News

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Launch of the Social Justice Report 2003 and Native Title Report 2003

I am speaking on behalf of Dr William Jonas, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner. Dr Jonas is unable to be here today, with doctors having advised him he is not able to fly at this time due to a recurring illness. Dr Jonas sends his apologies and has asked that I deliver this speech on his behalf. He has asked me to express to you his appreciation for attending today and to thank Parry Agius and Lowitja O'Donoghue for agreeing to speak at this launch.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Good house, good clinic and being able to buy a feed

Mick Dodson, the former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner said in his First Report that "A decent standard of health and a life expectancy equivalent to others is an entitlement. Social justice is not primarily a matter of the relief of suffering. It is a matter of the fulfilment of a responsibility. To draw this distinction is not to deny that the facts by themselves speak out for a remedy. Nor is it to deny that compassion is a proper response. But compassion is an insufficient foundation for the delivery of rights".

Disability Rights

Equal employment opportunity for people with disabilities: how to move from the theoretical to the actual

I congratulate EOPHEA for organising this discussion. Although, of course, your focus is primarily on employment in the university environment, the conference program is clearly designed to address equal opportunity issues of much more general significance. I have approached my own paper in the same spirit: I hope it will be particularly relevant in your own context as equity practitioners in higher education, but I have taken the opportunity to raise issues of wider relevance.

Disability Rights

Innes: Launch of City of Sydney Inclusion (Disability) Action Plan

Thank you, Deputy Lord Mayor Councillor Hoff for the invitation to participate in this early celebration of International Day of People with a Disability and the launch of the City of Sydney Inclusion Action Plan .

Disability Rights

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Thank you AMTA for support in attending the first meeting of the TEITAC Committee, held from Sep 27-29 at the National Science Foundation in Arlington Virginia, near Washington. While in Washington I also had a meeting with the Telecommunications Industry Association during which I briefed them on the legislative background and current situation concerning access to telecommunications products and services in Australia by people with disabilities.

Disability Rights

Disability Enterprises Annual meeting

It is my custom to make this acknowledgement at public events because I think recognising Australia's indigenous history is an important element in recognising the truth of our diversity as a people.

Disability Rights

Presentation to the NSW Subcommittee of the Australian Braille Authority

Have you ever stopped to think about all the things that we take for granted? When you're wandering through the breakfast cereal isle at the supermarket, for example, do you ever wonder whether Uncle Toby really was? If so, was he related to Sara Lee? Were Nana's apple pies originally made by Granny Smith? It's not so much that familiarity breeds contempt as that it lulls us into a state of mind where we no longer feel the need to question or even test our assumptions and presumptions.

Sex Discrimination

Violence against women with a disability in rural Australia

Good afternoon distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is my great pleasure to be speaking at this side event as a representative of the Australian Government Delegation to the UN Commission on Status of Women 56th session.

Sex Discrimination

‘Women’s achievements: untold stories’ (2008)

I want to begin by acknowledging that we are gathered here today on the traditional land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. I pay my deepest respects to their elders past and present. I would also like to acknowledge Her Excellency Governor Marie Bashir who is with us today. She is an inspiration to many of us, as a committed leader and advocate for social justice.

Sex Discrimination

The Crisis of Masculinity: Pru Goward (2004)

The Crisis of Masculinity –is there the need for a men’s movement? Speech delivered by Pru Goward, Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, as part of the Oz Prospects Lecture Series, State Library of Victoria, 20 April, 2004. Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the honour of...

Sex Discrimination

Women's Labour Market Participation in Regional Australia

" ...our Gardens produce nothing, all is burnt up, indeed, the Soil must be allow'd to be most wretched and totally unfit for growing any European production ..."

Rights and Freedoms

Addressing human rights concerns and fostering greater understanding and protection of human rights in Australia

It's great to be here today. I can't think of a better time to be taking stock of developments in human rights law and policy in Australia, or a better place to be doing this than Victoria. As a Sydney-sider I have to admit I haven't always been fully appreciative of the number plates down here, which proclaim: ‘Victoria: The Place to Be!’ But there's no doubt that Victoria is the place to be right now, when it comes to human rights developments.

Rights and Freedoms

Mornington Peninsula Shire Conference

Firstly I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we stand and by so doing remind ourselves that Australia's cultural traditions stretch back many thousands of years.

Rights and Freedoms

The human rights of older Australians in the bush: Chris Sidoti

I am very pleased to be here tonight at the Rural Ageing Seminar dinner. Thank you, to Dame Roma and the Rural Ageing Seminar Reference Group, for inviting me to attend an event that (for once) takes place where it counts - in rural South Australia.

Commission – General

President speeches: Launch of Federal Discrimination Law

Thank you for coming here this evening to take part in the launch of the new and updated version of HREOC’s publication, Federal Discrimination Law.