Australian Human Rights Commission Annual Report 2021–22 • to report to the Minister as to the laws that should be made by the Parliament, or action that should be taken by the Commonwealth, on matters relating to human rights • examine enactments, proposed enactments and or international instruments for determining consistency with human rights and international instruments • to prepare, and to publish guidelines for the avoidance of acts or practices of a kind in respect of which the Commission has a function • where the Commission considers it appropriate to do so, with the leave of the court hearing the proceedings and subject to any conditions imposed by the court, to intervene in proceedings that involve human rights issues • to inquire into, and attempt to conciliate, complaints of unlawful discrimination • the functions conferred on the Commission by the various Acts concerning discrimination, as set out below. Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (RDA) Gives effect to Australia’s obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The main aims of the RDA are to: • promote equality before the law for all persons, regardless of their race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin • make discrimination on the basis of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin unlawful provide protection against racial hatred. • Commission functions under the RDA include: • to promote an understanding and acceptance of, and compliance with the RDA • to develop, conduct and foster research and educational programs for the purposes of combatting racial discrimination and prejudices that lead to racial discrimination, to promote understanding, tolerance, and friendship among racial and ethnic groups, and to propagate the purposes and principles of the relevant Convention 8