Inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Bill 2003

Inquiry into the provisions of the Australian Human Rights Commission Legislation Bill 2003

On 27 March 2003, the Senate referred the provisions of the Bill to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 29 May 2003. Amongst other things, the Bill:
  • provides for the restructure of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) and its renaming as the Australian Human Rights Commission;

  • creates an executive structure of a President and three Human Rights Commissioners;

  • makes education, dissemination of information and assistance central functions of the new Commission;

  • requires the Commission to obtain the Attorney-General’s consent before exercising its power to seek leave to intervene in court proceedings (unless the President was a federal Judge immediately before appointment, in which case the Attorney-General must be notified); and

  • removes HREOC’s power to recommend the payment of damages or compensation following inquiries into certain types of complaints.
Further Information Public Hearing

A public hearing will be held on Wednesday 14 May 2003, commencing at 3.30pm until 4.30pm in Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House Canberra.

Program - Wednesday 14 May 2003 (Word 22KB)

Submissions received and approved for publication by the Committee as at 29 April 2003.

Submissions

Other submissions not yet authorised for publication.

Lodging Submissions

The closing date for lodgement of submissions and/or expressing interest in giving evidence is Thursday, 24 April 2003.

Submissions become Committee documents and are only made public after a decision by the Committee. Unauthorised release of submissions is not covered by parliamentary privilege. Further assistance can be obtained by phoning the secretariat on (02) 6277 3560.

The Committee encourages the lodgement of submissions in electronic form to legcon.sen@aph.gov.au. Please ensure that a postal address and phone number is enclosed with all email submissions.

Submissions may also be faxed to (02) 6277 5794.

Report - Tabled 29 May 2003

For further information

    The Secretariat
    Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee
    Room S1.61, Parliament House
    Canberra ACT 2600
    AUSTRALIA

    Telephone: (02) 6277 3560
    Fax: (02) 6277 5794

    E Mail: legcon.sen@aph.gov.au