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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

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The title of this session on the conference program is 'The history of human rights in Australian law'. I have chosen to slightly change the topic for a number of reasons. The main reason is because Indigenous peoples' struggle for recognition of their human rights remains to a large extent unfulfilled. Consequently, it is not, and has never been, well reflected in Australian law. Second, because human rights continue to be poorly and rather patchily implemented in our legal system.

Disability Rights

Advancing equality in education and beyond

Allow me to begin by acknowledging the people of the Wurundjeri nation, the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and pay my respects to their elders both past and present.

Disability Rights

Adaptable Departments - disability action plans and what makes them work

I am very pleased to be able to contribute to this Forum and would like to congratulate the co-convenors, Rhonda and Fiona, and their organisations for this initiative, which is just one part of the Disability Advisory Council's Disability Action Plan Project running throughout 2006.

Disability Rights

Physical Disability Council of NSW AGM presentation (2009)

Thank you Anne-Mason and Ruth for this invitation to address your AGM on health access issues, and in particular access to height adjustable examination beds in primary health care facilities.

Disability Rights

Reasonable adjustment

It's important for us all in talking about reasonable adjustment not to appear to present employing people with disability as something new or exceptional being asked of employers.

Disability Rights

National Inquiry into Disability and Employment

While there were a range of factors that led the Commission to launch the Inquiry, the primary reason is that Australians with disability continue to be less likely to be employed than people without a disability.

Disability Rights

The DDA and its impact in the area of Education

Perhaps it's just because I'm getting older, but I increasingly have the feeling that Australia is becoming a more sentimental and nostalgic nation. We have a Prime Minister whose vision for us is to be relaxed and comfortable. And many of us spent last night - after watching the final stages of the Australian cricket juggernaut's comprehensive winning of the ashes for the eighth time in a row - watch a bunch of old blokes who used to be rock and roll singers showing us that it was a long way to the top. Haven't we got anything more exciting to do than that?

Disability Rights

Address to Blind Citizens Australia Convention 1999

Graeme Innes AM Deputy Disability Discrimination Commissioner Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 15 October 1999 Note: This is the full version of Deputy Commissioner Innes' paper, which was presented in summary form at the convention for reasons of time.

Race Discrimination

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Centuries ago a great many of the inhabitants of this beautiful island were wiped out by colonization and its aftermath. The disappearance of so many is a solemn reminder of the injustice done to the first peoples of this land. Their violent absence is a presence that calls for us to reflect on injustices, suffering and reconciliation in the broadest sense. To them I pay my respects.

Sex Discrimination

Accumulating poverty: Women’s experiences of inequality over the lifecycle (2009)

My father first took me to the Institute of Public Affairs as it was then known, before Anne and Gerard Henderson revolutionised it as the Sydney Institute. I remember the topic was “Should Australia have an Aircraft Carrier?” I sat next to an English engineer who was on the first nuclear submarine. He spend 4 months submerged near the Russian base of Murmansk. There was absolute radio silence and he didn’t learn of the birth of his daughter until he returned to England many months later.

Sex Discrimination

Westpac IT Women’s Forum: Women, men, life and having it all

At the time I nominated that as a topic, I had something clearly in mind. But that was a while ago and I have long since forgotten what it was. Which is the wonderful thing about being forgetful; every day is new and exciting. Today’s idea about women, men, life and having it all are likely to be different to yesterday’s. By the time I have finished speaking both of us might have discovered something new.

Sex Discrimination

Work and family: The challenge for modern Australia

"Work and family: The challenge for modern Australia" Speech by Commissioner Pru Goward, Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, Royal Women's Hospital Tracy and Maund Address Royal Women's Hospital, 27 August 2002 Thank you for inviting me here this evening. It is a great privilege to have been...

Rights and Freedoms

Keynote Address CEO Sleepout

Thank you for the opportunity to speak with all of you, and sleep with some of you. As you will have noticed, Vinnies was good enough to let my eleven-year-old daughter Rachel join me as my guide tonight, and she'll be the only one getting any of my cuddles. The rest of you have to make your own arrangements.

Rights and Freedoms

Young People and Human Rights Dialogue: Dr Sev Ozdowski OAM (2005)

Firstly, HREOC is charged with: "promoting an understanding and acceptance of human rights in Australia". Young people obviously form a very, very important part of that task.

Rights and Freedoms

Launch of Give Me Shelter: Dr Sev Ozdowski (2001)

Lord when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food or thirsty and gave you to drink; a stranger and we welcomed you, naked and clothed you, sick or in prison and we visited you?