The Commission is currently conducting a review of the Australian Parliament as a Workplace, led by Sex
Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins, to report in late 2021. It speaks to the credibility of the
Commission among the broader Australian community that we were tasked with undertaking this review
– where our credibility, expertise and independence were all critical factors for the government.
The past year has also seen the culmination of two major projects conducted over several years – first, by
our Human Rights Commissioner, Ed Santow, on human rights and technology; and second, by our
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, June Oscar AO, the Wiyi Yani U Thangani
report on the voices of Indigenous women and girls.
Both reports set out bold visions for reform to law, policy and practice, to equip the Australian community
to maximise the benefit of new technologies and artificial intelligence, while keeping the rights of the
citizen at the heart of new developments, and to better protect the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander women and girls, particularly by drawing on their strengths and addressing the structural barriers
that they face in our community. Mr Santow concluded his five-year term as Human Rights Commissioner
in July 2021, and I thank him for his contributions over this period. The human rights and technology
report will be a lasting legacy for his advocacy over many years.
The new National Children’s Commissioner, Anne Hollonds, commenced in this reporting year and has
been focused on protecting the most vulnerable children in our community who are at risk of abuse,
neglect, and separation from their families. National consultations with at-risk families and children have
been held to inform the next iteration of the national child protection framework. The Commissioner has
called for more joined-up, holistic support across the multiple national frameworks that exist to protect
children – to ensure the most vulnerable do not fall between the gaps (or silos) of different systems.
The Race Discrimination Commissioner, Chin Tan, has also been focused on policy coherence in relation
to racism and social cohesion. A concept paper was released in March 2021 setting out the need for a
national anti-racism framework – elevating treating racism to the same level as how we treat the scourge
of family violence, for example. The Commission is encouraged by the engagement of the federal and
state and territory governments with the proposal. National consultations are currently underway and will
result in a detailed model for future action by government.
The Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Dr Ben Gauntlett, launched the IncludeAbility project this
year, designed to equip employers with the knowledge and tools to increase meaningful employment
opportunities for people with disability. The project also provides important information for people with
disability seeking employment about their rights, tips on applying for roles, preparing for an interview, and
what they can expect from prospective employers.
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Australian Human Rights Commission
Annual Report 2020–2021