Overview of the Australian Human Rights Commission The Commission is Australia’s National Human Rights Institution. The Commission is an independent statutory authority, established under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act. The Commission has a range of duties, functions and powers with respect to human rights, including undertaking inquiries, intervening in court proceedings, examining enactments and conducting educational programs and public awareness campaigns. The Commission is made up of the President, and seven Commissioners, each established by statute: • • • • • • • • President (section 8A of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (section 46B of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act) Age Discrimination Commissioner (section 53A of the Age Discrimination Act) Disability Discrimination Commissioner (section 113 of the Disability Discrimination Act) Human Rights Commissioner (section 8B of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act) National Children’s Commissioner (sections 46MA and 46MC of the Australian Human Rights Commission Act) Race Discrimination Commissioner (sections 19 and 29 of the Racial Discrimination Act); and Sex Discrimination Commissioner (section 96 of the Sex Discrimination Act). The functions of each Commissioner are determined by their enabling legislation and the Australian Human Rights Commission Act. Each Act requires that appointments to each of the above Commissioner positions must be merit-based and transparent. The Attorney-General is the relevant Minister for the purposes of these Acts. Where legislation provides for specific processes for appointments, those provisions will take precedence to the extent of any inconsistency with these guidelines. 4