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Contact us Enquiries regarding the licence and any use of this document are welcome at: Business Law Branch Attorney-General’s Department 3–5 National Cct BARTON ACT 2600 Telephone: 02 6141 6666 copyright@ag.gov.au National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 CONTENTS FOREWORD Introduction Protection and promotion of human rights in Australia The human rights concerns of the general community The human rights experience of specific groups in Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Women Children and young people Older People People at risk of or experiencing homelessness People with disability Carers People in prisons Refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds Monitoring Acknowledgements List of Acronyms 4 5 7 13 24 24 37 42 46 53 55 69 71 73 83 84 86 3 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 F O R E W O R D By the Australian Attorney-General, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP On behalf of the Australian Government, I am proud to release Australia’s National Human Rights Action Plan.
The Australian Government has a vision for an Australia that is free, democratic, just and tolerant.

An Australia in which all people are valued and included, and have an opportunity to make a decent life for themselves.

We strive to support people at risk of falling through the cracks.

Of course, these values are not unique in the world—they underpin the seven core human rights treaties to which Australia is a party.

However, upholding them requires continued, focused effort.
In this spirit, the Australian Government has developed a new National Human Rights Action Plan.

In doing so, we are delivering on a commitment we made in Australia’s Human Rights Framework released in 2011.

This Action Plan outlines what the Australian Government will do to improve human rights.

It reaffirms our commitment to existing social policy initiatives and highlights new priority areas for human rights across Australian governments.
It also articulates, in detail, how the Australian Government will implement the commitments we made in 2011 during Australia’s Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations.

The Australian Government takes human rights seriously.

Although this is the third Human Rights Action Plan Australia has developed, for the first time we have built it around an extensive evidence base, reflecting the concerns of both Australians and the United Nations.
In putting it together we listened to UN human rights committees.

We also asked non-government organisations (NGOs) and ordinary Australians to outline their concerns, and to put forward their ideas on how they should be addressed.

4 We used those ideas, concerns and experiences to put together a baseline study describing human rights issues in Australia, and summarising existing efforts to address them.

The priorities identified in the study were then used as the basis for the Action Plan.
The Australian Government will continue to draw on the study to develop our policy priorities into the future.

The Action Plan sets out major initiatives across Australian governments that address human rights concerns.

It becomes clear when you read it just how much work is being done to improve human rights, particularly for marginalised and disadvantaged groups of people.
The Australian Government has announced a number of new measures to address some of the gaps, including for the first time in Australia’s history the establishment of a National Children’s Commissioner and the historic $1billion investment to establish a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Of course, there is more to be done and the Action Plan is not the end point.
We will continue to work to improve human rights, and we will report on any new initiatives that emerge during the life of the plan under the monitoring arrangements.

Australia has a strong human rights record and there are many achievements of which we can be proud.

We must learn from and build on our hard work, remembering that our goal is a noble one— a fairer society for all.
The Hon Nicola Roxon MP Attorney-General Minister for Emergency Management Achieving A just And secure society INTRODuCTION Australia’s National Human Rights Action Plan builds on extensive work by Australian governments to create an inclusive society where all are valued and all have the opportunity to participate fully regardless of factors, such as age, gender, race, religion or disability.
Strengthening human rights protections and turning aspirations into reality requires continuing commitment and hard work across many areas of the Australian Government.

This Action Plan demonstrates Australia’s ongoing commitment to its international human rights obligations, and the Australian Government’s desire to improve both the promotion and protection of human rights.

All information in the Action Plan is current as at 25 September 2012.
Australia’s third Action Plan is the latest part of a suite of policy work being done as part of Australia’s Human Rights Framework to engage the community in improving human rights in Australia.

In 1994, Australia was the first country to develop a National Human Rights Action Plan, followed by a second plan that was developed and released in 2004.

In 2009, the Government initiated Australia’s first and most comprehensive community consultation on human rights.
More than 35,000 submissions were made and more than 6000 people participated in community roundtables, making it an unprecedented open consultation between the Australian Government and the general public.

Following the consultation, Australia’s Human Rights Framework was launched in 2010.

It outlines the Australian Government’s strategy for enhancing human rights protections and improving the human rights experience of all Australians.
In 2011, Australia participated in its first Universal Periodic Review (UPR) before the United Nations Human Rights Council.

After extensive consultation with the community, the Australian Government accepted almost 95 per cent of the Council’s recommendations.

Australia committed to using accepted recommendations to inform the development of Australia’s new National Human Rights Action Plan.
Consequently, the Action Plan demonstrates how Australia is turning the commitments made at the UPR into specific actions to improve and promote human rights1.

All UPR recommendations accepted or accepted-in- part by Australia are referenced against specific measures in the Action Plan.

1 UPR Rec 30 (Azerbaijan): A (accepted) This new National Human Rights Action Plan improves on Australia’s previous human rights action plans with the use of an extensive evidence base.
For the first time, a Baseline Study on the key human rights issues in Australia was used to develop the new Action Plan.

The Australian Government acknowledges that while not all issues identified in the Baseline Study could be addressed at this time, the Baseline Study will inform policy development into the future.

The Baseline Study summarises key human rights issues for Australia, particularly challenges that persist for specific groups in our society.
Many people fall into two or more of these categories and, as a result, may experience intersectional disadvantage or discrimination.

However, for reasons of brevity and to avoid duplication, initiatives that address multiple groups and issues will appear only once in the plan, under the most relevant priority area.
The Action Plan is designed to mirror the following priority areas and specific groups that emerged from the Baseline Study: • • international human rights commitments legal protections • Australia’s Human Rights Framework • access to justice • counter-terrorism • use of force by police • people trafficking • workers’ rights • climate change • poverty • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples • women • children and young people • gay, lesbian, bisexual and sex and/or gender diverse people • people at risk of or experiencing homelessness • people with disability • carers • people in prisons • refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
5 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society • the $3.7 billion Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package to create a flexible and seamless system that provides older Australians with more choice, control and easier access to a full range of services, where they want it and when they need it • reviewing federal legislation for any barriers to older people participating in productive work • an Act of Recognition acknowledging the unique and special place of Australia’s First Peoples, as an important step towards holding a successful referendum to change the constitution to recognise Indigenous people.
• working with the states and territories on the regulation of sterilisation of women and girls with disability • implementing the National Anti-Racism Partnership and Strategy, led by the Australian Human Rights Commission, and • ensuring accessible communications for people with disability in the event of an emergency.

The Australian Government will lodge this new National Human Rights Action Plan with the United Nations.
The Plan sets out a monitoring arrangement that involves progress reporting to coincide with the Australian Government’s next Universal Periodic Review report planned for 2015.

Each section begins with a short summary of the major measures being undertaken, followed by a descriptive table setting out the relevant priority area, a detailed description of the action, the agency or jurisdiction undertaking it, and a performance indicator and/or timeline.
In developing this Action Plan, the Australian Government engaged the community more extensively than it has in the past.

Workshops with NGOs were convened around Australia and submissions were sought on a scoping paper, the Baseline Study and an exposure draft of the Action Plan.

An independent web presence was also established.

Discussions were held with state and territory governments on actions they are undertaking within their own jurisdictions.
Input was received from Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.

New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia elected not to contribute.

The Action Plan prioritises Australian Government actions, taking into account available resources and focusing on practical outcomes.

Australian governments already have in place a range of programs and laws to strengthen human rights protections and improve opportunities for all Australians.
This Action Plan sets out these major, ongoing strategies.

The Action Plan also contains actions the Australian Government has initiated in the course of developing the Action Plan.
These include: • work to lay the foundations for the launch of a National Disability Insurance Scheme, which will provide people with disability with access to care and support services they need over the course of their lifetime, including funding of $1 billion for the first stage from the Australian Government • establishing a new National Children’s Commissioner within the Australian Human Rights Commission • • ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture investigating ways that the justice system can address the needs of people with a mental illness and/or cognitive disability (including intellectual disability and acquired brain injury) • undertaking a review of reservations under the seven core international human rights treaties 6 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Protection and promotion of human rights in Australia Australia has a strong record of protecting and promoting human rights both domestically and abroad.
The Australian Government will continue to implement Australia’s Human Rights Framework; continue to positively engage with the UN human rights system; promote the role of national human rights institutions and promote human rights in the Asia Pacific region and internationally.

Human rights education will remain a key priority.


The Australian Government has recently overseen the passage of legislation that establishes parliamentary procedures for scrutinising new legislation for compatibility with our international human rights obligations and will continue to implement those new arrangements.

Protections against discrimination will be simplified to make compliance easier.
Reservations under the seven core international human rights treaties to which Australia is a party will be reviewed.

Australia will also work to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture.

Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline AGD, states and territories Introduction and passage of model legislation in each jurisdiction to provide for international monitoring 2012–13.

Ratification of the OPCAT by 2013.


AGD Consult with states and territories, relevant Australian Government agencies and civil society and finalise review by the end of 2012.

Priority area Action 1 Australia’s international human rights commitments2 2 234 The Australian Government will continue to work with states and territories to move towards ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT)3.
A National Interest Analysis proposing ratification was tabled in Parliament on 28 February 2012.

The OPCAT was considered by the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Treaties and reported in June 2012 and recommended that binding treaty action be taken.

The next step will be introduction and passage of model legislation in each jurisdiction to provide for international monitoring.
Following passage of legislation for international monitoring, Australia anticipates lodging an instrument of ratification with the United Nations, together with its proposed declaration under Article 24 of the OPCAT, to delay commencement of domestic monitoring obligations for up to three years.
The Australian Government will review4 its reservations under the following international human rights instruments: • International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR): Articles 10.2, 10.3, 14.6 & 20, • Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW): Articles 11.1 & 11.2, • Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD): Article 4, • Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC): Article 37(c) The Australian Government will place this review on the agenda of the Standing Council of Treaties for consultation with state and territory governments.
2 UPR Rec 17 (Sweden): A (accepted); UPR Rec 18 (France): PA (accepted-in-part); UPR Rec 19 (Jordan): PA; UPR Rec 20 (Argentina): A; UPR Rec 34 (France): A; UPR Rec 35 (Austria): A; UPR Rec 36 (Jordan): A; UPR Rec 37 (Norway): PA; UPR Rec 135 (Algeria): A; UPR Rec 141 (Lao People’s Democratic Republic): A; UPR Rec 144 (Cambodia): A; UPR Rec 145 (Chad): A 3 UPR Rec 1 (Republic of Moldova): A; UPR Rec 2 (Azerbaijan): A; UPR Rec 3 (Maldives): A; UPR Rec 4 (New Zealand): A; UPR Rec 5 (Mexico): A; UPR Rec 6 (Denmark): A 4 UPR Rec 13 (Hungary): PA; UPR Rec 14 (Republic of Korea): A; UPR Rec 15 (South Africa): PA; UPR Rec 16 (Denmark): PA 7 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action Australia’s international human rights commitments (continued) The Australian Government will formally consider its position on the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances5.
Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline AGD Completion by end of 2013.

The Australian Government is currently considering its position on the Third Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child which opened for signature on 28 February 2012.

AGD Mid 2013.

The Australian Government will review its position on International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries6.
DEEWR, AGD, FaHCSIA, states and territories The Australian Government will continue to maintain a publicly accessible database of United Nations human rights treaty body recommendations.

AGD Australian, state and territory governments to commence consideration of Australia’s compliance with the convention in 2012, in consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representatives and Australia’s ILO social partners.

Database updated on a regular basis.

AGD Ongoing.

AusAID By 2015–16.


AusAID, DFAT Ongoing.

The Australian Government will continue to adhere to the provisions in the Extradition Act 1988 (Cth) regarding surrender in cases where a person may be subjected to torture or where the offence for which extradition is sought is punishable by the death penalty.

The Australian Government will increase aid to 0.5 per cent Gross National Income.
The Australian Government will work with the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Asia- Pacific Forum, the Commonwealth secretariat and the Pacific Islands Forum to promote human rights in the region, with: • $175,000 to be provided to the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2012 to build linkages with the ASEAN (Association of South-East Asian Nations) Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights • $2.6 million to be provided to the Asia-Pacific Forum over four years (2011–14) • $150,000 to be provided to the Australian Human Rights Commission to support its role as Chair of the Commonwealth Forum of National Human Rights Institutions 56 5 UPR Rec 7 (Thailand): PA; UPR Rec 8 (France): PA; UPR Rec 9 (Argentina): PA 6 UPR Rec 11 (Bolivia): PA; UPR Rec 12 (Norway): A 8 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline Australia’s international human rights commitments (continued) • $1.6 million to be provided to the Australian Human Rights Commission for program management of Australia-Vietnam Human Rights Technical Cooperation Program Phase four, and • $9.4 million to be provided to the Australian Human Rights Commission over four years (2012–16) for Australia-China Human Rights Technical Cooperation Program.
The Australian Government will continue promoting human rights through official aid programs.

The Australian Government will continue funding support for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

The Australian Government provided $2.35 million to OHCHR in 2011–12.

The Australian Government will continue to build the capacity of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.
This will include $175,000 to be provided to the Australian Human Rights Commission in 2012 to build linkages with the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights, focusing on corporate social responsibility and human rights.
The Australian Government will continue implementing the first disability strategy for the aid program (2009–14) — Development For All, including: • providing support for people with disability to advocate for rights and influence decision making through the Disability Rights Fund (DRF).
Australian support has enabled the DRF to expand to include Indonesia and Pacific Island countries, contributing to advocacy efforts in Indonesia, which ratified the CRPD in November 2011, providing $3.2 million since 2008 • in Cambodia, where Australia assisted the Government to develop disability rights legislation which now forms a solid legal basis to end discrimination, and • in PNG, with support for accessible elections, including through involvement of disability organisations.
The Australian Government will continue resourcing the International Pro Bono Advisory Group to support pro bono work internationally.

This group’s work will help to promote human rights and the rule of law in the region and address law and justice challenges confronting Pacific partners.
In support of the group’s work, in 2011 the Australian Government provided the Law Council of Australia with $450,000 over three years to establish and administer a clearinghouse to coordinate requests from the Asia-Pacific region for pro bono assistance to Australia and to administer an associated disbursement fund.

AusAID, DFAT Ongoing.

AusAID, DFAT Ongoing.

AusAID, DFAT Ongoing.

AusAID 2009-14.

AGD Ongoing.


9 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline 15 Australia’s international human rights commitments (continued) The Australian Government will provide the Australian Human Rights Commission $300,000 over three years from 2011–12 to help representatives of people with disability participate in key international forums on human rights.
FaHCSIA Allocate funds to support attendance by delegations of disability peak organisations and disability advocacy organisations at key CRPD related and key international human rights forums.

Target — Minimum of eight delegates (includes delegate carers) supported per annum and 100 per cent of funds allocated by June 2014.
16 Legal protections7 The Australian Government will continue ensuring that the Australian Human Rights Commission is empowered and funded to resolve complaints of discrimination, including ensuring it is accessible and equitable to all.

The Australian Government will develop legislation to consolidate Commonwealth antidiscrimination laws to remove unnecessary regulatory overlap, address inconsistencies across laws and make the system more user-friendly.
It will also consider the design of the compliance regime and complaints processes.

The Victorian Government will amend the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 consistently with its response to the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee’s review of the Charter Act.

The Department of Justice will monitor the effectiveness of the new Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic), which commenced operation on 1 August 2011.

AGD, AHRC Ongoing.
AGD, AHRC Ongoing.

AGD Release exposure draft legislation for consultation in late 2012.

Department of Justice (Vic) Ongoing.

Department of Justice (Vic) Ongoing.

The South Australian Equal Opportunities Commission will accept and conciliate complaints made by disadvantaged and vulnerable groups who experience discrimination in areas of public life.

SA Attorney- General’s Department Ongoing.


The Tasmanian Government will bring amendments before Parliament in 2012 following a review of its Anti-Discrimination Act 1998 (Tas).

The review focused on easier access to complaint processes and earlier resolution of complaints.

Tas Government The Anti-Discrimination Amendment Bill 2012 was tabled in Parliament on 25 September 2012.
The Tasmanian Government will continue to consider and consult its community about the adoption of a charter of human rights and responsibilities.

Tas Government Ongoing.

The ACT Government has passed amendments to include the right to education in the Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT).

ACT Government Human Rights Amendment Bill 2012 was passed on 29 August 2012.

The ACT Government has referred the review of the Discrimination Act 1991 (ACT) to the ACT Law Reform Advisory Council.

