 | Susan Halliday | 1999 (acting) | |
4 | Dr Sev Ozdowski, OAM | 2000–2005 (acting) | |
5 | Graeme Innes, AM | 2005–2014 |
Human Rights Commissioners
The following individuals have been appointed as a Human Rights Commissioner:[2]
Order | Official | Official title | Term |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Brian Burdekin, AO | Human Rights Commissioner | 1986–1994 |
2 | Chris Sidoti | 1995–2000 | |
3 | Dr Sev Ozdowski, OAM | 2000–2005 | |
4 | Graeme Innes, AM | 2005–2009 | |
5 | The Hon. Catherine Branson, QC | 2009–2012 | |
6 | Tim Wilson | 2013–Present |
Race Discrimination Commissioners
The following individuals have been appointed as a Race Discrimination Commissioner:[2]
Order | Official | Official title | Term |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Irene Moss, AO | Race Discrimination Commissioner | 1986–1994 |
2 | Zita Antonios | 1994–1999 | |
3 | Dr Bill Jonas, AM | 1999–2004 (acting) | |
4 | Tom Calma, AO | 2004–2009 | |
5 | Graeme Innes, AM | 2009–2011 | |
6 | Dr Helen Szoke | 2011–2013 | |
7 | Professor Gillian Triggs | 2013 (acting) | |
8 | Dr Tim Soutphommasane | 2013–present |
Sex Discrimination Commissioners
The following individuals have been appointed as a Sex Discrimination Commissioner:[2]
Order | Official | Official title | Term |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Pam O'Neill | Sex Discrimination Commissioner | 1984–1988 |
2 | Quentin Bryce, AC | 1988–1993 | |
3 | Susan Walpole | 1993–1997 | |
4 | Moira Scollay | 1997–1998 (acting) | |
5 | Susan Halliday | 1998–2001 | |
6 | Pru Goward | 2001–2007 | |
7 | Hon. Justice John von Doussa, AO, QC | 2007 (acting) | |
8 | Elizabeth Broderick | 2007–present |
Age Discrimination Commissioner
The following individuals have been appointed as an Age Discrimination Commissioner, or precedent titles:[2]
Order | Official | Official title | Term |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Pru Goward | Commissioner Responsible for Age Discrimination | 2005–2007 |
2 | Hon. Justice John von Doussa, AO, QC | 2007 (acting) | |
3 | Elizabeth Broderick | 2007–2011 | |
4 | The Hon. Susan Ryan, AO | Age Discrimination Commissioner | 2011–present |
National Children's Commissioner
The following individuals have been appointed as a National Children's Commissioner:[2]
Order | Official | Official title | Term |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Megan Mitchell | National Children's Commissioner | 2013–present |
Free Speech Commissioner
The following individuals have been appointed as a Free Speech Commissioner:[2]
Order | Official | Official title | Term |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Tim Wilson | Free Speech Commissioner | 2013–present |
Legislation
The Commission investigates alleged infringements under the following federal legislation:
- Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth)
- Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth)
- Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth)
- Age Discrimination Act 2004 (Cth)
- Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth) (formerly Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986)
Public inquiries
One of the more visible functions of the Commission is to conduct public inquiries. Some examples of inquires conducted include:
- Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Inquiry into financial and workplace discrimination against same-sex couples
- Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families
- National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (2004)[4]
- National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention (2014)-ongoing As of 9 January 2014[5]
- Homeless Children Inquiry
- Pregnancy Discrimination Inquiry
- Inquiry into the Accessibility of electronic commerce and new service and information technologies for older Australians and people with a disability
- Inquiry into Human Rights and Good Governance Education in the Asia Pacific Region
Gender identity and sexuality
Private members bills introduced from both the Australian Greens and the Australian Democrats have tried to add sexuality and/or gender identity to the list of matters that can be investigated by the Commission, which has always failed to pass at least one house of parliament since 1995, because of a lack of support from both the Australian Labor Party and the Coalition in the federal parliament.[6]
In late 2010, the Gillard Labor Government announced that it is undertaking a review of federal anti-discrimination laws, with the aim of introducing a single equality act that would include sexual orientation and gender identity.[7] This was abandoned and instead the Gillard Labor Government introduced another bill - which is mentioned below.
On 25 June 2013, the Australian Federal Parliament passed the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill 2013 with overwhelming support in both houses and became law from Royal Assent three days later by the Governor-General. Then became effective from August 1, 2013, making discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered and for the first time in the world, Intersex people illegal at a national level. Aged care providers who are owned by religious groups will no longer be able to exclude people from aged care services based on their LGBTI or same-sex relationship status. However, religious owned private schools and religious owned hospitals are exempt from gender identity and sexual orientation provisions[8] in the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill 2013.[9] No religious exemptions exist on the basis of intersex status.[8]
Human Rights Medals and Awards
Since 1987 the Human Rights Medal and other awards have been presented at the Commission’s annual Human Rights Medal and Awards ceremony.
The Human Rights Medal is awarded to individuals "for their outstanding contribution to human rights in Australia".
In 2008 the Young People’s Human Rights Medal was awarded for the first time.
Other awards are:
- Human Rights Community (Individual) Award.
- Human Rights Community (Organisation) Award.
- Human Rights Radio Award
- Human Rights Television Award
- Human Rights Print Media Award
- Human Rights Arts Non-Fiction Award
- Human Rights Law Award - sponsored by the Law Council of Australia
International status
The Commission is one of some 70 national human rights institutions (NHRIs) accredited by the International Co-ordinating Committee of NHRIs (ICC), a body sponsored by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The Commission's "A status" accreditation allows it special access to the United Nations human rights system, including speaking rights at the Human Rights Council and other committees. The Commission can present parallel reports ("shadow reports") to UN treaty committees examining Australia's compliance with international human rights instruments. It has been very active in developing NHRIs throughout the Asia-Pacific region, and is a leading member of the Asia Pacific Forum of NHRIs, one of four regional sub-groups of NHRIs.
See also
- Human Rights Commission
References
- ↑
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 "Previous Office Holders". President & Commissioners. Australian Human Rights Commission. 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.
- ↑ "Einfeld stripped of QC status". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 26 November 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2008.
- ↑ "National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2004". Australian Human Rights Commission. 13 May 2004. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ "National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014". Australian Human Rights Commission. Retrieved 9 January 2015.
- ↑ Australian DemocratsAustralian Democrats Press Releases
- ↑ Red Book plan a step towards gay marriage, The Australian, 15 December 2010
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Australian Parliament, Explanatory Memorandum to the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Bill 2013, 2013
- ↑ Australia outlaws LGBT discrimination under national laws for first time, 25 June 2013