The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed today’s announcement that Australia will soon have a full-time Race Discrimination Commissioner and a full-time Disability Discrimination Commissioner. Commission President Catherine Branson QC, said that having these two full-time Commissioners would enable the Commission to focus more comprehensively on protecting the rights of Australians who experience discrimination on the grounds of race or disability. She said the importance of having these Commissioners on a full-time basis was illustrated by the facts that about 50 per cent of Australians were born overseas or have one parent born overseas, and 21 per cent of Australians have disability.“Current Disability and Race Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes, has done an excellent job leading the Commission’s work in both of these areas with his work developing coordinated responses to the threats posed by cyber racism, and his efforts in developing the National Dialogue on Universal Housing Design – Strategic Plan, being among his most significant recent achievements,” Ms Branson said.

Commissioner Innes said he welcomed the opportunity to devote all of his time to addressing the many issues that continue to face Australians with disability.
“There are multitudes of areas that require sustained focus. One area that immediately comes to mind is the need to overturn the dreadful reality that women with disabilities experience violence at significantly higher rates, more frequently, for longer, in more ways, and by more perpetrators, than non-disabled women,” Commissioner Innes said.
Ms Branson also welcomed the government’s earlier announcement that a full-time Age Discrimination Commissioner would be appointed. She said the full time Age Discrimination Commissioner would allow the increased focus needed in this area given Australia’s ageing population.

Current Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, is presently Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination.
“Consultations undertaken by the Australian Human Rights Commission, and led by Commissioner Broderick, indicate that unlawful age discrimination has become one of the most significant barriers to workplace participation for mature-age workers in Australia today,” Ms Branson said. “With the appointment of an Age Discrimination Commissioner, the Commission looks forward to being able to continue its work in this area as well as initiating work on other important issues affecting older Australians.“A full-time Age Discrimination Commissioner will allow Commissioner Broderick to devote all of her time to her excellent work promoting equality between men and women in Australia,” Ms Branson said.

The new Commissioners are expected to take up their posts with the Australian Human Rights Commission early in the new financial year.
Commissioner Innes will continue in his role as both Race and Disability Discrimination Commissioner until he steps into the Disability Discrimination Commissioner role on a full-time basis. Commissioner Broderick will continue as Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination until the appointment of the Age Discrimination Commissioner.

Source:Australian Human Rights Commission

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