ACT Government 2013–14.
7 UPR Rec 27 (Bolivia): A; UPR Rec 23 (United States): A; UPR Rec 46 (Morocco): A; UPR Rec 98 (Brazil): A; UPR Rec 100 (Israel): PA 10 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action 25 Australia’s Human Rights Framework8 26 8 The Australian Government will prioritise human rights education by: • providing grants to NGOs to develop and deliver community education and engagement programs to promote a greater understanding of human rights • investing $3.8 million in an education and training package for the Australian Government public sector, including developing guidance materials for public sector policy development and implementation of government programs • providing $6.6 million over four years to the Australian Human Rights Commission to expand its community education role on human rights and to provide information and support for human rights education programs, and • enhancing support for human rights education in primary and secondary schools by continuing to work with states and territories and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority to include human rights and principles across the Australian curriculum, ensuring that human rights forms a part of student learning.
The Australian Parliament will continue to play a role in the implementation of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 (Cth) (commenced on 4 January 2012) which: • establishes a Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights which will provide greater scrutiny of legislation for compliance with Australia’s international human rights obligations under the seven core United Nations human rights treaties to which Australia is a party, and • requires all new Bills and disallowable legislative instruments to be accompanied by a statement assessing its compatibility with the rights in the seven core United Nations human rights treaties to which Australia is a party.
In accordance with the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2011 (Cth), the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission has been appointed as a permanent member of the Administrative Review Council.

Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline AGD, DEEWR, DIAC Funding expended by 2013–14.
AGD The Australian Government will consider the effectiveness of the new Committee’s powers, the content and function of Statements of Compatibility and the definition of ‘human rights’ as part of the 2013–14 review of Australia’s Human Rights Framework.

AGD will respond to any relevant Committee recommendations in a timely way.
8 UPR Rec 49 (Cambodia): A; UPR Rec 21 (Timor-Leste): PA; UPR Rec 30 (Azerbaijan): A; UPR Rec 42-45 (United Kingdom, India): A & PA; UPR Rec 57 (Thailand): A; UPR Rec 58 (Japan): A; UPR Rec 96 (United States): A; UPR Rec 143 (Poland): A 11 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline 27 Australia’s Human Rights Framework (continued) The Australian Government has introduced a Bill into the Parliament that amends the Australian Public Service Values to include a new value— Respectful: The APS respects all people, including their rights and heritage.
PM&C The Public Service Amendment Bill 2012 (Cth) was introduced on 1 March 2012.

Progress on the draft Public Service Commissioner Directions on the values is ongoing.

AGD Ongoing.

The Australian Government over time will review legislation, policies and practices for compliance with the seven core UN human rights treaties to which Australia is a party.
The review of legislation will incorporate a number of key elements, including: • identification of priority areas within portfolios particularly relevant to human rights for review, and • ensuring that human rights obligations are considered as part of legislation reviews proposed in other contexts.

Reviews will be designed to suit the particular circumstances.

For example, a review at the time of introducing substantial amendments to an Act may be appropriate.
In some cases, the Government may ask the new Joint Committee on Human Rights to review particular legislation, while in others, a review team may be established or existing bodies may undertake a review.

Views expressed by UN human rights bodies will be taken into account in identifying areas for review.
28 12 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society The human rights concerns of the general community There are a number of specific human rights issues that Australians expect governments to act on.
These include continuing to improve access to justice; properly balancing the need for security with individual liberty, particularly in Australia’s counter-terrorism arrangements; combating people trafficking; addressing climate change; ensuring decent working conditions; and assisting the disadvantaged.

To ensure access to justice, the Australian Government will amongst other things support legal aid services through the National Partnership on Legal Assistance Services.
The Government will develop a stronger evidence base for the federal civil justice system to inform access to justice policy and program delivery.

The Australian Government will also continue promoting a culture of dispute resolution through a range of policies.

Australia’s counter-terrorism arrangements will be subject to rigorous ongoing monitoring, as will the use of force by police services.
To combat people trafficking in our region, the Australian Government will work with other countries and emphasise prevention, detection and investigation, prosecution and victim support.

The Australian Government will put a price on carbon emissions and provide targeted financial compensation to help people meet resulting increases in the cost of living.

Australia’s workplace relations legislation will continue to balance the interests of Australian employees, employers and their representatives.
A national parliamentary review will investigate workplace bullying.

The Australian Government will also maintain a social security system that helps those most in need, and will progress its social inclusion agenda.
Priority area Action Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline 29 Access to Justice9 10 31 The Australian Government will build a stronger evidence base for the civil justice system (the Civil Justice Evidence Base Project) to help ensure compliance with the objectives identified in the Strategic Framework for Access to Justice in the Federal Civil Justice System, and to inform future access to justice policy and program decisions.
The project will be progressed in consultation with the civil justice sector and relevant work being undertaken within AGD.

A working group comprising key civil justice stakeholders and data and research experts has been established to help AGD establish a civil justice data collection, research and evaluation framework.

The Australian Government will respond to the Family Law Council’s reports into Indigenous and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Clients in the family law system.
The Attorney-General provided terms of reference to the Family Law Council in November 2010.

Council provided its reports on 27 February 2012.

Governments will implement the National Partnership on Legal Assistance Services.

The current National Partnership on Legal Assistance Services will be reviewed.
It will establish an evaluation framework for monitoring the efficiency, effectiveness and quality of Commonwealth legal assistance services (ie legal aid commissions, family violence prevention legal services, community legal services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander legal services).

AGD Ongoing – the project is a long-term one that may take many years.

AGD proposes holding a forum in May 2013 to inform state and territory representatives of the project and seek their input.

AGD Ongoing.
AGD Ongoing.

AGD, states and territories National Partnership Agreement ends on 30 June 2014.

The review of the National Partnership on Legal Assistance will run from May 2012 to June 2013.

9 9 UPR Rec 82 (Hungary): A; UPR Rec 92 (Bolivia): A 13 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action The Australian Government will maintain and expand the Access to Justice website and monitor feedback.
The website draws together information about all levels of the civil justice system, including legal and non-legal assistance providers, alternative dispute resolution services providers, government delivery services, courts, tribunals and related professional assistance services in Australia.

See www.accesstojustice.gov.au.
The Australian Government will promote a dispute resolution culture that focuses on early intervention and resolution, including through: • the Civil Dispute Resolution Act 2011 (Cth), to encourage parties to take genuine steps to resolve their disputes before considering entering the court system • supporting the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council • promoting the use of alternative dispute resolution, and • continuing to ensure the availability of non- legislative systems and programs that provide access to fair, simple, effective assistance for family matters, including family dispute resolution services.
The Australian Government will fund clinical legal education programs, including family law focused programs that increase law students’ awareness of social justice and equity issues in the legal system, including participating in alternative dispute resolution.

The Government has committed $1.46 million over four years commencing in 2010.
The Victorian Government provides various Family Violence programs, including a Family Violence Court Division and Specialist Family Violence Services at various Magistrates’ Court sites.

Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline AGD Ongoing.

AGD Ongoing.

AGD Ongoing.

Department of Justice (Vic) Legislation for Family Violence Court Division sunsets in 2013.
Performance indicators include accountability of persons who have used violence against family members, simplification of access to the justice system for affected family members, and enhanced safety of affected family members and affected children.

The Victorian Government supports the CREDIT/ Bail Support Program run through the Magistrates Court.

The Program supports those on bail with the longer term aim of reducing the involvement of persons in the criminal justice system.
Department of Justice (Vic) Ongoing.

The Victorian Government supports the Criminal Justice Diversion Program for first time offenders.

Department of Justice (Vic) Performance indicators include recidivism rate and program completion numbers.
32 Access to Justice (continued) 33 34 35 36 37 14 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action 38 Access to Justice (continued) 39 40 41 42 43 44 The Victorian Government provides programs to support offenders who have special circumstances or complex needs, such as drug or alcohol dependency, diagnosed mental illness or are experiencing homelessness, through the Drug Court in Dandenong, the Enforcement Review Program, the Homeless Persons’ Liaison Officer Program, and the Court Integrated Services Program at three Magistrates’ Court sites.
The Victorian Government will continue supporting the Neighbourhood Justice Centre, which is a multijurisdictional court that offers a range of services to support victims, offenders, civil litigants and residents.

The South Australian Government will maintain its commitment to respecting victims’ rights.

It will monitor the effectiveness of the Victims of Crime Act 2001 (SA), including the Declaration of Principles Governing Treatment of Victims of Crime.
The South Australian Government will continue providing opportunities for victims of crime to participate in the criminal justice system, including Young Offender Family conferencing, Victim- Offender Adult Conference in the Magistrates Court, individual and neighbourhood victim impact statements and written/oral submissions to the Parole Board.

It will continue to provide services to victims of crime, including counselling, information and advocacy.
It will also continue to fund a range of peak non-government services from the Victims of Crime Fund.

Victims of crime may be eligible, where appropriate, for financial assistance through the South Australia statutory compensation scheme, which also provides for discretionary payments to assist with the installation of security devices to protect victims of violent crime and to pay for crime scene clean-up, as appropriate.
The South Australian Government (via the Commissioner for Victims’ Rights) will provide assistance to citizens of South Australia who become victims of crime in other places.

The Tasmanian Government continues to pursue the adoption of problem solving courts including the Mental Health Diversion Court and Mandated Drug Diversion with a view to addressing long term harms.

Approximately $2 million has been allocated per annum.
Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline Department of Justice (Vic) Performance indicators include rehabilitation of offenders, recidivism rates, number of custodial sentences received upon completion of the Court Integrated Services Program.

Department of Justice (Vic) Funded to June 2013.

SA Attorney- General’s Department Ongoing.

Initiatives implemented.

SA Attorney- General’s Department Ongoing.

Provision of services.

SA Attorney- General’s Department Ongoing.


Provision of support.

SA Attorney General’s Department Ongoing.

Provision of support.

Tas Government Ongoing.

15 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline Tas Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government N/A ACT Government Inquiry report tabled 23 February 2012.

Government response tabled in June 2012 sittings Ongoing (INSLM).

2013 (COAG Review).
PM&C (INSLM) AGD (COAG Review – Secretariat) Priority area Action 45 Access to Justice (continued) 46 47 48 49 Counter- terrorism10 10 The Tasmanian Government has introduced a range of specialist services to assist witnesses to understand and participate in court processes, including family violence court support and liaison, family violence child witness program, a serious crime witness assistance program run through the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and a victims’ of crime compensation scheme.
Approximately $9 million has been allocated per annum.

The ACT Government, working with the ACT Supreme Court, has developed a range of improvements to criminal and civil procedures based on a new docket case management system.

The system will reduce delay, streamline process and ensure the right of fair trial.

The ACT Government provided funding during 2011–12 and 2012–13 for a ‘blitz’ of existing matters to assist transition to the new docket system.
The ACT Government tabled a final response to the declaration of incompatibility with the Human Rights Act 2011 (ACT), issued by the ACT Supreme Court in 2010 in relation to a bail provision, in May 2012.

In June 2012, the Government consulted with ACT justice stakeholders about the Government position on the statement of incompatibility.

Any further work in this area will be considered by the Government of the 8th Assembly.
Following an Inquiry in 2011, the ACT will implement a number of amendments to the Prostitution Act 1992 (ACT), and to administrative practices, with a view to improving the health and safety of sex workers in the ACT and their clients.
The Australian Government will continue to ensure that the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) has the power to review the practical operation, effectiveness and implications of Australia’s counterterrorism and national security legislation on an ongoing basis.

The INSLM’s first annual report was tabled in Parliament on 19 March 2012, in accordance with the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010.
The Inspector General of Intelligence and Security (IGIS) and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) will also provide additional oversight mechanisms that complement the work of the INSLM.
10 UPR Rec 136 (Brazil): A; UPR Rec 137 (Russian Federation): A; UPR Rec 138 (Belgium):A; UPR Rec 139 (Republic of Moldova): A UPR Rec 140 (Switzerland): A 16 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline Counter- terrorism (continued) 50 The use of force by police11 51 52 53 People trafficking, slavery, and slavery-like practices12 54 1112 In addition, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) is undertaking a review of key provisions of Australia’s counter-terrorism legislation which were enacted following the 2005 London bombings (this includes both Commonwealth and state and territory legislation).
The Review is being conducted by an independent committee, chaired by the Hon Anthony Whealy QC.

Full details of the Review are available at: www.coagctreview.gov.au.

The Australian Government will ensure that complaints about the Australian Federal Police are investigated thoroughly, within benchmark timeframes, oversighted appropriately by the Commonwealth Ombudsman and with the Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner.
The Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency is developing an overarching principle- based framework for use of force by police.

The Victorian Government will make a range of changes to the oversight process, including designing an oversight/investigation framework and principles, to ensure continued accountability and best practice in deaths related to use of force by police members in the course of their duties.
The Australian Government will continue to support victims of trafficking through the Support for Trafficked People Program, involving case management for victims of trafficking who have been referred by the Australian Federal Police, regardless of the purpose for which they were trafficked and, initially, whether they are willing or able to assist in the criminal justice process.

The Support Program is demand driven.

It receives ongoing funding of $0.755 million per year.
Additional funding to meet demand was allocated for the following years: • $130,000 in 2009–10 • $300,000 in 2010–11 and 2011–12 • $300,000 for each of the next three years (2012–13, 2013–14 and 2014–15).

The Australian Government will fund the Australian Red Cross to develop and deliver a training package to assist community service providers to better understand the complex needs of victims of people trafficking and how best to support them.
The Australian Red Cross were provided with a one-off payment of $126,690 in 2011.

AGD Ongoing.

ANZPAA Commenced in 2011.

Vic Government Pilot commenced in 2010.

FaHCSIA Ongoing.

FaHCSIA 2011-13.


11 UPR Rec 88 (Islamic Republic of Iran): PA; UPR Rec 89 (Malaysia): A 12 UPR Rec 83 (Thailand): A, see also UPR Rec 86 (Azerbaijan): A; UPR Rec 134 (Thailand): A; UPR Rec 84 (Indonesia): A; UPR Rec 85 (Philippines): A; UPR Rec 87 (United States): A 17 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline AGD Ongoing.

AFP, CDPP Ongoing.

ACC, AFP Ongoing.

AGD 2011–12.

AFP 2011-13.


Priority area Action The Australian Government will monitor Australia’s strategy to combat people trafficking to ensure it is in line with international best practice, including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Principles and Guidelines.

The Australian Government will continue to investigate and criminally prosecute trafficking offenders.
The AFP has established specialised Human Trafficking Teams (HTTs), which have responsibility for investigating people trafficking related offences.

The HTT National Coordinator is based in Canberra, with dedicated HTTs in Sydney and Melbourne.

AFP members who are specially trained in people trafficking matters are also located in Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin and Perth.
For trafficking matters in other locations, the HTTs can draw upon additional support from the AFP’s broader crime operations function which has members located in each capital city.

The Australian Government will have access to intelligence related to human trafficking through a centralised intelligence network maintained by the Australian Crime Commission.
Such intelligence will inform investigative strategies and build a better understanding of the activities, and methodologies of people trafficking networks.

The Australian Government will continue to review criminal sanctions for people trafficking and slavery to ensure that law enforcement has the best tools available to investigate and prosecute perpetrators.
On 30 May 2012, the Australian Government introduced the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Slavery, Servitude and People Trafficking) Offences Bill (the Bill) into Parliament.

The Bill strengthens the capacity of investigators and prosecutors to combat people trafficking in all its forms, including by introducing new offences of forced marriage, forced labour, servitude and organ trafficking.
The Bill was passed by the House of Representatives on 22 August 2012, and is currently being considered by the Senate.

The Australian Government will implement the Australian Policing Strategy to Combat Trafficking in Persons 2011–13, including ensuring that Australia’s anti-trafficking strategy remains relevant and responsive to emerging trends and issues.

An implementation plan has been agreed to by all state and territory police services and AFP.
It identifies a number of objectives and initiatives to be delivered jointly by the various policing jurisdictions during the term of the strategy.

55 People trafficking, slavery, and slavery-like practices (continued) 56 57 58 59 18 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline AusAID Ongoing.

AusAID 2010-14.

FWO Ongoing.

FWO Ongoing.


DIAC The Migration Amendment (Reform of Employer Sanctions) Bill 2012 was introduced into Parliament on 19 September 2012.

DFAT, AGD, DIAC Ongoing.


Priority area Action 60 People trafficking, slavery, and slavery-like practices (continued) 61 62 63 64 65 The Australian Government will continue to strengthen the criminal justice sector in the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) region with a focus on prosecution, judicial and law enforcement responses to people trafficking.
A new program with a focus on the criminal justice sector is being designed to build on the successes of the Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons Program.

The resources commitment is $50 million over five years commencing in 2013.

The Australian Government will work with the International Labour Organisation to protect migrants from labour exploitation in the South-East Asian region.

Funding of $10.5 million has been allocated over four years commencing in 2010.
The Australian Government will educate employers about their rights and responsibilities under workplace laws and investigate suspected contraventions of the law.

The Australian Government will initiate civil proceedings against employers of migrant workers for serious contraventions of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).
The Australian Government will undertake reforms to the employer sanctions framework to ensure that direct action can be taken against those who employ or refer for work non-citizens who do not have lawful permission to work or who work in breach of their visa conditions.

The reforms will introduce new non-fault civil penalties and infringement notices and new powers to gather documentary evidence.
They will also retain the current criminal penalties with aggravated offences available against those who would exploit migrant workers.

The reforms, which are based on the recommendations of the 2010 Review of the Migration Amendment (Employer Sanctions) Act 2007, will provide a more effective deterrent.

