Human Rights And Equal Opportunity Commission

The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is a national independent statutory government body, established in 1986 by an Act of the federal Parliament, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act. The federal Attorney General is the Minister responsible in Parliament for the Commission.

The Commission is administered by the President, who is the Chief Executive Officer. He is assisted by the Human Rights, Race, Sex, Disability and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioners.

Under the legislation administered by the Commission, it has responsibilities for inquiring into alleged infringements under five anti-discrimination laws - the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Age Discrimination Act 2004 as well as inquiring into alleged infringements of human rights under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986.

In addition, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner has specific functions under the HREOC Act and under the Native Title Act, 1993. These functions relate to the monitoring of the enjoyment or otherwise by Indigenous people of their rights under the law.

The Sex Discrimination Commissioner also has responsibilities in relation to federal awards and equal pay under the Workplace Relations Act 1996.

Matters which can be investigated by the Commission include discrimination on the grounds of race, colour or ethnic origin, racial vilification, sex, sexual harassment, marital status, pregnancy, or disability.

Human Rights education is one of the core responsibilities of the Commission along with the investigation and attempted resolution of complaints about breaches of human rights and anti-discrimination legislation.

The Commission plays a central role in contributing to the maintenance and improvement of a tolerant, equitable and democratic society, through its public awareness and other educational programs aimed at the community, government and business sectors. These programs provide information and strategies to improve the enjoyment of human rights in Australia, the key message being that the elimination of discrimination and harassment are prerequisites for the enjoyment of human rights by all Australians.

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