History of the Commission
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (now known as the Australian Human Rights Commission) was established on 10 December 1986 (International Human Rights Day) as Australia’s national human rights watchdog.
With an expanded complaint handling role and a major focus on research and education, the Commission replaced the previous Human Rights Commission, which had operated essentially as a part-time body since 1981.
Three full-time Commissioners were appointed to the new organisation – a Human Rights Commissioner, Race Discrimination Commissioner and Sex Discrimination Commissioner – along with a part-time President.
Based in Sydney, the organisation was given responsibility to administer the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (the RDA), the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (the SDA) and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986, which allows HREOC to receive complaints and monitor Australia’s performance under international human rights standards.
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Over the next 21 years the Commission’s role and workload grew markedly. Following are some of the major organisational and legislative milestones.
1989
The Privacy Act 1988 comes into force on 1 January. The position of Privacy Commissioner is created within the Commission.
Ten additional grounds of discrimination in employment, including age, are added under the International Labour Organisation Convention (ILO 111), increasing the number of, or grounds for, complaints to the Commission.
1990
The RDA is amended to explicitly protect people against indirect discrimination.
1992
The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 comes into force. The position of Disability Discrimination Commissioner is created within the Commission.
1993
The position of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner is created within the Commission. The Commissioner is given the role to monitor and report on the human rights situation of Indigenous Australians, as well as the operation of the Native Title Act.
The SDA is amended to make dismissal on the grounds of family responsibilities against the law and to provide protection against sexual harassment in a broader range of areas.
The Commission is given responsibility to monitor Australia’s performance under the newly-ratified Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
1995
The High Court decides in the Brandy case that the Commission does not have the power to make legally binding determinations in complaints of unlawful discrimination.
The RDA is amended to make racial vilification against the law.
1996
The Commission hosts the inaugural meeting of the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions in Darwin. The APF Secretariat is based in the Australian Human Rights Commission.
1997
The Commission begins an on-going technical co-operation program on human rights with China.
2000
The Commission’s role of hearing complaints of unlawful discrimination is transferred to the Federal Court and the Federal Magistrates Service. Commissioners are given the role to appear as ‘amicus curiae’ (‘friend of the court’) in relevant cases before the Courts.
An Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner, separate from the Australian Human Rights Commission, is created.
2004
The Age Discrimination Act 2004 comes into force – an outcome the Commission has been working towards since 1992.
2005
The Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination is appointed.
2007
20th anniversary of the Human Rights Medal and Awards.
2008
The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission changes its corporate identity to the Australian Human Rights Commission.
Last updated October 17, 2008