The Australian Government will continue its commitment to the Bali Process as the pre- eminent forum on people smuggling, trafficking in persons and transnational crime in the region.
It will work with other members to: • address and enhance the region’s response to irregular migration, including trafficking in persons, under the auspices of the Regional Cooperation Framework, and • implement the Bali Process Ministerial directives to build the capacity of regional States to combat people trafficking through technical experts meetings, seminars, workshops and/or specific research programs.
19 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline People trafficking, slavery, and slavery-like practices (continued) The Australian Government provided $5.2 million over four years (2011–12 to 2014–15) to fund the establishment and ongoing operation of the Bali Process Regional Support Office (RSO).
The RSO will facilitate the implementation of the Regional Cooperation Framework and promote greater information sharing and practical cooperation, including on trafficking issues.
The Australian Government will continue to work with countries in our region to encourage ratification and implementation of the key international legal instruments used in the fight against people trafficking and people smuggling, particularly the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime and its supplementary protocols on people trafficking and people smuggling.
The Australian Government will also continue to engage in relevant regional mechanisms and international bodies, including the United Nations, to encourage ratification and implementation of these legal instruments.
The Australian Government will continue to work with ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) and the ILO (International Labour Organisation) to strengthen regional cooperation and standard setting to combat people trafficking and labour exploitation of migrants, and produce regional public goods to help implement these standards.
The Australian Government will continue to support the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s undertaking – a Transnational Organised Crime Threat Assessment for East Asia and the Pacific – in order to determine the size and nature of transnational organised crime threats in the region, including people trafficking and people smuggling, and to better inform national and regional responses.
The Australian Government will continue to provide technical assistance to countries in the region with law enforcement, immigration and legal frameworks to improve capacity to combat people trafficking.

DIAC has committed $1.3 million for 2011–12 for technical skills training to border and immigration officials in 25 countries.

Within the AFP, Human Trafficking Teams work closely with the AFP’s International Network to deliver regional and joint operational outcomes.
Human Trafficking Team personnel also provide training.

DFAT, AGD Ongoing.

DFAT, AusAID Ongoing.

DFAT 2011–12.

AGD, AusAID, AFP, DIAC Ongoing.


66 67 68 69 20 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline For example, in July 2012, the AFP partnered with the US-funded International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) in Bangkok to deliver a two week International Human Trafficking Program to 48 police investigators and prosecutors from 10 Asian countries.
AGD works with law and justice agencies in partner countries to strengthen legal and operational frameworks and capacity to address people trafficking and related transnational crime.

The Australian Government will hold a national parliamentary review into workplace bullying.

To be undertaken by the House Standing Committee on Education and Employment, the review will look at the nature, causes and extent of workplace bullying.
It will also consider proposals to prevent bullying cultures developing in the workplace and help individuals affected by bullying to return to work.
The Australian Government will continue to implement and monitor the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth), which achieves the right balance between the interests of Australian employees, employers and their representatives by providing a strong safety of terms and conditions of employment, collective bargaining and protections from discriminatory and unfair treatment in the workplace.
The Australian Government commissioned a review of the Fair Work legislation in early 2012, which found that the legislation is operating largely as intended, and made a series of recommendations aimed at enhancing fairness and productivity in the workplace.

The Australian Government is consulting widely in developing its response to the Review.
The Australian Government will implement legislation to abolish the Australian Building and Construction Commission and remove a range of industry-specific regulations, including laws that provide broader circumstances under which industrial action attracts penalties.

People trafficking, slavery, and slavery-like practices (continued) 70 Workers’ rights13 71 72 13 DEEWR Report expected late 2012.

DEEWR Ongoing.
DEEWR Ongoing.

DEEWR The Fair Work (Building Industry) Act 2012 and the Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate, known as Fair Work Building and Construction commenced operating on 1 June 2012, achieving the Australian Government’s objectives.
13 UPR Rec 100 (Israel): PA 21 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline DCCEE Ongoing fixed carbon price scheme from 1 July 2012 moving to a flexible price from 1 July 2015.

Financial assistance under the Clean Energy Future plan is being delivered since commencing from the middle of 2012.

Ongoing Carbon Farming Initiative from 8 December 2011.
Ongoing climate finance funding is being delivered to developing countries.

Ongoing.

PM&C, FaHCSIA, AGD, states and territories.

73 Climate Change14 74 Poverty15 The Australian Government recognises that climate change presents an additional challenge to the maintenance of human rights.

Climate impacts could, inter alia, place additional stress on resources and food security and weaken local and regional stability.
The Australian Government is assisting global efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change by: • committing to reduce national carbon emissions by 5 to 15 per cent or 25 per cent, depending on international action, below 2000 levels by 2020 • implementing the Clean Energy Future Plan, including a carbon price and financial assistance for those who need help the most, particularly pensioners and low and middle-income households • implementing the Carbon Farming Initiative, a national offsets scheme that reduces carbon pollution through land management and restoration projects – including the $22 million Indigenous Carbon Farming Fund that encourages Indigenous Australian participation • working with Australian businesses and communities to prepare for the unavoidable impacts of domestic climate change; while also providing financial assistance overseas to meet the high-priority adaptation needs of vulnerable countries, particularly those in the Asia-Pacific region.
Governments will continue to implement policy and programs consistent with the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion Agenda which promotes economic, social and cultural rights, including by reducing disadvantage and increasing social, civic and economic participation.
In particular, the Social Inclusion Agenda has a specific focus on the following priority areas, which seeks to reduce social and economic disadvantage in Australia: • targeting jobless families with children to increase work opportunities, improve parenting and build capacity • improving the life chances of children at greatest risk of long term disadvantage • reducing the incidence of homelessness • improving outcomes for people living with disability or mental illness and their carers • closing the gap for Indigenous Australians, and • breaking the cycle of entrenched and multiple disadvantage in particular neighbourhoods and communities.
1415 14 UPR Rec 31 (Maldives): PA 15 UPR Rec 32 (Ghana): PA; UPR Rec 33 (Pakistan): PA; UPR Rec 50 (Vietnam): A; UPR Rec 142 (Lao People’s Democratic Republic): A 22 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority area Action 75 Poverty (continued) 76 77 The Tasmanian Government’s Economic Development Plan includes a priority to create job and training opportunities for young people leaving school in communities with high levels of youth unemployment and inter-generational unemployment.
In 2012, the Tasmanian Government will deliver a pilot employment program for disadvantaged young people, with structured support for their parents and family in southern Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Government will continue to progress policies and programs to reduce disadvantage and alleviate cost of living pressures, consistent with A Social Inclusion Strategy for Tasmania (2009), the Cost of Living Strategy for Tasmania (2011) and Food for All Tasmanians: A Food Security Strategy (2012).
Funding of $7 million has been allocated for 2011–14.

The ACT Government has developed an ACT Targeted Assistance Strategy in response to cost of living pressures on low income households, including the development of an Assistance Website.

The website includes information on the wide range of supports and concessions currently available to the ACT community.

Lead agency/ jurisdiction Performance indicator/ timeline Tas Government 2012.

Tas Government Ongoing.


ACT Government The Targeted Assistance Strategy and the Assistance website were launched by the Chief Minister on 16 April 2012.

23 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society The human rights experience of specific groups in Australia A number of groups within Australian society are particularly vulnerable to disadvantage and discrimination.
These include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, women, children and young people, older people, gay, lesbian, bisexual and sex and/or gender diverse people, people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, people with disability, carers, people in prison and refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and people with diverse backgrounds.

Many people fall into two or more of these categories and, as a result, may experience intersectional disadvantage or discrimination.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face unacceptable levels of disadvantage in living standards, life expectancy, education, health and employment.

Current data shows a significant gap in these critical areas between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous populations.

The Australian Government’s priority action to address Indigenous disadvantage is the Closing the Gap Strategy.
The Strategy covers the key areas of health, housing, work and education through mainstream and Indigenous specific National Agreements.

The Australian Government supports a range of initiatives to assist with greater involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in policy advice and decision making, including through support for the establishment of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.
Constitutional recognition for Indigenous Australians is also being progressed and consultations were held around the country by a government-appointed Expert Panel on options that could be put to a referendum.

The Australian Government will ask the Parliament to pass an Act of Recognition acknowledging the unique and special place of our first peoples.

This Act will be an important step towards holding a successful referendum to change the constitution to recognise Indigenous people.
The Australian Government reinstated the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) in relation to the Northern Territory Emergency Response, and is committed to ensuring that all further actions taken by the Government will comply with the Act.

The Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory legislation enacted in 2012 repealed the Northern Territory Emergency Response legislation and makes it clear that the Stronger Future laws do not affect the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.
Governments will also address issues relating to the overrepresentation of Indigenous Australians in the justice system and community safety through continued support for law and justice initiatives, including targeted legal assistance.

Priority Action 78 Self- determination and consultation16 The Australian Government is working with the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples to better involve Indigenous Australians in government decisions affecting them.
The Australian Government is providing $29.2 million to support the National Congress.

In September 2012, Australian Government agencies and the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples finalised a Framework within which the Government agencies and National Congress can effectively engage on matters of importance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

16 Lead agency FaHCSIA Performance indicator/ timeframe Ongoing.
Funding for the establishment of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples covers almost a five year period.

Mechanisms as set out in the Funding Agreement between Commonwealth agencies and Congress.
16 UPR Rec 26 (Slovenia): A; UPR Rec 102 (United Kingdom): PA; UPR Rec 103 (Slovenia): PA; UPR Rec 106 (Bolivia, Ghana, Hungary and Denmark): PA; UPR Rec 107 (Guatemala): A; UPR Rec 108 (Bolivia): A; UPR Rec 109 (Bolivia): A; UPR Rec 110 (Bosnia and Herzegovina): A; UPR Rec 111 (Mexico): A; UPR Rec 104-5, 107 (France): A; UPR Rec 106 (Bolivia and et al): PA; UPR Rec 113 (Austria): A; UPR Rec 120 (Morocco): A.
24 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 79 Self- determination and consultation (continued) 80 81 82 The Australian Government will continue to strengthen native title arrangements by: • considering possible reforms to promote leading practice in native title agreements and the governance of native title payments • providing ongoing resources (including $82 million in 2011–12) to support the ongoing capacity and operations of native title claimant representative bodies • establishing a new research scholarship for native title representative bodies to increase the skills and retention of research staff, and • committing $1.4 million over three years for a native title anthropologist grants program to attract a new generation of junior anthropologists and encourage senior anthropologists to remain.
The Australian Government will continue work to embed its Indigenous Engagement Framework within Commonwealth agencies.

The Stronger Futures legislation passed by the Australian Government in 2012 was informed by the successive consultations with Aboriginal peoples in remote Northern Territory communities since 2008 and provides for a sustainable, long-term approach to supporting Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory.
The Australian Government will continue to support specific initiatives to empower Indigenous women, including the: • Indigenous Leadership Activity program • Indigenous Women’s Grants program, and • National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance (NATSIWA).

To ensure effective gender representation, the structure of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples includes two co-chairs, one of which must be female.
Women are also provided with equal representation on the National Congress’ Ethics Council, which oversees the body’s ethical standards and membership appointments.

The Australian Government is working towards recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution.
In December 2010, the Australian Government appointed an Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians to consider, consult and advise on how best to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution.

The Australian Government received the Expert Panel’s report, Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Australian Constitution, on 19 January 2012, including recommendations for changes to the Constitution.
Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe AGD, FaHCSIA Ongoing.

This brings capacity development funding in the native title system to over $3.5 million in 2011-12.

FaHCSIA Ongoing.

Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012 was passed by the Australian Parliament in June 2012.

FaHCSIA Leadership Programs ongoing.

FaHCSIA, AGD Australian Government funding for the Reconciliation Australia led community awareness initiative covers a two year period, ending 30 June 2014.
Bill to be introduced by end 2012.

25 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe Self- determination and consultation (continued) On 15 February 2012, the Australian Government announced $10 million to help build public awareness and community support for the recognition of the First Australians in our Constitution.
This important work is being led by Reconciliation Australia, supported by a reference group of business and community leaders.

The funding will support community groups and activities and give Australians the opportunity to learn more about constitutional recognition.

On 20 September 2012, the Australian Government announced it will be introducing a Bill into the Parliament by the end of 2012 to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a step towards a successful referendum.
The Victorian Government will support public participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders through the Aboriginal Inclusion Framework, Local Indigenous Networks, the Aboriginal Heritage Council, and the Enabling Choice for Aboriginal People Living with Disability.

The Victorian Government will ensure a wholeofgovernment coordinated approach to Aboriginal Affairs across relevant government agencies through the Victorian Indigenous Affairs Framework (VIAF) 2010–13.
The South Australian Government will review the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (SA) which is designed to preserve and protect Aboriginal heritage by means of planning and development and native title integration and recognition.

The South Australian Government will review the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 1966 (SA) which is designed to preserve and maintain Aboriginal land ownership.
The South Australian Government will administer the South Australian Aboriginal Advisory Council which will provide high level confidential advice to the State Government on public policy development.
The South Australian Government will have a Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement who is responsible for publicly advocating for engagement between the broader community and Aboriginal people, and who advises on systemic barriers for Aboriginal peoples’ access and full participation in government, non-government and private services.

83 84 85 86 87 88 26 Ongoing.

2010–13.

Consultation on the draft Bill is anticipated to commence in June 2012.

Bill anticipated to be introduced into Parliament in 2012.
Bill anticipated to be introduced into Parliament in 201213.

Ongoing.

Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic) Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic) SA Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division SA Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division SA Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division SA Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Division Commissioner appointed by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation.

Ongoing.
Ongoing.

National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government 2010-13.

The fourth objective of the Agreement is to facilitate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people taking a leadership role in addressing their community justice concerns.

Ongoing.
Ongoing.

FaHCSIA, DEEWR, COAG, DOHA, States and Territories Priority Action 89 90 91 Health, housing, work and education17 17 The ACT Government is strengthening collaborative relationships with the democratically elected representatives of the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community, especially in relation to monitoring progress on Closing the Gap in Indigenous disadvantage.
The ACT Government, together with the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, has developed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Agreement 2010-2013.

The Agreement provides a higher level of understanding and mutual commitment to addressing the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT law and justice system, improving their community safety and overcoming social exclusion.
Governments will continue to implement the Closing the Gap Strategy, including through the National Indigenous Reform Agreement, relevant mainstream National Agreements and National Partnership Agreements, and the Indigenous- specific National Partnership Agreements on Remote Service Delivery, Remote Indigenous Housing, Indigenous Health Outcomes, Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory, Indigenous Economic Participation and Indigenous Early Childhood Development, focused on achieving the following targets: • close the life expectancy gap within a generation (by 2031) • halve the gap in mortality rates for Indigenous children under five within a decade (by 2018) • halve the gap for Indigenous students in reading, writing and numeracy within a decade (by 2018) • ensure all Indigenous four year olds in remote communities have access to quality early childhood education within five years (by 2013) • halve the gap for Indigenous 20–24 year olds in Year 12 or equivalent attainment rates by 2020, and • halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and nonIndigenous Australians within a decade (by 2018).
17 UPR Rec 101 (Malaysia): A; UPR Rec 115 (Singapore): A; UPR Rec 114 (France): A; UPR Rec 116 (Thailand): A; UPR Rec 117 (Jordan): A; UPR Rec 118 (Belgium): A; UPR Rec 119 (Islamic Republic of Iran): A.

27 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe DoHA Ongoing.

FaHCSIA state and NT governments Mechanisms set out in the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing.
The Australian Government will develop the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan to progress the work that the Government is undertaking to close the gap in life expectancy and infant mortality.

The Plan will be developed with the advice of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equality Council and an advisory group co-chaired by the Department of Health and Ageing and the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples.
The Australian Government will continue to address the significant level of housing needs in remote Indigenous communities through its $5.5 billion investment in the National Partnership on Remote Indigenous Housing.

Since the commencement of the National Partnership Agreement on Remote Indigenous Housing on 1 January 2009, 1401 new houses have been completed and 4676 houses have been rebuilt and refurbished nationally (as at 30 June 2012).
The Social Housing Initiative provides $5.238 billion for new construction over three and a half years, from 2008–09 to 2011–12.

A further $400 million was allocated over two years from 2008–09 to 2009–10 to undertake repair and maintenance work that benefited existing social housing dwellings.

Of the over 16,400 dwellings for which tenant data is available (at 30 June 2012), over 2200 (14 per cent) went to Indigenous people.
The National Partnership Agreement on Social Housing provided $400 million to build around 1950 new dwellings.

The increased supply of housing will contribute to reducing homelessness and improving outcomes for homeless and Indigenous Australians.

As at 30 June 2012, over 1800 dwellings had been completed.

Of the over 1800 dwellings for which tenant data is available, over 1200 went to Indigenous people.
Priority Action 92 Health, housing, work and education (continued) 93 94 28 Governments will implement the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan 2010–14.

