News
Thursday, 27 January 2011
New Commissioners mean greater focus on Race and Disability Discrimination
Australia will soon have a full-time Race Discrimination Commissioner and a full-time Disability Discrimination Commissioner
The announcement, made today by federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Senator Kate Lundy, means it will be the first time in 13 years that Australia will have a separate Race and Disability Discrimination Commissioner.
“The increased funding will ensure the Australian Human Rights Commission continues to play a leading role in the protection and promotion of human rights, including their valuable public education role and advocacy for vulnerable members of our community,” Attorney-General Robert McClelland said today.
Commission President Catherine Branson said about 50 per cent of Australians were born overseas or have one parent born overseas, and 21 per cent of Australians have disability.
“These facts make this announcement today all the more significant,” she said.
Ms Branson also welcomed the Government’s announcement earlier in the year that a full-time Age Discrimination Commissioner would also soon be appointed.
Current Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick, is presently Commissioner responsible for Age Discrimination and has played a leading role in protecting the rights of people experiencing age discrimination.
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.
