Australian Human Rights Commission

The NSW Government has extended its Australian-first police drone trial in Moree for a further two years, arguing the technology helps police respond more quickly to crime and emergencies and has strong community support. However, concerns have been raised about privacy, surveillance and the impact on First Nations communities, calling for the trial’s evaluation to be made public before the program is expanded.

Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss and Race Discrimination Commissioner Giridharan Sivaraman have written to the NSW Police about the human rights implications of this trial.

‘The key question is not simply the ‘operational effectiveness of the technology’, which is what the current evaluation is looking at,’ said Commissioner Finlay.

‘The more important questions are how the drones have been used, what safeguards are in place, and what impact they have had on the communities being monitored.’

Read Commissioner Finlay's opinion article on our website - https://loom.ly/Sclg7gU

This year’s International Day of Older Persons theme, ‘The age of longevity: Rethinking systems for longer lives,’ highlights the importance of creating societies where people can age with dignity and security.

‘For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, longevity is about more than living longer. Elders are custodians of culture, language, knowledge and law. Their leadership strengthens communities and ensures cultural knowledge is passed to future generations,’ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss said.

‘The strength of First Peoples communities is deeply connected to the presence and leadership of Elders.

‘However, many First Peoples continue to face poorer health outcomes, shorter life expectancy and greater financial insecurity than non-Indigenous Australians.

‘These inequities are driven by factors including poverty, inadequate housing, systemic racism, barriers to culturally safe healthcare and the ongoing impacts of colonisation. They affect people’s ability to age with dignity, remain connected to family, community and Country, and continue contributing as Elders.

‘On this day, we celebrate the wisdom, resilience and leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders.

‘We must also commit to closing the life expectancy gap and addressing the social and economic inequalities that prevent too many First Peoples from living long, healthy and fulfilling lives.’

20 finalists. 100s of nominations. One shared commitment to human rights.

The finalists in the 2026 Australian Human Rights Awards have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to advancing dignity, fairness and opportunity across Australia.

Selected from more than 300 nominations, these individuals and organisations are helping build a future where everyone can thrive.

Meet the finalists: 🔗 https://loom.ly/APw2kyU

The Kep Enderby Memorial Lecture returns on Monday 2 November 2026 with 'Racism and the scapegoating of migrants: Reshaping the narrative on immigration'.

The oration will be delivered by - DEI Executive, Anti-Racism & Human Rights Advocate, with a focus on racism towards migrants in Australia, in the context of ongoing national conversations about identity and belonging.

This will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by featuring Adama Kamara, Laurie Berg, Professor Braden Hill and Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman.

The event is online only - 12.30-1.45pm on Monday 2 November.

Find out more and register - https://loom.ly/rrJfles

Calling all disability advocates! Applications are now open for the Supporting Participation Program 2026-27, which funds people with disability to take part in key international disability and human rights forums.

This year, the program supports participation in:
• UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW71)
• UN Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP20)
• Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.

This is an opportunity to build advocacy skills, strengthen networks, share lived experience, and help ensure Australian perspectives are represented in global conversations about human rights. Applications close 1 November 2026.

Find out more and apply: https://loom.ly/TPY7oq4

Supporting Participation Program Home Our work Human rights topics What we're doing - disability rights What we're doing - disability rights Supporting Participation Program 07 October 2025 Listen The information on this page is duplicated from the Current Grant Opportunity View - GO8604: GrantConnect. Updates to the GrantConnect p...

Australia's international ambitions must be matched by a genuine commitment to upholding the rights, dignity and wellbeing of First Peoples here at home.

'Whether it is supporting a bid for the UN Security Council or to secure the 2032 Olympics, it is bittersweet hearing Australia promote itself as home to two of the oldest cultures in the world on the global stage, while domestically those two cultures, Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islanders, are negatively over-represented in almost every socio-economic wellbeing and human rights indicator,' said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss.

'Australia should be a global leader on human rights, including the rights of Indigenous Peoples. However, there are significant compliance gaps in meeting our voluntary domestic obligations. The Australian Government has not codified many of its human rights obligations and stands alone among Western democracies in its lack of a Human Rights Act or similar instrument. It has not implemented UNDRIP in either policy or legislation, or the National Anti-Racism Framework. It has not responded favourably to its fourth Universal Periodic Review or findings of the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination early warning urgent action procedure. The United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) was recently denied access to inspect detention facilities in NSW and Queensland by those state governments.

'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are exposed to unacceptable rates of interpersonal, systemic and structural racism and racist violence. We continue to die from diseases eradicated decades ago. Both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults and children are disproportionately impacted by harmful child safety and criminal justice systems. At times, in the Northern Territory, Indigenous children have constituted 100% of the youth detention population.

'The Australian Government has the power to ensure the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people are respected and protected. It has the power to intervene and override states and territory laws that are locking up our young people instead of investing in their future through evidence-based policy.

'If Australia wants to lead globally, it must first protect the rights of First Peoples and turn its human rights commitments into action. '

Civil and political rights are fundamental to a fair and democratic society.

Across the last 40 years, the Commission has worked to ensure these rights are protected not only in principle, but in practice, particularly when they are most at risk. Whether challenging harmful prison conditions, or examining the human rights impacts of national emergencies, we have championed approaches that place people, dignity and accountability at the centre of decision-making.

Read the 4 stories - https://loom.ly/_oOb-Ig

Everyone should be able to participate safely online.

Racism online causes real harm and affects many people every day, particularly First Peoples.

The Commission has created a new resource - Pathways to address online racism. It explores practical, evidence-based approaches to creating safer online spaces.

Learn more https://loom.ly/DuJhcpA

Artwork by Bree Buttenshaw for .people 2024.

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