DEEWR, States and Territories The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan will see activity through to 2014 and will be the foundation for work in this space beyond 2014.
National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 95 Health, housing, work and education (continued) The Australian Government will promote and implement the actions contained in the Indigenous Economic Development Strategy (IEDS) 2011–18.

• Every three years, the Australian Government will update the actions embedded in the IEDS in order to respond to emerging opportunities.
• The Australian Government will work with state and territory governments to identify opportunities to work together, and will encourage state and territory governments to develop their own strategies for Indigenous economic development.

Lead agency DEEWR FaHCSIA Performance indicator/ timeframe An interagency Indigenous Economic Development Reference Group will monitor and evaluate progress against the actions.
96 97 98 99 100 101 102 The Victorian Government supports the Koori Youth Alcohol and Drug Healing Service, a rehabilitation service for young people.

Department of Health (Vic) Ongoing.

The Victorian Government provides culturally appropriate support and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women during pregnancy, birth and in the immediate period after birth through the Koori Maternity Services.
The Victorian Government supports the Victorian Advisory Council on Koori Health and the Aboriginal Health Expert Advisory Board to bring Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal experts together to advise on government policy.

The South Australian Government will deliver the Aboriginal Transitional Housing Outreach Service (ATHOS).
ATHOS is a homelessness response for transitional Aboriginal people from regional and remote communities presenting in Coober Pedy and Adelaide who are at risk of rough sleeping or contributing to overcrowding in already existing tenancies.
The South Australian Government, through the SA Health Aboriginal Health Care Plan, will continue to prioritise the needs of Aboriginal people with particular emphasis on developing culturally appropriate models of care and reducing Aboriginal hospital self-discharge rates.

The South Australian Government will continue to deliver Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care Programs and Services.
The South Australian Government will continue to support the delivery of culturally appropriate Aboriginal smoking cessation programs, marketing and health promotion initiatives.

Department of Health (Vic) Ongoing.

Department of Health (Vic) Ongoing.

SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Housing SA) SA Department for Health and Ageing SA Department for Health and Ageing SA Department for Health and Ageing 2011–13.

Delivery of programs to Coober Pedy and Adelaide.

Ongoing.
Ongoing.

Services delivered.

Ongoing.

Services delivered.

Ongoing.

Services delivered.

29 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Second half of 2013.

FaHCSIA $26.6 million over four years (2009–13).


Priority Action 103 Health, housing, work and education (continued) 104 105 106 107 The stolen generations and stolen wages The ACT Alcohol and Drug Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer continues to provide services to help divert people apprehended for alcohol and other drug use or related alcohol and other drug offences from the judicial system into the health system.

A weekly clinic is run at the Alexander Maconochie Centre.
The ACT Mental Health Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officer provides consultation and liaison to mental health teams, youth and adult medical services and other stakeholders, to assist in the delivery of services.
The ACT funds the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Service Dual Diagnosis Program that provides a dual diagnosis outreach worker to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who are experiencing issues relating to drug, alcohol, emotional, or social wellbeing including mental health and suicide.

The Outreach worker also coordinates the provision of integrated mainstream services and Aboriginal community controlled services for clients and their families.
The ACT Government is developing the Ngunnawal Bush Healing Farm which involves the establishment of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residential rehabilitation service implementing culturally appropriate prevention and education programs.

The service model is that of a therapeutic community in which people voluntarily choose to enter a residential community for personal growth and rehabilitation.
The Australian Government is supporting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Foundation to provide services to address trauma experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians due to past government policies, with a strong focus on the unique needs of people who were forcibly removed from their families as children.
The Stolen Generations Working Partnership was established by the Australian Government in May 2010 to address the immediate and practical needs of the Stolen Generations.

It provides a platform for the Australian Government and Stolen Generations to work together to respond to priority issues.
The Victorian Government will fund Connecting Home Ltd, which delivers a range of public education, advocacy, case management, healing and support and services for Aboriginal people affected by past child removal policies.

Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic) 2012 –13.

108 30 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe FaHCSIA, AGD All measures are consistent with the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).
Ongoing.

FaHCSIA, AGD, DEEWR, DoHA, DHS, NT Government Ongoing.

FaHCSIA, state and territory governments Priority Action 109 Freedom from discrimination18 110 111 18 The Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) was fully reinstated in relation to the Northern Territory Emergency Response as of 31 December 2010.
The Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory legislation repealed the Northern Territory Emergency Response Act 2007 and includes provisions that make it explicit that the Stronger Futures laws do not affect the operation of the Racial Discrimination Act.
The Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory legislation complements a 10-year Australian Government commitment to work with Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory to build strong, independent lives, where communities, families and children are safe and healthy.

Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory is a $3.4 billion investment and responds directly to what Aboriginal people told the Australian Government was important to them.
The Australian Government is working with Aboriginal people in both big and small communities to support more local jobs, tackle alcohol abuse and encourage kids to go to school, as well as provide basic services, including health, education and police.
The Service Delivery Principles for Indigenous Australians, agreed by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), provide that all government agencies are required to make provision for Indigenous interpreters in the services and programs they fund and deliver to enable equitable access to services.

COAG has agreed that the Commonwealth should develop a national framework, working with the states and the Northern Territory, for the effective supply and use of Indigenous language interpreters.
During 2012, the Australian Government is working with the states and territories to develop a National Indigenous Interpreters Framework.

Governments will work with the Indigenous interpreting sector and other stakeholders to develop the Framework.

18 UPR Rec 24 (Norway): PA; UPR Rec 25 (Canada): A; UPR Rec 112 (Indonesia): A.

31 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe AGD, FaHCSIA Ongoing.
Recommendations that relate to areas of state and territory responsibility are raised through Ministerial Councils in 2012, including the Standing Council on Law and Justice (raised April 2012) and the Standing Council on Police and Emergency Management.

The Australian Government will monitor implementation of responses specifically relating to its responsibility.
FaHCSIA, AGD, DEEWR, DoHA, DHS, Commonwealth and NT Governments As set out in the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory National Partnership Agreement with the NT Government.

Priority Action 112 Community safety and the justice system19,20 113 1920 The Australian Government is working with states and territories and Indigenous people to improve community safety and to address the over representation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system, both as offenders and as victims.
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs report Doing Time – Time for Doing: Indigenous Youth in the Criminal Justice System, released in June 2011, again raised concern at the level of Indigenous over-representation in the justice system, which is particularly acute amongst Indigenous young people.
The Australian Government tabled its response to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs report Doing Time – Time for Doing: Indigenous Youth in the Criminal Justice System on 24 November 2011, accepting all 40 recommendations in whole, in part or in principle.

The Australian Government will work with States and Territories to address the key issues raised.
The Australian Government is working closely with states and territories to implement the response.
Through the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory package, the Australian Government is providing $619 million over ten years to: • ensure the Northern Territory Government can continue employing 60 full-time Northern Territory police officers in 18 remote communities • health – primary health care services, hearing and oral health, workforce supplementation, child abuse trauma counselling, alcohol and other drug support services • maintain community night patrols across 80 communities • continue additional funding for legal assistance services • continue child protection, drug and alcohol policing units • continue to tackle alcohol abuse • continue to support the community night patrols in remote Aboriginal communities.
These night patrols employ over 300 Aboriginal people in local jobs.

19 UPR Rec 90 (Russian Federation): A; UPR Rec 92 (Bolivia): A; UPR Rec 93 (Austria): A; UPR Rec 94 (Austria): A; UPR Rec 95-96 (Austria, United States): A.
20 32 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe Community safety and the justice system (continued) The Australian Federal Police (AFP) will provide presentations on secure and appropriate social networking targeted to school aged children.
Over the last six months, AFP (High Tech Crime Operations-Crime Prevention) has made two trips as part of the Stronger Choices Campaign and delivered the presentation to 2,466 young people.

In March 2012, the AFP also provided NT Police with training to enable future delivery and customisation of the program by the NT Police.
The Australian Government and other relevant agencies will work on development of community safety plans in identified regional growth towns under the Remote Service Delivery National Partnership Agreement.
Under the plans relevant service agencies across three tiers of government will be responsible for implementing actions identified by the community across law and justice, child protection, homelessness, alcohol and other drugs, domestic and family violence, environmental design and health and education.

The Australian Crime Commission’s National Indigenous Intelligence Task Force (NIITF) is building a national picture of the nature and extent of violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities.
The NIITF was announced in July 2006 as part of a whole-of-government response to violence and child abuse in remote, rural and urban Indigenous communities and has recently been extended until mid-2014.

The NIITF’s extension is part of the Australian Government’s Building Stronger Communities in the Northern Territory initiative, and will focus on child abuse and violence across remote Indigenous communities.
The NIITF’s intelligence holdings and analysis provide Australian governments with valuable information about the nature and extent of violence and child abuse in remote Indigenous communities, and inform policies and programs that improve community safety within Indigenous communities.

The NIITF is also supporting the development of a Cross Border Family Violence Information and Intelligence Unit for the remote communities within the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (APY Lands).
The Cross Border Family Violence Information Unit will facilitate and encourage lawful exchange of information between police, agencies and service providers, to enable the timely and appropriate victim and offender management to tackle domestic violence and improve the safety, health and wellbeing of families and children in the APY Lands.
33 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 114 Community safety and the justice system (continued) The Australian Government will continue to monitor Indigenous deaths in custody through the Australian Institute of Criminology’s Deaths in Custody Monitoring Program.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe AGD, AIC Ongoing.
The Australian Government will continue to implement the National Indigenous Law and Justice Framework in partnership with state and territory governments.

AGD, state and territory governments 2009–14.

AGD Ongoing.

FaHCSIA, AGD, NT Government Increased number of trained interpreters employed by the NT AIS.
The Australian Government will continue to provide funding for legal assistance services, including: • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) whose priority clients are those detained or at risk of being detained in custody.

This includes funding of $199.1 million over three years commencing in 2011.

• Family Violence Prevention Legal Services (FVPLS) for victims/survivors of family violence with all services being provided in rural and remote locations.
This includes funding of $58.4 million over three years commencing in 2010.

• Indigenous women’s projects which help meet the legal assistance needs of Indigenous women (through the Commonwealth Community Legal Services Program).

This includes funding of $4.5 million over four years commencing in 2010.
The Australian Government is continuing to provide funding to build the capacity of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Interpreter Service (NT AIS), as part of a 10 year funding commitment under the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory National Partnership Agreement.

The Australian Government is also continuing to provide funding to support free access to interpreters for Northern Territory law and justice and health agencies and AGD funded legal service providers.
The Commonwealth and Northern Territory Governments are working together to encourage agencies to increase their use of Indigenous interpreters when needed, as an ongoing service delivery practice, in the rollout of service and programs in the Northern Territory.

The Australian Government will trial the Sworn Community Engagement Police Officers Program in eight remote Indigenous Communities in the Northern Territory.

AGD An evaluation of the trial will be undertaken.


The trial is over two years, finishing on 30 June 2013.

The Australian Government will implement the Indigenous Family Safety Agenda, which aims to reduce Indigenous family violence through four priority action areas: focusing on addressing alcohol abuse, more effective police protection, strengthening social norms against violence and coordinating family violence support services.

FaHCSIA Ongoing.
FaHCSIA Ongoing.

115 116 117 118 119 34 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 120 Community safety and the justice system (continued) The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner will focus on addressing lateral violence within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe AHRC Annual Social Justice Report and Native Title Reports.
121 122 123 124 125 126 The Victorian Government supports the Koori Courts division of the Magistrates Court, which allows greater participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the court processes.

The Victorian Government supports Wulgunggo Ngalu Learning Place – a residential diversion program for up to 20 Indigenous adult males who are serving community sentences.
The Victorian Government will implement the third phase of the Victorian Aboriginal Justice Agreement, which is part of a program encouraging members of the Koori community to participate fully in the design and delivery of Department of Justice programs that have an impact on them.

The Victorian Government will continue implementing the Indigenous Family Violence plan.
Department of Justice (Vic) Department of Justice (Vic) Department of Justice and Department of Human Services (Vic) Department of Planning and Community Development (Vic) The South Australian Government will implement the Cultural Inclusion Strategy: Building Cultural Competency in Youth Justice Practice.
The key aim of this strategy is to promote cultural competence and to optimise rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes for Aboriginal children and young people in juvenile justice, in an effort to ‘break the cycle’ of reoffending.

SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Youth Justice) A Stage One evaluation measured completion of orders.

A Stage two evaluation is currently being developed.

Anticipated release of third phase is late 2012.


An independent evaluation of the second phase has been completed and is informing the development of the third phase.

2008–18.

Progress on objectives under the Family Violence Plan is reported through the Department of Planning and Community Development’s Corporate Quarterly Reporting and the annual Victorian Government Indigenous Affairs Report.

Support provided.

SA Department for Correctional Services Ongoing.


Staff engaged in cultural competence and awareness initiatives.

The South Australian Department for Correctional Services will: • build cultural competence across the Department • run Prevention of Aboriginal Deaths in Custody fora • offer cultural awareness programs to new and existing Correctional staff • engage the Aboriginal community in programs, and • aim to increase Aboriginal staffing levels.
35 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency ACT Government Performance indicator/ timeframe A two year report card on the progress of the Agreement was tabled in the August 2012 assembly sitting period.

ACT Government Ongoing.


Under the ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Agreement 2010–13 the ACT Government aims to: • improve community safety and improve access to law and justice services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT, and • reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the criminal justice system as both victims and offenders.
The ACT‘s Galambany Circle Sentencing Court is a culturally sensitive and specialist sentencing process for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander defendants who have pleaded guilty to an offence.

The Circle Court, best described as a step in the sentencing proceeding rather than a standalone court, was introduced in the ACT in 2004 and attempts to address offending behaviour within a culturally sensitive framework.
The Northern Territory Government will implement measures that relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

NT Government The Northern Territory Government will implement measures to increase driver training and licensing to reduce incarceration for traffic related offences.

NT Government Ongoing.

Ongoing.


In the Northern Territory the Justice (Corrections) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2011 will introduce two new sentencing options in the Sentencing Act 1995 (NT), called Community- Based Orders and Community Custody Orders.

NT Government Ongoing.


127 Community safety and the justice system (continued) 128 129 130 131 36 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Women Australia is committed to the protection of the human rights of all women.
The physical and emotional abuse of women continues to be a significant issue in Australian society and the Australian Government is progressing a range of initiatives including the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children (2010–22) and funding support services for victims of sexual assault and domestic and family violence.
The Australian Government recognises that there is still work to be done in the area of gender equality, particularly gender equality in leadership positions in Australian society.

The Australian Government has committed to achieving a minimum of 40 per cent representation of both women and men on Australian Government Boards.

Freedom from discrimination will continue to be a priority area for the Australian Government.
The Australian Government will consider recommendations of a Parliamentary Committee inquiry into the effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and will remove gender restrictions in the Australian Defence Force.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has reviewed the treatment of women at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and is currently reviewing the effectiveness of cultural change strategies and initiatives required to improve leadership pathways for women in the Australian Defence Force.

Priority Action 132 Freedom from violence21 Governments will implement the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children (2010–22).
133 134 135 136 21 States and territories will retain legislation to criminalise violent conduct and sexual assault together with mechanisms to prosecute and punish perpetrators.

State and territory governments will continue to provide services to victims of violence including counselling.
Victims of violence may be eligible, where appropriate, for financial assistance through state and territory based victims of crime compensation schemes Anyone who has experienced, or is at risk of, domestic and family violence, and/or sexual assault can access 1800RESPECT, the Australian Government’s national professional telephone and online counselling service on 1800 737 732 and www.1800RESPECT.org.au.
The Australian Government has introduced laws to Parliament that will criminalise forced marriage, and other measures that will provide appropriate protection for victims.

Lead agency FaHCSIA, states and territories States and territories Performance indicator/ timeline Implementation of national priorities is guided by three-year action plans.

Ongoing.

States and territories Ongoing.

FaHCSIA Ongoing.

AGD Ongoing.
21 UPR Rec 47 (Viet Nam): A; UPR Rec 73 (Islamic Republic of Iraq): A; UPR Rec 74 (Switzerland): A; UPR Rec 76 (Azerbaijan): A; UPR Rec 77 (Canada): A; UPR Rec 78 (Switzerland): A; UPR Rec 79 (Norway): A; UPR Rec 80 (Mexico): A; UPR Rec 82 (Hungary): A; UPR Rec 81 (Philippines): A 37 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency AGD, states and territories Performance indicator/ timeline The Australian Government is working with the states and territories to agree on a timeline for the introduction of the Scheme.
AGD, states and territories 2012–13.

AGD Ongoing.

AHRC 2012.

2011–14.

Department of Human Services (Vic) 2011–13.

Department of Human Services (Vic) 2011–14.

Department of Human Services (Vic) Priority Action The Commonwealth, state and territory Attorneys- General agreed in March 2011 to develop a National Domestic Violence Order Scheme to ensure people protected by a Domestic Violence Order (DVO) remain protected if they move interstate.
The scheme will be underpinned by legislation in each state and territory that will automatically recognise domestic and family violence orders throughout Australia.

