DATE: 15 June 2011 The Victorian Equal Opportunity Amendment Bill passed the Upper House of the Victorian Parliament earlier this morning, following five hours of debate. The changes to the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act introduced by the Bailleu Government was defeated in parliament when Community Services Minister Mary Wooldridge missed the vote, the first time […]
DATE: 15 June 2011 A recent Federal Court ruling has highlighted the lack of protection for students who have severe social and behaviourial disabilities. The Walker family sued the Victorian Department of Education for discriminating against their son who suffers from multiple disabilities including Aspergers Syndrome and dyslexia, but the court ruled in favour of […]
Mental illness is increasingly recognised as one of the most prevalent health issues in the Australian community. The human rights of people with a mental illness in Australia has received greater attention in recent years, prompted in part by new obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (‘Disabilities Convention’), […]
DATE: 26 May 2011 A High Court challenge could have a profound effect on the right to freedom of political communication, participation and association under the Australian constitution. The challenge brought forward by a Palm Island indigenous activist who was convicted of rioting after the death in custody of Cameron Doomadgee relates to a gag […]
DATE: 26 May 2011 The United Nations Human Rights Commissioner, Navi Pillay has reiterated long-standing concerns by the international community that Australia’s mandatory immigration detention regime is in breach of Australia’s international human rights obligations and criticised racist and inhumane elements within Australia. In a press conference held yesterday, as part of a six-day visit […]
DATE: 13 MAY 2011 Amnesty International has criticized Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers and indigenous issues in its 2011 World Report, which has been released today. The chapter on Australia highlights the Federal government’s refugee policy and its impact on asylum seekers with mandatory, long term detention and poor conditions in detention facilities putting a large […]
DATE: 11 May 2011 The Gillard Government has announced additional funding to the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) as part of the 2011-12 Budget. The total funding of $5.7 million will include the establishment of an Age Discrimination Commissioner and support team as well as $1.6 million over four years to restore the positions of […]
DATE: 6 MAY 2011 Yesterday, the Victorian Government introduced amendments to the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 in parliament. These changes reduce the ability of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission to “respond effectively to systematic discrimination.” The amendments maintain the Commission’s key functions on identifying and addressing discrimination including through education and dispute […]
DATE: 5 May 2011 Recent privacy breaches at Sony and Dell Australia highlight concerns about Australia’s privacy framework and its ability to protect the right to privacy of Australian’s online. In response to the privacy breach at Sony in which more then 1.5 million Australian user accounts were compromised, the Minister for Privacy, Brendan O’Connor has […]
DATE: 27 April 2011 The Law Council has released a progress report on the implementation of the Australian Government’s Human Rights Framework. The Law Council of Australia says that the framework appears to be making a positive difference in raising awareness about human rights in the community. In a media release Law Council of Australia […]
DATE: 27th of April 2011 The federally funded National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) is facing a constitutional challenge in the High Court. Ron Williams, a concerned parent from Queensland has brought forward the challenge claiming that the program has created a non-secular pro-Christian culture in the state schools his children attend. Introduced by John Howard in […]