The Australian Government is working with the states and territories to develop model mutual recognition legislation and to identify and implement information sharing capabilities.
Governments will respond to the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) and New South Wales Law Reform Commission (NSWLRC) 2010 Report on Family Violence to achieve a more coordinated response to family violence.

The Australian Government will continue to provide funding to legal assistance services with a focus on raising awareness about family violence, including helping victims to access compensation.
Funding of $59.5 million over three years, commencing in 2010, will be provided to Indigenous Family Violence Prevention Legal Services, and $2.6 million over four years, commencing in 2010, will be provided to Australian Government Community Legal Services.

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) will develop resources to assist bystanders to address sexual harassment in the workplace.
The Victorian Government will offer training to specialists and mainstream providers of health, disability and drug and alcohol rehabilitation services under the Family Violence Risk Assessment and Risk Management Framework.
The Victorian Government will continue to support the Eliminating Violence against Women Media Awards, which recognises responsible media reporting of family violence and sexual assault and the Media Advocacy Project, which trains and supports victims of violence against women to be advocates for media interviews and public events.
The Preventing Violence in Our Community Program, run through local councils brings together the community, schools, workplaces, sporting organisations and local media to deliver initiatives and educational resources to reduce violence in local communities.
137 Freedom from violence (continued) 138 139 140 141 142 143 38 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 144 Freedom from violence (continued) 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 The South Australian Government will implement A Right to Safety: The Next Phase of the Women’s Safety Strategy 2011–22, which includes: • Violence Against Women Regional Collaborations • Violence Against Women Alliance Network, and • Family Safety Framework.
The South Australian Government will provide health services and programs targeted to vulnerable groups of women or women at risk, including women who have experienced domestic violence or sexual assault.

Lead agency SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Office for Women) SA Department for Health and Ageing Performance indicator/ timeline 2011–22.

Initiatives developed and implemented.

Ongoing.

Services delivered.


The South Australian Government will review and implement its women’s health strategy and action plans to further develop and improve women’s specific as well as generic health services.

SA Department for Health and Ageing Ongoing.

Services delivered.

The Tasmanian Government continues to strengthen its whole of government Safe at Home strategy, which includes specific family violence legislation, victim support programs, proactive policing and offender intervention.
Approximately $5 million per annum will be provided across government.

The Tasmanian Government will progress its implementation of the First Action Plan 2010–13: Building a Strong Foundation of the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2012–22.

A major focus is strengthening primary prevention activity.
The ACT Government will continue to implement Our Responsibility: Ending violence against women and children 2011–2017, the ACT Prevention of Violence Against Women and Children Strategy.

The strategy outlines key priorities aligned with actions under the National Plan to reduce violence against women and their children.

The ACT Government will continue to implement women‘s safety audits for public events and in public spaces.
The ACT Government will continue to promote public discussions and forums about violence against women and children.

Tas Government Ongoing.

Tas Government Ongoing.

ACT Government The ACT Governance Group endorsed the implementation plan on 14 August 2012.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.


39 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 152 Freedom from violence (continued) 153 Gender equality in public life22 154 155 22 The Northern Territory Department of the Attorney- General and Justice and the Department of Families and Children are jointly leading a whole of government ‘Integrated Response to Family Violence’ (IFVP) project in Alice Springs.
The three year, $3.26 million project is funded by the Alice Springs Transformation Plan, a joint Northern Territory and Australian Government initiative which aims to improve life outcomes for Aboriginal residents in Alice Springs and their visitors.

The IFVP approach is in line with international and national research that identifies best practice in addressing family violence.

The project is also consistent with the COAG National Plan to Reduce violence Against Women and the Children 2010–2022.
The Australian Government has committed to achieving a minimum of 40 per cent representation of both women and men on Australian Government Boards and through the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency, will continue to work with the private sector to achieve gender balance in private sector leadership ranks and forums.

The Australian Government has released its National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2012–18.
This National Action Plan consolidates and builds on the broad program of work already underway in Australia to integrate a gender perspective into peace and security efforts, protect women and gir.ls’ human rights, particularly in relation to gender-based violence, and promote their participation in conflict prevention, management and resolution.
The National Action Plan implements United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325) and related resolutions under the United Nations Women, Peace and Security agenda.

The Australian Government, in partnership with UN Women, launched a documentary Side by Side: Women, Peace and Security.
An accompanying educational toolkit was also developed, which together with the documentary will be used as a training and practical awareness raising tool for peacekeepers, civilians and humanitarians working in the women, peace and security space.

The South Australian Government will aim to improve women’s participation in leadership positions, particularly as members of State Government boards and committees and as executives in the public sector as outlined in South Australia’s Strategic Plan.
Lead agency NT Government (DCF, DoJ) Performance indicator/ timeline 2011 – KPMG independent evaluation.

Ongoing.

FaHCSIA, DoFD By 2015.

FaHCSIA 2012–18.

Participation rates of women in leadership positions.

By end 2014.
SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Office for Women) 22 UPR Rec 51 (Norway): A; UPR Rec 53 (South Africa): A; UPR Rec 54 (Japan): A; UPR Rec 55 (Norway): PA; UPR Rec 56 (Botswana):A; UPR Rec 99 (Israel): PA 40 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 156 Gender equality in public life (continued) 157 158 Freedom from discrimination23 159 160 Hobart Women’s Health Centre is funded by the Tasmanian Government to provide a range of services and programs to support Tasmanian Women to increase their knowledge, skills and action for informed self-determining of their health and wellbeing.
The Centre also offers an advocacy voice that provides a feminist perspective on public policy that affects the lives of women across the state.

The Australian Government will consider the recommendations made by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee in its 2008 inquiry on the effectiveness of the Sex Discrimination Act 1984, as part of the project to consolidate Commonwealth anti-discrimination laws into a single Act.
The Tasmanian Government supports and promotes the ‘Play by the Rules’ initiative which promotes sporting cultures that are inclusive and free of harassment and discrimination.

The Tasmanian Women’s Plan is a framework being developed to help ensure government actions are responsive to the needs of women and girls and are representative of their views for the next five years and into the future.
The Plan focuses on economic security, financial independence, education and training, health and wellbeing, housing, leadership, safety and justice.

The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has reviewed the treatment of women at the Australian Defence Force Academy (ADFA) and the effectiveness of cultural change strategies and initiatives required to improve leadership pathways for women in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The Department of Defence’s comprehensive response this and other reviews into Defence Force culture, the Pathway to Change: Evolving Defence Culture, outlines how the recommendations of the reviews will be implemented consistently with the wider Defence reform program.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeline Tas Government Ongoing.

AGD Exposure draft legislation due in 2012.

Tas Government Launched 2008 and reviewed and re-launched 2012.

Tas Government Ongoing.


AHRC, Defence Implementation of the Defence cultural reviews will incorporate implementation of the Review into the Treatment of Women at ADFA.

Part Two of the AHRC Review, considering the treatment of women in the wider ADF, was released on 22 August 2012.

The Australian Government and Department of Defence have agreed in-principle to accept the recommendations of the Review.

Policy to be fully implemented over the next five years.
161 Women in the Australian Defence Force The Australian Government has committed to removing gender restrictions in the Australian Defence Force, including removing the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) reservation and Sex Discrimination Act 1984 (Cth) exemption.

Defence 23 23 UPR Rec 48 (Islamic Republic of Iran): A; UPR Rec 52 (Israel): A.

Note that legislation to strengthen the Sex Discrimination Act was also passed in May 2011.
41 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Children and young people The Government will implement a range of initiatives aimed at protecting the human rights of children and young people, particularly in the area of freedom from violence.

The Australian Government has introduced legislation on 1 June 2012 to prioritise the safety of children in family law proceedings.
In the area of juvenile justice, community legal centres that target young people will continue to provide legal information and assistance in relation to the matters that most affect young people.

Youth suicide and selfharm remains a significant issue in Australia and the Government is investing in a National Mental Health Reform package including prevention and early intervention mental health services for children and young people.
The Australian Government has also recently established a National Children’s Commissioner within the Australian Human Rights Commission to promote the rights, wellbeing and development of children and young people in Australia.

Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe The Australian Human Rights Commission will develop the performance indicators for the Children’s Commissioner.

Legislation commenced on 7 June 2012.

The screening and risk assessment tool was developed (mid-2012).
AGD Ongoing.

AGD AGD AGD Australia has established a National Children’s Commissioner within the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Legislation to create the role of Children’s Commissioner was passed in June 2012 and the new Commissioner is expected to take office in early 2013.

The Australian Parliament has passed legislation to prioritise the safety of children in family law proceedings.

The legislation also sends a clear message that family violence and child abuse are unacceptable.
The Australian Government has committed to a common screening and risk assessment tool to identify safety risks for clients across the family law system.

The Australian Government funded the development of the AVERT training package, which aims to provide professionals within the family law system with a sound and practical understanding of family violence, its impact and strategies for responding that promote safety for all involved.
The Australian Government is trialling a supported family dispute resolution model in cases where there is family violence and will assess the viability of the pilot and whether it justifies ongoing funding.

AGD The trial will run until 30 April 2013 and will be evaluated by the Australian Institute of Family Studies.
The Australian Government is working with the States and Territories to improve the interface between the federal family law system and the state and territory child protection systems to provide better outcomes for children.

The Australian Human Rights Commission has indicated that it will release tools to assist young people (12–14 years of age) to address cyber- bullying that they witness.

AGD Ongoing.

AHRC By June 2012.
162 Federal Children’s Commissioner24 163 Freedom from violence25 164 165 166 167 168 2425 24 UPR Rec 28 (New Zealand): PA; UPR Rec 29 (Poland): A 25 UPR Rec 72 (United States): A 42 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe 169 Freedom from violence (continued) The Victorian Government will monitor the effectiveness of recent amendments to stalking legislation related to prosecution of bullying offences.
Department of Justice (Vic) SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Office for Youth) SA Department for Education and Child Development SA Department for Education and Child Development ACT Government Ongoing.

The performance indicator is a reduction in workplace and school bullying.

2012–15.

Strategy developed.

Ongoing.

Initiatives developed.

2012–14.

Strategy developed.

Ongoing.

The Children and Young People Death Review Committee must report annually.
ACT Government Annually 2012–14.

DoHA 2011–15 Increased access for young people to primary mental health care services.

170 171 172 173 174 175 Suicide and self-harm 176 The South Australian Government will develop a Vulnerable Youth Strategy to assist all young people, especially those experiencing vulnerability in our communities, providing support to reach their full potential and transition from adolescence to adulthood.
The strategy will aim to improve systemic responses to young people who are vulnerable or at risk, through the development of a whole of government response.

The South Australian Government will support the establishment of child safe environments in government and non-government organisations across South Australia and monitor progress towards achieving this outcome.
The South Australian Government will work toward establishing South Australia’s first recognised UNICEF (United Nations Children Fund) Child Friendly City (a strategy aligned to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child).

The ACT, through internal reviews of child deaths, Coronial Inquiries and the newly established ACT Children and Young People Death Review Committee will consider evidence based measures to improve the safety of children and young people in the ACT.
The ACT will continue to monitor the health, wellbeing, learning and development of children and young people through the annual publication of Picture of ACT’s Children and Young People, to be tabled annually in the Legislative Assembly.

The Australian Government has committed to the expansion of headspace to 90 centres nationally by 2014–15 which will support 72,000 young people each year.

The Outreach Teams to Schools measure is also providing suicide postvention support to schools impacted by suicide.
Additionally, the Australian Government supports the MindMatters mental health initiative for Australian secondary schools.

MindMatters aims to increase a school’s capacity to implement a ‘whole school’ approach to mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention.
The South Australian Government will develop a Vulnerable Youth Strategy to assist all young people, especially those experiencing vulnerability in our communities, providing support to reach their full potential and transition from adolescence to adulthood.

The strategy will aim to improve systemic responses to young people who are vulnerable or at risk through the development of a whole of government response.

SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Office for Youth) 2012–15.
Strategy developed.

43 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe 176 Suicide and self-harm (continued) The South Australian Government will develop a Vulnerable Youth Strategy to assist all young people, especially those experiencing vulnerability in our communities, providing support to reach their full potential and transition from adolescence to adulthood.
The strategy will aim to improve systemic responses to young people who are vulnerable or at risk through the development of a whole of government response.

SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Office for Youth) 2012–15.

Strategy developed.
Strategy developed.

The Tasmanian Government will continue to implement the mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention framework, Building the Foundations for Mental Health and Wellbeing and Tasmania’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2010–14, and will develop an alcohol, tobacco and other drugs promotion, prevention and early intervention strategic framework.
The Tasmanian Government remains committed to supporting the children of parents with a mental illness through the statewide provision of Taz Kidz Clubs and Champs Camps in the community.

The National Framework for Protecting Australia’s Children 2009–2020 (the National Framework) was endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments on 30 April 2009 and is being implemented through a series of three-year action plans.
The First Action Plan 2009–12 was led by the Australian Government in partnership with state and territory governments and non- government organisations through the Coalition of Organisations Committed to the Safety and Wellbeing of Australia’s Children.

The First Action Plan laid a firm foundation for the second and future action plans of the National Framework.
The Second Action Plan 2012–15 of the National Framework was endorsed by the Standing Council on Community and Disability Services (SCCDS) on 17 August 2012.

National Standards for Out-of- Home-Care is an action area under the Second Action Plan.

The Victorian Government will monitor the effectiveness of the Charter for Children in Out- of-Home-Care and provide a range of associated tools for specific care populations, such as Aboriginal children and children with disability.

Tas Government Ongoing.


Tas Government Ongoing.

FaHCSIA, States and Territories The National Framework will continue until 2020.

The Second Action Plan 2012–2015 was endorsed by the Standing Council on Community and Disability Services (SCCDS) on 17 August 2012.

Ongoing.

Department of Human Services (Vic) The South Australian Government will provide health services targeted to vulnerable groups of young people and those in youth detention services.

SA Department for Health and Ageing Ongoing.


Services delivered.

177 178 179 Children in out- of-home care 180 181 44 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 182 Juvenile justice 183 184 185 The Australian Government will continue to fund community legal centres that target young people to assist with legal information and help in relation to the matters that most commonly affect young people through the Commonwealth Community Legal Services Program.
Funding of $1.8 million has been committed over four years commencing in 2010.

The South Australian Government will ensure young people in South Australian Training Centres are aware of their rights and ensure due process exists in relation to grievance procedures.
The ACT will continue to promote the best interests of children and young people through the implementation of the Blueprint for Youth Justice in the ACT, a 10 year strategic plan to improve outcomes for some of the most vulnerable children and young people in the ACT, especially those involved in the criminal justice system or those at risk of such involvement.
Implementation of the Blueprint for Youth Justice will focus on early intervention and prevention, diversion, therapeutic and cultural programming, family engagement and justice reinvestment.

The ACT Government allocated $2.076 million over four years to enhance youth justice services, particularly diversionary programs.
The After Hours Bail Support program (a 12 month pilot program), the Youth Drug and Alcohol Court (a two year pilot program) and Single Case Management (across Youth Justice) all commenced in 2011 as part of a suite of programs to divert young people from custody.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe AGD Ongoing.

Ongoing.

Initiatives developed.

SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Youth Justice) ACT Government Annual progress reports, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15.
ACT Government The After Hours Bail Support Service will be reviewed in late 2012 and the Youth Drug and Alcohol Court will be reviewed in 2013.

45 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Older People Older people can face a variety of concerns including age discrimination in workforce participation, a lower standard of living and issues relating to care services, financial security and financial abuse.
Australia has appointed a full time Age Discrimination Commissioner who will work with the Australian Law Reform Commission to undertake a review of Commonwealth laws to identify provisions that create barriers to workforce participation of older people.

This was a recommendation of the Australian Government’s Consultative Forum on Mature Age Participation, formed in February 2010 to provide advice on removing the barriers to employment participation for mature age people.
The Australian Government established the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians in March 2011 to produce independent reports examining how Australia can best harness the life experiences and intellectual capital of the older members of our community for Government consideration.

The Australian Government released its $41 million first stage response to the final report of the Advisory Panel on 18 April 2012.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan MP and the Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, the Hon Mark Butler MP announced the establishment of the Advisory Panel on Positive Ageing on 14 September 2012.
The Panel will build on the outstanding contribution made by the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians and its final report, Realising the economic potential of senior Priority Action Australians: turning grey into gold, and work with the Government on implementation and design of ageing policy.

In April 2012, the Australian Government announced the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package which provides $3.7 billion over five years.
It represents the commencement of a 10 year reform program to create a flexible and seamless system that provides older Australians with more choice, control and easier access to a full range of services, where they want it and when they need it.

The reforms give priority to providing more support and care in the home, better access to residential care, more support for those with dementia and strengthening the aged care workforce.
The Australian Government supports the work of the open-ended Working Group on Ageing which was established by the United Nations General Assembly on 21 December 2010.

The Working Group will consider the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and identify possible gaps and how best to address them, including by considering, as appropriate, the feasibility of further instruments and measures.
The Australian Government will continue to encourage approved aged care providers to meet their obligations relating to police checks for all relevant staff and unsupervised volunteers and compulsory reporting of reportable assaults to police and the Department of Health and Ageing.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe 186 Aged care The Australian Government will continue to promote quality residential aged care services.
DOHA 187 46 DOHA As part of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reforms, the Australian Government will increase the capacity of the National Aged Care Advocacy Program particularly in rural and regional areas of Australia.

Older people and their families will be provided with opportunities to have a greater say in the way care is provided to them and to better understand and exercise their rights.
Increased funding will also support additional training sessions for aged care providers and their staff so they can better understand and support the rights of aged care recipients.

The Australian Government will provide $2.7 million over five years from 2012–13.

Ongoing.

Percentage of providers with sanctions imposed where immediate and severe risk to safety, health or wellbeing of care recipients is identified.

Ongoing.
Ongoing.

Numbers of advocacy cases undertaken, general enquiries handled, and face- to-face education sessions provided, by rural and non- rural locations.
National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 188 Aged care (continued) 189 190 191 Elder abuse As part of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reforms, the Australian Government will expand the scope of the Aged Care Community Visitors Scheme to include visitors for people receiving care in the home, and to enable group visits in residential care.
The expansion will enable increased support for people with special needs, including veterans, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex communities.

It will also explore innovative methods of promoting social inclusion thorough the use of technology.

The additional Community Visitors Scheme funding will facilitate more than 348,000 visits to almost 32,000 aged care recipients in the first four years.
The Australian Government will provide $26.7 million over five years from 2012–13.

As part of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reforms, the Australian Government will provide increased funding to help ensure that sexual diversity does not act as a barrier to receiving high quality aged care in either community or residential settings.
The funding will support training within the aged care sector to improve the sensitivity of aged care staff to the specific needs of older people in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community.

The Australian Government will provide $2.5 million over five years.
The South Australian Government will implement strategies in line with the recommendations of internationally renowned ageing expert Dr Alexandre Kalache who is working with government and partner organisations as part of the South Australian Thinkers in Residence Program.

Dr Kalache’s residency will provide opportunities to examine issues around ageing in a holistic way to help make South Australia an age friendly state.
The Australian Government will continue to ensure older people receiving Australian Government funded services are protected by: • promoting the obligations of aged care providers subsidised through the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth) and Commonwealth HACC service providers that all staff and unsupervised volunteers have a current police check, or in some instances, recognise state-issued “working with vulnerable people” cards, and • promoting, across the residential aged care sector, the approved providers’ obligations under the Aged Care Act 1997 (Cth) to report incidents, allegations, and suspicions of unlawful sexual contact and/or unreasonable use of force to the police and the Department of Health and Ageing within 24 hours.
Lead agency DOHA Performance indicator/ timeframe Ongoing.

New models of community visiting developed and implemented by 30 June 2013.

DOHA 2012–2017.

Number of training sessions delivered, overall and in each state and territory, and number of attendees at each session.

SA Department for Health and Ageing (Office for the Ageing) DOHA Ongoing.

Residency report developed.

Ongoing.


Number of national staff and unsupervised volunteers at Australian Government funded residential and community aged care services who hold a current police check.

Number of national staff and unsupervised volunteers at aged care services, either funded or subsidised by the Australian Government, who hold a current police check.

Ongoing.
Ongoing.

47 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 192 Elder abuse (continued) The Australian Government will continue to provide funding through the Commonwealth Community Legal Services Program to enhance access to legal services for older Australians to uphold their rights.

The Government will provide $1.7 million over four years commencing 2010.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe AGD Ongoing.
193 194 195 196 Financial security 48 The Victorian Government will continue to support the Victorian Elder Abuse Prevention Strategy.

Department of Health (Vic) Ongoing.

The Tasmanian Government’s ‘Protecting Older Persons from Abuse’ Policy has been developed and in now in its implementation phase.

It includes areas such as law reform, practice guidelines and engagement.

The Government will provide $2.6 million over four years.

Tas Government 2010–14.


The ACT Government will continue to work towards reducing and preventing incidents of elder abuse through its Elder Abuse Prevention Program.

ACT Government Ongoing.

Treasury, AHRC New measures took effect on 1 July 2012.

The Australian Government established the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians on 30 March 2011 to examine how Australia can best harness the life experiences and intellectual capital of the older members of our community.
The Panel produced a series of independent reports, the last containing recommendations, for the Australian Government’s consideration.

The final report of the Advisory Panel was provided to the Government on 12 December 2011 and contained recommendations spanning seven themes: an ageing agenda, housing, participation, lifelong learning, active ageing, volunteering and philanthropy, and age discrimination.
The Australian Government released its $41 million first stage response to the final report of the Advisory Panel on 18 April 2012.

The Australian Government response addresses all of the Advisory Panel’s seven themes, responds positively to the majority of recommendations and includes a package of new initiatives that build on the Australian Government’s comprehensive agenda on ageing.
This includes $2.1 million to the Age Discrimination Commissioner over four years to undertake projects to address the stereotyping of older Australians through the media and among the broader Australian community.
In addition, this work will be continued by the newly established Advisory Panel on Positive Ageing, the role of which is to lead a national dialogue on ageing issues, and work with the Government on implementation and design of ageing policy, including in response to the recommendations of the Advisory Panel on the Economic Potential of Senior Australians.

They will also conduct targeted consultations on relevant issues.
In the next year, the Panel will be working on housing, lifelong learning, mature age employment, volunteering, philanthropy and seniors and the digital revolution.

National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 197 Financial security (continued) 198 Freedom from discrimination 199 200 The Superannuation Guarantee (Administration) Amendment Act 2012 (Cth) was enacted on 29 March 2012.
It will gradually increase the superannuation guarantee rate from 9 per cent to 12 per cent between 1 July 2013 and 1 July 2019.

This legislation will also abolish the current maximum age limit for employer superannuation guarantee contributions from 1 July 2013.

The increase in the Superannuation Guarantee rate will cost $740 million over the first two years, commencing in 2013–14 and excluding departmental costs.
The abolition of the maximum age limit will cost around $5 million over the first two years, commencing in 2013–14.

The Australian Law Reform Commission, with the involvement of Australia’s Age Discrimination Commissioner, will undertake a review of Commonwealth laws to identify provisions that create barriers to workforce participation of older people.
The Australian Government will continue to participate in the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group on Ageing, which has been established to consider the existing international framework of the human rights of older persons and identify possible gaps and how best to address them, including by considering, as appropriate, the feasibility of further instruments and measures.
The Tasmanian Government has adopted its second five year plan on positive ageing which seeks to address areas of disadvantage experienced by older persons.

This Plan will result in an inclusive ageing action plan to be launched.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe Treasury From 1 July 2013.

ALRC, AGD, AHRC 12 month reference, from March 2012.

Assessment and recommendations (if any) to be delivered in March 2013.

DFAT, AGD, DoHA Ongoing.

Tas Government Ongoing.


Inclusive Ageing Tasmania 2012–14 Strategy launched in August 2012.
49 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Gay, lesbian, bisexual and sex and/or gender diverse people The Australian Government has progressed significant reforms over recent years to address discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and sex and/or gender diverse people, including reforms to remove discrimination against same- sex couples from over 85 Commonwealth laws , and new guidelines make it easier for sex and/or gender diverse people to get a passport in their preferred gender.
The Australian Government will introduce new protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity as part of its consolidation of Commonwealth anti-discrimination legislation.

The Australian Government is currently looking into how and why data is collected on sexual orientation and gender identity within Australian Government records.

The aim of this review will be to establish a better evidence base for service provision and policy development.
The Australian Government will continue to work to ensure information on sex and gender is collected consistently across government and only where there is a legitimate purpose.

The Australian Government will work with the states and territories to develop a nationally consistent approach to legally changing sex.
Priority Action 201 Same-sex relationships26 202 203 204 205 206 207 The Australian Government supports a nationally consistent framework for recognition of same-sex relationships to be implemented by states and territories.

The ACT passed the Civil Unions Act 2012 to provide for legal recognition equal to marriage under territory law for couples who are not able to marry under the Marriage Act 1961 (Cth).
The ACT Government has improved the process for recognition of partnerships registered in other jurisdictions.

The Civil unions Act 2012 includes mutual recognition provisions for civil union-type relationships entered into in other jurisdictions.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe AGD, states and territories Ongoing.

ACT Government ACT Government The Civil Unions Act 2012 was notified on 4 September 2012 and commenced on 12 September 2012.

Recognition of all eligible relationships.


Completion September 2012.

The Australian Government will introduce new protections against discrimination and harassment based on sexual orientation and gender identity, as part of the project to consolidate Commonwealth anti-discrimination law into a single Act.

AGD Exposure draft legislation due in second half of 2012.
The Australian Government will amend data collection to allow for or encourage disclosure of sexual orientation and gender identity to establish a better evidence base for service provision and policy development.

The South Australian Equal Opportunity Commission accepts complaints of discrimination, provides information and liaises with interest/ advocacy groups to identify issues affecting the gay, lesbian, bisexual and sex and/or gender diverse community.
The Tasmanian Government remains committed to developing a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Suicide Prevention Action Plan as an action under Tasmania’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 2010–14.

AGD, ABS In time to input into 2016 census reform, ongoing for other agencies.

SA Attorney- General’s Department (Equal Opportunity Commission) Tas Government Ongoing.

Support provided.

Ongoing.


26 26 UPR Rec 69 (United Kingdom): A 50 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe 208 Sex and/or gender diverse people The Australian Government will work with the states and territories to develop a nationally consistent approach to legally changing sex.

AGD, states and territories Ongoing.


209 210 211 212 213 The Australian Government is developing national guidelines across the Australian Government public sector agencies to ensure sex and gender information is collected consistently across government and only where there is a legitimate purpose, and to build consistency in the way gender may be changed in Commonwealth records.

AGD Draft guidelines will be released for public consultation in late 2012.
The Australian Government will support the implementation of the recently issued guidelines to make it easier for sex and gender diverse people to get a passport in their preferred gender.

DFAT The guidelines were released on 14 September 2011.

On 15 September, the first passport was issued using the guidelines.

The guidelines are ongoing.


The Victorian Government will implement recently published service guidelines on Gender Sensitivity and Safety to set out what is required of mental health, alcohol and other drug and psychiatric, disability and rehabilitation support services and practitioners to provide gender sensitive care for women, men and people who identify as transgender or intersex.

The Victorian Government is establishing a Ministerial Advisory Committee on GLBTI health and wellbeing.
The Victorian Government will develop a health and wellbeing plan for GLBTI Victorians in the Victorian Health Priorities Framework 2012–22.

The South Australian Government will develop resources that increase the awareness of the needs of young people who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer.

The Tasmanian Government will implement initiatives to support sexual and gender diverse students and staff in schools and colleges.

Department of Health (Vic) Ongoing.


Department of Health (Vic) 2012–14.

SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion Tas Government Ongoing.

Development of resources.

Ongoing.

The Secretary of the Department of Education has established a committee to provide advice around the provision of safe and supportive learning environments.

“Guidelines for Supporting Sexual and Gender Diversity in schools and colleges” will be released in Term 3 2012.
Updated “Inclusive Language Guidelines” will also be released in Term 3 2012.

51 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Sex and/ or gender diverse people (continued) Performance indicator/ timeframe In October 2012 the Department’s strategy for Relationships and Sexuality Education was released.

This includes addressing issues such as sexual and gender diversity.
The Tasmanian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Whole-of- Government Framework Reference Group oversees the development and improvement of access to all relevant mainstream services and, where appropriate, specialist services for the Tasmanian LGBTI Communities.

This Reference Group includes members of the LGBTI Community.
The Tasmanian Government will provide recurrent funding to Working It Out Inc., a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) counselling and education service.

Tas Government Ongoing.

Tas Government Ongoing.

The Australian Government will develop a LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy to support measures to be delivered as part of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reforms.

DoHA Ongoing.

The Strategy will be released in December 2012.


Annual review of achievements against action items.

214 215 216 52 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society People at risk of or experiencing homelessness The Australian Government will continue to work towards the goals in the 2008 White Paper The Road Home: A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness.
These include halving the rate of homelessness and offering supported accommodation to all rough sleepers who need it by 2020.

The Australian Government will also deliver more than 600 new dwellings under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH).

Homelessness can also impact the exercise of other human rights such as the right to vote, the right to social welfare and the right to freedom from discrimination.
The Australian Government will introduce new homelessness legislation which will continue to highlight Australia’s commitment to its international human rights obligations and to work against discriminatory perceptions of people experiencing homelessness by promoting an understanding of their plight and rights as members of Australian society and the aspiration that all Australians have access to adequate housing.
The Australian Government will also continue to work towards reducing the over-representation of Indigenous people among the homeless.

Priority Action Lead agency 217 Housing Governments will continue to work towards goals in the Australian Government’s 2008 White Paper The Road Home: A National Approach to Reducing Homelessness.
FaHCSIA, states and territories Performance indicator/ timeframe Halve the rate of homelessness by 2020 and offer supported accommodation to all rough sleepers who need it by 2020.

Interim goal of reducing the overall rate of homelessness by 20 per cent by 2013.

By 2012.

FaHCSIA, States and Territories 218 219 220 221 Governments will deliver more than 600 new homes under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness (NPAH).
Under the NPAH between the Australian and state and territory governments, the Australian Government has committed $550 million over five years, matched by the states and territories.
The Australian Government will introduce new homelessness legislation which will continue to highlight Australia’s commitment to its international human rights obligations, and to work against discriminatory perceptions of people experiencing homelessness by promoting an understanding of their plight and their rights as members of Australian society.
The Victorian Government will develop three purpose-built 40unit youth foyer accommodation and training facilities, as well as pilot work and learning centres on five public housing sites.

These initiatives build on best practice approaches to provide vulnerable Victorians with a pathway to social and economic participation.

Common Ground Adelaide provides long-term, affordable rental housing options for individuals on low incomes and those at risk of homelessness.
FaHCSIA Legislation will be introduced as soon as legislative program allows.

Department of Human Services (Vic) The first learning centre was launched in March 2012, and a second is expected to be operational later in 2012.

Ongoing.

Provision of services.


SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Homeless- ness) 53 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 222 Housing (continued) 223 224 Freedom from discrimination 225 Homelessness and priority groups 226 The South Australian Government will support the Ladder St Vincent Street program at Port Adelaide.
The program provides 23 self-contained apartments and training spaces to provide a stable residential environment and support facilities to assist young people in their realisation of education and employment opportunities without the risk of impending homelessness.
The Northern Territory Government will continue work towards a reduction of homelessness in the Northern Territory under the 2030 Strategic Plan through measures including: • increasing managed and supported accommodation facilities and tenant support programs • commissioning a study on rough sleeping in Darwin, and • providing assistance for individuals leaving child protection to access and maintain stable and affordable accommodation.
The Australian Government will continue to provide funding to enhance access to legal assistance for those at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

The Australian Government will provide $2.2 million over four years commencing in 2010.

The Australian Government will continue work towards reducing the over-representation of Indigenous people among the homeless, under the National Partnership Agreement on Homelessness.
The Northern Territory Government provides funding and program management for a range of initiatives under the Integrated Case Management Services (ICMS) program that is principally aimed at Indigenous people sleeping rough in urban areas.

The ICMS services include short and longer term intervention and referral through outreach and case management, and Return to Country services for homeless people.
Lead agency SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Office for Youth) NT Government Performance indicator/ timeframe 2012-13.

Provision of services.

Ongoing.

AGD Ongoing.

FaHCSIA Interim reduction of one third of the number of Indigenous Australians who are homeless by 2013.

NT Government Ongoing.

54 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society People with disability Australia is committed to upholding and safeguarding the rights of people with disability.
A key priority for the Australian Government will be continuing work on implementing the National Disability Strategy.

The Strategy outlines a 10-year national policy framework to guide government activity across six key outcome areas and to drive future reforms in mainstream and specialist disability service systems to improve outcomes for people with disability, their families and carers.

Care and support for people with disability in Australia will be a priority area for action.
All governments have agreed on the need for fundamental reform of disability support services in Australia through a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

This will give people with disability the care and support they need over the course of their lifetime and enable them to participate fully in public and private life, on an equal basis as people without disability.
The Australian Government has already started work with state and territory governments, who are responsible for disability support services, to lay the foundations for a scheme.

The 2012–13 Budget commits the Australian Government to investing $1 billion over four years to roll out the first stage of an NDIS, which will occur progressively from July 2013.
The NDIS will promote the rights of people with disability in Australia by providing access to nationally consistent funding and support to help them realise their aspirations, and to participate in the social and economic life of the community.

The Australian Government is also doubling funding to state and territory governments for increased and improved specialist disability services under the National Disability Agreement.
The Australian Government is investing $2.2 billion over five years in its National Mental Health Reform package, including expanding services and improving their delivery for people with mental illness who have very high support needs, and improving access to the primary health care system for people with mental illness.
Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe 227 Freedom from discrimination27 FaHCSIA, states and territories A first year report will be presented to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) in late-2012.

Every two years, a high level progress report will track achievements under the Strategy and provide a picture of how people with disability are faring.

The first biennial report will be presented to COAG in February 2014.
The Australian Government will continue to work on preparing a national action framework for implementing the National Disability Strategy28 (NDS).
This involves: • identifying priority areas for action through consultation with state and territory governments, disability advisory bodies and the National People with Disabilities and Carer Council • measuring progress across the Strategy’s 10-year lifespan using national trend indicator data based on the six outcome areas of the NDS, and • developing more comprehensive performance indicators by improving the reporting of people with disability assisted through mainstream services through the inclusion of disability specific questions in mainstream data collections.
The draft indicators will be reviewed in the first year of the Strategy.
2728 27 UPR Rec 41 (Republic of Moldova): A 28 UPR Rec 40 (Botswana): A 55 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe 228 Freedom from discrimination (continued) FaHCSIA The Australian Government is supporting the NDS with $11 million over four years commencing from 2010–11 for an accessibility package to support people with disability and their carers to participate in community life.
The accessibility package includes: • Accessible Communities – grants of up to $100,000 to local governments who match the funding to make local buildings and public spaces more accessible for people with disability so they can fully participate in the community • digital playback devices and improved access to digital content in public libraries around the country to increase accessibility of print material for people with print disability • Leaders for Tomorrow – assistance to up to 200 people with disability to become leaders in the community through mentoring and leadership development • Ramp Up – a new disability website launched in 2010 to raise awareness of people with disability issues.
Since the launch of Ramp Up, the site has established itself as a major centre for discussion and debate on issues to do with disability • Cinema Access Implementation Plan – a partnership with four major cinema operators and the disability sector which aims to make cinemas more accessible for people who are Deaf or hearing impaired, blind or vision impaired, and • Livable Housing Design – in mid-2010, the Livable Housing Design Guidelines and Strategic Plan were launched jointly by all levels of government and the disability, aged, community, building and construction sectors.
The guidelines involve six core design elements for matters such as the path of travel into dwellings, internal doors and corridors, accessible toilets and bathrooms.

In July 2011, Livable Housing Australia was established to develop a national marketing and accreditation process to support the implementation of the guidelines.

The majority of Accessible Communities projects have been completed.

The remaining projects will be completed during 2012.
A total of 1,299 playback devices were distributed to around 170 libraries (and their outlets through inter-library loan) by the end of November 2011.
Number of people with disability participating in the Leaders for Tomorrow program (target 200), the proportion of participants who are satisfied with the program (target 90 per cent), the percentage and number of people with disability from Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds participating in the program, and the proportion of participants who achieve key delivery requirements (target 80 per cent).
Number of visitors to the Ramp Up website, new contributions, positive community feedback and the expansion of articles into mainstream media outlets.

A total of 242 accessible cinema screens by the end of 2014.

Aspirational targets have been agreed by industry and government stakeholders for all new homes to be of an agreed design standard by 2020.

56 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe DEEWR Ongoing.
The Employment Assistance Fund will assist an average of 4,000 people annually.

The JobAccess Advisory Service will respond to an average of 2,500 enquiries each month.

FaHCSIA The DSP measures aim to assist people with disability to sustain themselves through work to their capacity.

The DSP program is subject to ongoing monitoring.

Measures will be evaluated in line with agreed evaluation plans.
We anticipate that measures will result in greater numbers of DSP recipients reporting some employment income.

229 Freedom from discrimination (continued) 230 The Australian Government has strategies in place to enable people with disability to have access to employment options.
To ensure people get the support they need, the Australian Government is: • investing over $3 billion in uncapping access to Disability Employment Services over the next four years • investing in the Employment Assistance Fund, which provides financial assistance for workplace modifications, special work equipment, Auslan interpreting and Disability Awareness Training, and • supporting the Job Access Advisory Service, which provides individualised information to employers and individuals about the employment of people with disability.
The Australian Government has overhauled key elements of the Disability Support Pension (DSP) to ensure it supports people with disability who have some work capacity into employment wherever possible, while continuing to provide essential income support for people unable to fully support themselves, including, from 20 September 2009: • improving the adequacy of the base pension, especially for singles, including improved indexation that will continue into the future, and from 1 July 2010: – fast tracking claims from applicants with manifest, or severe disability so they get more timely support, and – improving the quality of assessments for DSP by ensuring eligibility is assessed by experienced Senior Job Capacity Assessors using updated guidelines • from 3 September 2011, introducing a requirement for DSP claimants who do not have a severe disability or illness to provide evidence that they are not able to work, even with appropriate support, and • from 1 January 2012 revised Impairment Tables have been introduced to bring DSP assessments into line with contemporary medical and rehabilitation practice.
This was informed by the World Health Organisation’s International Classification of Functioning, and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
57 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe Freedom from discrimination (continued) Other measures to support people with disability into work commenced from 1 July 2012: • new participation requirements for some DSP recipients under the age of 35 with some capacity to work, to help ensure people are accessing the support that is available to them • more generous rules about allowable hours of work to support DSP recipients to enter work or increase their working hours, and • new wage subsidies to help employers take on people with disability.
The 2011–12 Budget measure, Building Australia’s Future Workforce, allocated funding of $111.7 million over four years including: • $92.7 million for new participation requirements • $7.6 million to support DSP recipients to enter work or increase their working hours, and • $11.3 million for employer incentives.

The Australian Government is working through the Australian Public Service Commission to increase the number of people with disability employed in the Australian Public Service.
The As One – APS Disability Employment Strategy is a key tool that will be used to achieve this goal.

The aim of this strategy is to strengthen the APS as a progressive and sustainable employer of people with disability.
The main themes of the strategy are: • improving leadership • increasing agency demand for candidates with disability • improving recruitment processes to enable more candidates with disability to enter the APS, and • fostering inclusive cultures that support and encourage employees with a disability.

Under these four themes sit 19 initiatives.

Two key initiatives to note include the trial of a Guaranteed Interview Scheme and the creation of an employment pathway for people with disability.
Further information on the As One strategy can be found at: www.apsc.gov.au/disabilityemployment.

The Australian Government and state and territory governments have completed the review of the National Disability Agreement (NDA) performance framework (performance indicators and benchmarks).
Reviews of the performance frameworks of all Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Agreements were initiated by COAG in February 2011 to ensure that progress against National Agreement outcomes is measured and that all jurisdictions are clearly accountable to the public and COAG for their efforts.

APSC The As One – APS Disability Employment Strategy will be implemented between May 2012 and 30 June 2014.
The chief performance indicator is the representation of people with disability employed in the APS.

Given the strategy’s strong focus on achieving behavioural and cultural change, however, other factors such as the reported job satisfaction for employees with disability in the annual State of the Service Report will also be considered.

FaHCSIA (with PM&C and Treasury) A report recommending a revised NDA and NDA performance framework will be submitted to COAG by late 2012.
231 232 58 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe FaHCSIA, states and territories The Australian Government and state and territory governments are working with the Australian Bureau of Statistics to undertake an additional Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers in 2012.

The DS NMDS redevelopment commenced in March 2012 and will conclude in December 2012.
The Australian Government is supporting more frequent and improved content and sample size for the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers, investing $9.2 million over three years commencing 2012–15.

Australian Government agencies have agreed to enhance the content, quality and timeliness of the Disability Services National Minimum Dataset (DS NMDS) so that it provides a better evidence base for the administration, planning and management of specialist services for people with disability.
The DS NMDS redevelopment will continue to give priority to National Disability Agreement requirements, but will also aim to support the development and implementation of a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Australian Government agencies have provided funding of $504,284 to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare to undertake the redevelopment.
A National Disability Research and Development Agenda was endorsed by Australian, state and territory Disability Ministers in November 2011, which is intended to identify research and development priorities to support the implementation of the National Disability Agreement and the National Disability Strategy.
FaHCSIA, states and territories 233 Freedom from discrimination (continued) 234 235 AGD The Australian Government will monitor the effectiveness of the National Forum on Emergency Warnings to the Community best practice guidelines, which is considering the communication needs of people with disability across the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery phases of emergencies, including emergency warnings.
The Attorney-General’s Department is currently in the process of finalising the Communicating with People with Disability: National Guidelines for Emergency Managers.
Other initiatives include: • a website update to assist screen readers identify and interpret Triple Zero information: AGD is currently assessing the Triple Zero Website, with a view to updating the appearance, accessibility and utility of the site under the guidance of the Australian Government’s Web Accessibility National Transition Strategy The Agenda was endorsed in November 2011.
As one of the first initiatives to be implemented under the Agenda, invitations were issued in May 2012 for research proposals that support the directions of the Agenda, and in June 2012 for an audit of disability research.

Results of both tenders should be known shortly.

Ongoing.

Release of Communicating with People with Disability: National Guidelines for Emergency Managers in 2012–13.
59 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe Freedom from discrimination (continued) • information on how to use the 106 Text Emergency Relay for people with hearing and speech impairments.
This information is on the Triple Zero Emergency Call Service website: www.triplezero.gov.au/Pages/ Usingotheremergencynumbers.aspx • a Triple Zero Kids Challenge safety computer game available in seven languages and with closed captioning.

The Triple Zero Kids Challenge has been developed and updated, and has seven language options and nine scenarios for children to engage with: kids.triplezero.gov.

au/index.php?lang=en • Triple Zero posters in 33 languages have been produced: www.triplezero.
gov.au/Pages/TripleZero(000)Awareness Campaignandpromotionalmaterial.aspx • radio commercials in English as well as nine languages have been developed to reinforce the Triple Zero message: www.

triplezero.gov.au/Pages/TripleZero(000) AwarenessCampaignandpromotionalmaterial.
aspxan • updated Recovery Manual to be used by Australian, state and local government recovery workers (including policy and field workers), NGOs and professionals that includes a chapter on ‘vulnerable’ people, and • Emergency Alert, which sends voice messages to fixedlines and text messages to mobile telephones.
The Australian Government has established a Schools Disability Advisory Council, which advises the Australian Government on how to better support school students with disability, including in the context of education reforms.

The Australian Government is providing $200 million in additional funding to States and Territories to support their work with students with disability and/or learning difficulties through the More Support for Students with Disabilities initiative.
Services are being delivered in the 2012 and 2013 school years.

The Australian Government will work with states and territories to respond to recommendations from the review of the Disability Standards for Education 2005, subordinate legislation under the Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

The requirements outlined in the Disability Standards for Education provide a framework to ensure students with disability can access and participate in education on the same basis as other students.
236 237 238 60 DEEWR 2012.

DEEWR 2011–12 to 2013–14 Number of students, teachers and schools provided with additional support.

DEEWR 2012–15.
DEEWR 2012–15.

National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 239 Freedom from discrimination (continued) 240 241 242 243 244 245 The Australian Government will continue to support the inclusion of people with disability at disability focused conferences in Australia through the National Disability Conference Initiative which facilitates improved access and maximises participation of people with disability at such conferences.
Approximately $350,000 is provided annually.

Through the National Disability Advocacy Program the Australian Government provides funding for advocacy for people with disability which promotes, protects and ensures their full and equal enjoyment of human rights.

In 2012–13, $16.64 million was committed which included funding to 59 advocacy agencies nationally.
The Remote Hearing and Vision Services for Children Initiative will take advantage of the reach and capacity of the National Broadband Network to provide children with hearing and vision impairment, and their families, with videobased access to information, guidance, support and skills development from allied health and educational professionals where such expertise may otherwise be scarce.

The Australian Government will provide $4.9 million over three years commencing 2011–12.
The Victorian Government will continue to implement a range of community awareness strategies to promote greater inclusion for disadvantaged Victorians.

The Victorian Government is developing a State Disability Plan to deliver on its commitments under the National Disability Strategy.
The Victorian Government funds a variety of programs to support students with disability, including allied health professional support services, the Program for Students with Disabilities, the Language Support Program, the Transport Assistance program, the provision of qualified and skilled teaching staff, a comprehensive and adaptable curriculum, adjustment of classroom teaching responsive to the different needs and abilities of individual students and regular professional development opportunities for school staff.
The South Australian Attorney-General’s Department will develop a Disability Justice Plan to improve access to justice for people with disability who come into contact with the criminal justice system.

Lead agency FaHCSIA Performance indicator/ timeframe Ongoing.

Increased attendance and participation of people with disability at disability focused conferences.

FaHCSIA Ongoing.

Number of people with disability provided with disability advocacy support.

FaHCSIA, in collaboration with DBCDE 2011–14.


Number of children with hearing and vision impairment in regional and remote areas and in Indigenous communities who are able to access allied health and education services.

Dept of Human Services (Vic) 2011–12.

Dept of Human Services (Vic) Ongoing.

Ongoing.

Dept of Education and Early Childhood Development (Vic) SA Attorney- General’s Department Ongoing.

Plan developed and implemented.


61 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe Tas Government Ongoing.

Tas Government Commenced 2012.

ACT Government Ongoing ACT Government Ongoing.

Priority Action The Tasmanian Government will continue to fund a variety of programs to support students with disability to fulfil their educational potential through a range of specifically targeted programs and individual adjustments.
This includes: • provision of specialist staff including school psychologists, social workers, speech pathologists, special education advisors, autism consultants, vision and deaf support teachers • provision of assistive technologies to support curriculum access • building the skills and expertise of staff in relation to disability knowledge and implications of the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and • provision of transition support materials for students with disability and their families.
On 1 January 2012, the Disability Services Act 2011 (Tas) was proclaimed in Tasmania.

This replaced the 1992 Act and informs the way that specialist support services are provided to people with disability in Tasmania.

The new legislation includes a broader human rights perspective in line with Australia’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
It establishes the requirement that all services provided under this Act will respect the inherent dignity of people with disability, along with their individual autonomy, freedom to make their own choices and their right independence.

The Act also requires that care and support provided is person- centred and support the universally-adopted principle of ‘nothing about us, without us’.
The ACT Government, in partnership with Business Leaders Innovative Thoughts and Solutions (BLITS), has developed the Everyone, Everyday – ACT Disability Awareness Program to promote awareness throughout the Canberra community about people with disability and their capabilities and contributions, and to foster respect for their rights and dignity.
The ACT Government continues to work with community providers and the ACT Social Enterprise Hub to increase selfemployment opportunities for people with disability.
246 Freedom from discrimination (continued) 247 248 249 62 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 250 Freedom from discrimination (continued) 251 252 253 254 Care and support The ACT Government‘s initiative, Business Leaders Innovative Thoughts and Solutions (BLITS) has been working toward supporting people with disability in the community.
BLITS‘ core objectives are to: • identify, support and promote new and innovative partnerships, projects or products that increase the participation of people with disability in the community • find new and innovative projects and events to showcase business opportunities in the disability sector, and • improve the perceptions of business operators towards people with disability in the workforce and the community.

The ACT Government has commenced a pilot of consumercontrolled direct funding.
This work is intended to provide greater opportunity for choice, control and independence for people with disability.

The ACT Government funded a community organisation, Nican, to develop a toolkit to support people with disabilities to participate in the community.

The Know Before You Go toolkit for people with disability and recreation support providers, provides people with disabilities and support providers with ideas and tips about getting involved in social, recreational and cultural activities.
It is available at www.nican.com.

au/node/15103.
The Northern Territory Office of the Commissioner for Public Employment will continue to implement its Equal Employment Opportunity Management Programs, including management of: the Northern Territory Public Sector (NTPS) Willing and Able Strategy which aims to ensure that people with a disability are able to realise their potential through access to employment opportunities in the NTPS, and the Project Employment Scheme, which is the NTPS’s pathway employment program for people with a disability who are not able to be competitive in winning a job on the basis of merit.
Under the National Disability Agreement (NDA), the Australian Government is providing state and territory governments around $7.2 billion across six years from January 2009 to June 2015 to contribute to the achievement of the NDA objective and outcomes.

This significant investment means that the Australian Government’s contribution in 2011–12 is around $1.2 billion.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Released October 2011.


NT Government Ongoing.

FaHCSIA From 1 January 2009 to 30 June 2015.

Performance indicators are recorded in the NDA and reported on an annual basis by the COAG Reform Council.

63 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action The Australian Government, and State and Territory Governments have agreed to the creation of a National Disability Insurance Scheme, which will be progressively implemented from July 2013.
This work is being driven by the Select Council of Treasurers and Disability Services Ministers on Disability Reform.

The Select Council is supported by an advisory group, which provides specialist advice and ensures the views of people with disability, carers and service providers are reflected in the foundations and design of a NDIS.
The Launch Transition Agency has been established, launch sites have been agreed in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

Significant progress has been made in drafting legislation that is planned to be introduced in late 2012.

More than 20,000 people with significant and profound disability, their families and carers will benefit from the first stage.
The NDIS will promote the rights of people with disability in Australia by providing access to nationally consistent funding and support to help them realise their aspirations, and to participate in the social and economic life of the community.

In 2008, the Australian Government provided $100 million to state and territory governments, under a Capital Works Memorandum of Understanding, to construct or acquire 313 supported accommodation places nationally by mid-2012.
As at June 2012, over 400 supported accommodation places were achieved nationally.

The Australian Government has allocated $60 million over three years to build innovative, community-based supported accommodation places for people with disability as part of the Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund (SAIF).

A total of 21 organisations will be funded to deliver 27 projects nationally.

Projects commenced in 2011–12.


The South Australian Government will implement an individualised funding model for people with disability to provide them the greatest possible autonomy, applying the principles within the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

It ensures that individuals who are eligible for specialist disability services can exercise direct control over decisions about the funds to which they are entitled.
The South Australian Government will develop a Disability Housing Program (DHP) that provides appropriate housing to people with significant disabilities who are unable to live independently in the community.

Housing SA has a target that a minimum 85 per cent of all newly constructed housing will meet their adaptable housing standards.

255 Care and support (continued) 256 257 258 64 Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe FaHCSIA Ongoing reports to COAG.
FaHCSIA has a monitoring role, state and territory governments have responsibility for completion.

313 supported accommodation facilities completed by state and territory governments by 30 June 2012.

Under the SAIF program funding is available for over 150 new supported accommodation or respite places.

Completed by 30 June 2014.

Ongoing.

Model developed and implemented.

Ongoing.

Program services provided.
SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Disability, Ageing and Carers) SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Housing SA) National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 259 Care and support (continued) 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 The South Australian Government will support the Australian Government, NGOs, and community representatives to plan and deliver a coordinated HIV prevention response to communities at highest risk.
The Operational Framework for Disability Services provides the strategic framework for the provision of specialist disability support in Tasmania.

The Framework provides a set of clear principles that underpin all specialist disability support provision and put people with disability, their families and carers at the centre of all considerations.

A project to develop a Tasmanian Carer and Recognition and Support Framework has begun.
This will deliver a whole-of-government carer policy, as well as a five year action plan to implement the new policy.

The ACT Government is contributing to building the capacity of advocacy services in the ACT and continues to strengthen coordination and collaboration across the advocacy and self advocacy services.

In April 2011, the ACT Government introduced Good Life Planning Grants to assist people with disability planning for their future.
The grants target people who are not linked to a government-funded service that is able to assist with planning.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe SA Department for Health and Ageing Ongoing.

Provision of services.

Tas Government Ongoing.

Tas Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

The ACT is improving public transport accessibility through actions set out in the ACT Accessible Public Transport Action Plan 2009–12.
ACT Government The ACT is establishing a wheelchair accessible taxi centralised booking service (WCBS) to improve the level of service of wheelchair accessible taxis.

ACT Government Progress against actions in the Action Plan is currently being reviewed and a new plan is being developed for future years.

A Service Agreement for the WCBS was signed on 13 September 2012.
Timing of commencement of the WCBS will depend the readiness of the provider to commence operations but this is likely before November 2012 To address the specific needs of children and young people with disabilities, the ACT Government has created a Children and Young People Team to better support children and young people with disability and their families.

ACT Government Ongoing.


65 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 267 Care and support (continued) 268 269 270 271 In October 2011, the ACT Government co-located its Information Service, Community Development Officer and Housing Options Facilitator with Local Area Coordination, PATH and House With No Steps to a new office space referred to as the DISH@ Oatley.
This hub of services will deliver disability information, support, planning and community development from one site, enabling early intervention services to be targeted across the ACT more strategically and therefore bolster their reach and effectiveness.
The ACT‘s Transition Service, provided by a community organisation, delivers individually tailored information, and support, to young people and their families for up to three years after the young person has left school and generally commences whilst the young person is still at school.
The Transition Service includes assistance for students to: • figure out their vocational goals after they leave school • develop a plan to help work towards those goals • work with the student, family and community networks to the plan into action, and • link to the appropriate services, groups and organisations within the community which meet the student‘s wants and needs.

The ACT Government has established a stakeholder group to assist work to enhance respite services for people with disability.
This work is being undertaken in consultation with people with disability, families and carers, community providers and government representatives to discuss different aspects of disability respite services, including respite needs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, centre based services, after school and holiday programs and flexible models.

In August 2011, the ACT Government announced new afterschool and vacation care programs for young people with disability.
The ACT‘s People with a Disability who are Ageing Policy Framework has been drafted in collaboration with agencies across government.

ACT Government agencies will collaborate to develop a strategy to implement the new arrangements without impacting on people’s day to day services.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.


272 Legal capacity29 The Australian Government will work with states and territories to clarify and improve laws and practices governing the sterilisation of women and girls with disability.

AGD, States and Territories Ongoing.

29 29 UPR Rec 39 (Denmark, UK, Belgium, Germany): PA 66 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe AGD Ongoing.

Dept of Justice (Vic) To be determined.


ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

FaHCSIA (Office for Women) The outcomes for the National Plan will be delivered through four three- year action plans, the first of which runs from 2010 to 2013.

2011–15.
2011–15.

DOHA, DEEWR, FaHCSIA, NMHC Priority Action 273 Legal capacity29 (continued) 274 275 276 Freedom from exploitation and violence 277 Mental illness The Australian Government will continue to fund community legal centres that have a primary focus of providing legal information and help in relation to the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth).

The Australian Government will provide $4.34 million over four years commencing 2010.
The Victorian Government will consider recent reviews of Victoria’s guardianship and powers of attorney laws by the Victorian Law Reform Commission and the Victorian Parliament Law Reform Committee.

The recommendations of these reviews focus on people with impaired decision making ability.
The ACT Intensive Treatment and Support (ITAS) Service, which is coordinated with Mental Health ACT, is designed to meet the needs of people over the age of 17 who have a dual disability with high and complex needs, and who are at risk of criminally offending or re-offending.

The ACT participates in the national disability working group which is considering the experience of people with cognitive disability who engage with the criminal justice system.
The Australian Government will continue to implement its National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–22 which recognises the diversity of the needs of women with disabilities, including targeting local community action grants to organisations that assist with primary prevention of violence against women with disabilities and commissioning work to investigate and promote ways to improve access and service responses for women with disabilities who have experienced violence.
As part of the 2011–12 Budget the Australian Government is investing $2.2 billion over five years in its National Mental Health Reform package including: • expanding services and improving their delivery for people with severe mental illness • prevention and early intervention mental health services for children and young people • improving access to the primary health care system for people with mental illness, and • creating a National Mental Health Commission (NMHC), which was established as an Executive Agency from 1 January 2012, to increase accountability and transparency.
67 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe SA Department for Health and Ageing Ongoing.

Services provided.

Tas Government 2012–13.

Tas Government Ongoing.

ACT Government The new legislation is planned for consideration by the ACT Legislative Assembly in financial year 2013–14.
Priority Action The South Australian Government will develop a Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) to provide protection of the rights of people with a mental illness who are admitted to treatment centres in South Australia.

The CVS provides an opportunity for community visitors to visit treatment centres to inspect premises and consult with consumers and staff to ensure that people with serious mental illness are receiving appropriate care and treatment.
The Tasmanian Government will complete a review of its Mental Health Act 1996 (Tas) to adopt a rights based approach to the treatment of persons with mental illness.

The Tasmanian Government will provide $1.5 million per annum from 2013–14.

The Tasmanian Government will continue to implement the Integrated Employment Project in which adult clients with enduring mental illness work with a co-located employment specialist and a mental health case worker to realise personal employment goals.
The ACT Government is: conducting a review of mental health legislation which proposes to: • ensure that a person’s decision making capacity is formally considered in the making of mental health orders – recognise Advance Agreements made by people with mental illness, in conjunction with their treating team, regarding the treatment, care and support they do and do not want – take account the provisions of the ACT Human Rights Act (2004) and the move towards a Recovery approach in mental health service delivery.
• ensuring that people with experience of mental illness as consumers or carers participate in decision making at all levels of mental health service development, and in service delivery.

• The ACT Charter of Rights for People who experience Mental Health Issues was launched on 11 October 2011 during Mental Health Week.

The pamphlets and posters developed to communicate these rights have been disseminated throughout the mental health sector and more broadly the ACT Community.
278 Mental illness (continued) 279 280 281 68 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Carers A 2009 parliamentary report identified a range of issues that carers can face, including a lack of community awareness of their needs, financial hardship, barriers to employment and education and the need for better coordination of support services.
The National Carer Recognition Framework, comprising the Carers Recognition Act 2010 (Cth) and the National Carer Strategy, provides the foundation for the Australian Government’s initiatives to increase the support and recognition provided to carers.

The National Carer Strategy represents the Australian Government’s long- term commitment to carers, and also contains a package of measures designed to ensure that our community respects and values carers.
These measures correspond to six priority areas of the Strategy: recognition and respect, economic security, information and access, services for carers, education and training and health and wellbeing.

New funding under the Strategy will improve access to the Carer Supplement for carers who are working when the Supplement is paid in July each year.

This will help carers to maintain paid employment.


The Australian Government will also fund a national and targeted campaign to raise awareness of the role of carers.

The Australian Government is investing $54.3 million over five years to expand mental health respite services, which will give carers and families of people with a mental illness greater access to timely and appropriate respite arrangements.
The Australian Government will also consult with stakeholders on expanding the right to request flexible working arrangements under the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) for employees caring for older Australians or a person with a serious long-term illness or disability.
Priority Action 282 Economic security 283 Following improvements to the adequacy of Carer Payment, especially for singles, the Australian Government is delivering improved indexation that will continue into the future, as well as a secure, ongoing annual Carer Supplement.
The Australian Government will provide $58.4 million in new funding under the National Carer Strategy for new measures, including: • $42.6 million to extend automatic eligibility for the Carer Allowance (child) for around 2,200 carers of children with Type 1 Diabetes who are aged between 10 and 16 years • $10.3 million to continue the Carer Adjustment Payment, a one-off payment for families who, following a catastrophic event involving a child aged 0–6 years, need additional support to cater to the needs of their child • $2.9 million to improve access to the Carer Supplement for carers who are working when the Supplement is paid in July each year, which will help carers to maintain paid employment, and • $2.1 million to ensure fairer access to Bereavement Payment, which will provide some assistance to carers receiving Carer Allowance and an income support payment at the difficult time following the death of the person for whom they care.
Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe FaHCSIA Ongoing.

FaHCSIA 2011–15.

National Carer Strategy Implementation Plan and first Action Plan (2011–14) outlining timeframes for action under priority areas has been developed and was released 15 October 2012.

The First Progress Report (2011–12) was released on 15 October 2012 An implementation plan for the National Carer Strategy outlining timeframes for action under priority areas is due by the end of 2012.
69 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 284 Recognition and respect 285 286 287 288 The Australian Government will provide $1.6 million commencing in 2012 for a national and targeted campaign to raise awareness of the role of carers and to promote the Carer Recognition Act 2010 (Cth).
The Australian Government will work with peak bodies, support services and allied health professionals to help identify and support people who have caring responsibilities and promote the importance of involving carers as partners in the provision of care.

The Victorian Charter Supporting People in Care Relationships will be updated to reflect the Carers Recognition Act 2012.

A project to develop a Tasmanian Carer and Recognition and Support Framework has begun.
This will deliver a whole-of-government carer policy, as well as a five year action plan to implement the new policy.

The South Australian Government will develop a State Carers Policy to guide and strengthen South Australian strategic directions in recognising and supporting carers and their role in the community.

The ACT Government will continue to monitor and report on the implementation of the ACT Carers Charter.
Lead agency FaHCSIA Performance indicator/ timeframe To be delivered from August 2012 to June 2013.

Department of Health (Vic) Ongoing.

Tas Government Ongoing.

SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Office for Carers) ACT Government Ongoing.

Carers Policy developed.

Ongoing.

289 Health and wellbeing The Australian Government funded Young Carer Festivals in each state and territory.

FaHCSIA One-off festivals were delivered in June 2012.
70 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society People in prisons All offenders sentenced to imprisonment in Australia are detained in state and territory prisons.

Although the majority of prisoners are men, the number of women in prison is growing.
The Standard Guidelines for Corrections in Australia outlines the goals and principles for the management of correctional services nationally.30 A national project to annually review the Standard Guidelines to ensure they remain relevant, contemporary and aligned with internationally accepted standards is underway.

Mental health issues and disability within prisons will be considered by a new working group overseen by the Chief Executive Officers of justice departments in all jurisdictions.
Work towards ratifying the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture will further strengthen existing oversight mechanisms in this sector.

The Australian Government will support the National Justice CEOs working group examining mechanisms employed within the criminal justice system to address the needs of people with a mental illness and/ or cognitive disability and investigate the role that the justice system can play in supporting diversion outcomes for these groups.
Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe 290 Justice-health 291 292 Governments will support a National Justice CEOs (NJCEO) working group on Mental Illness and Cognitive Disability.
It will examine mechanisms employed within the criminal justice system to address the needs of people with a mental illness and/or cognitive disability (including intellectual disability and acquired brain injury) and investigate the role that the justice system can play in support and diversion outcomes for these groups.

This project will have a strong focus on the needs of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Maori people.

The Victorian Government regularly reviews Justice Health Care Standards.
The Justice Mental Health Strategy provides guidance on the needs of offenders and victims with a mental illness or cognitive impairment.

AGD, states and territories Report back to NJCEO Group June 2012.

In providing information to the NJCEOs, the working group is to include options for further work to improve the outcomes for people with a mental illness and/ or cognitive disability when interacting with the criminal justice system.

Department of Justice (Vic) Ongoing.


The South Australian Government will provide the SA City Watch House Community Nursing Service, which is a clinical service across health and justice sectors.

It also provides a drug and alcohol nursing service in police cells.

SA Department for Health and Ageing Ongoing.

Provision of services.

293 Oversight mechanisms31 Governments will complete peer review of the Australian Standard Guidelines for Corrections (including proposed changes).
294 3031 States and territories will continue to deliver corrective services in accordance with standard guidelines that comply with the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners.

AGD, states and territories States and territories Ongoing.

Ongoing.
30 Australian Institute of Criminology, Corrections Standards and Guidelines, 2009, viewed at 23 February 2011, www.aic.gov.au/criminal_justice_ system/corrections/reform/standards.aspx 31 UPR Rec 71 (Hungary): A; UPR Rec 91 (New Zealand): A 71 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe 295 Oversight mechanisms (continued) State and territory coroners courts will continue to independently investigate all deaths in custody.
States and territories Ongoing.

The Australian Government will continue the National Deaths in Custody Monitoring Programs.

The Australian Government will consider the findings of research undertaken by the Castan Centre into rates of imprisonment, focusing on vulnerable groups including Indigenous Australians, youth and those with a cognitive disability, and current analysis of utilisation of alternative sentencing options.
The Victorian Government funds the independent Office of Correctional Services Review, which provides independent oversight and advice on the operations, conduct and performance of Victoria’s adult corrections system comprising prisons and Community Correctional Services as well as prisoner transport services.
The South Australian Department for Correctional Services will deliver targeted reintegration programs and improved educational delivery with a key focus on prisoners assessed as low level numeracy and literacy skills.

The ACT Government will continue to implement a through-care model of post-release support aimed at reducing reoffending.

The ACT is piloting the SHINE for Kids in-visits program looking at feasibility and effectiveness.
This program is designed to break the inter- generational cycle of offending by providing support to children, young people and families affected by parental involvement in the criminal justice system.

The Australian Government will continue to provide funding through the Commonwealth Community Legal Services program to community legal centres providing legal help and information to people in custody.

AIC AGD Ongoing.

Ongoing Department of Justice (Vic) Ongoing.


SA Department for Correctional Services ACT Government Ongoing.

Provision of services.

Ongoing.

ACT Government Pilot program until 31 December 2012.

AGD Ongoing.

296 297 298 299 300 301 302 Freedom from discrimination 72 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Refugees, asylum seekers, migrants and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds Australia is proud of its multicultural heritage.
New arrivals to Australia face diverse challenges in settling into life in Australia.

The Australian Government has reviewed and redesigned key settlement programs and will consolidate changes and enhancements to client services.

Implementing Australia’s multicultural policy continues to be an immediate priority, including initiatives to strengthen access and equity of Australian Government services.

Community Legal Centres will continue to provide legal advice to ensure access to justice.
Across the community, there are strong and divergent views about asylum seeker policy, especially about processing arrangements for, and mandatory detention of, Irregular Maritime Arrivals.

Australia is committed to providing protection to refugees consistent with the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its Protocol.

The Australian Government believes mandatory detention is an essential component of strong border control.
It also remains committed to ensuring detention is not indefinite or arbitrary and providing health and other supports for asylum seekers in detention.

In particular, the Australian Government will continue to prioritise community-based detention when children are involved and continue to implement reforms to processing and detention arrangements for Irregular Maritime Arrivals.
The Australian Government will also monitor the operation of the newly implemented statutory system of complementary protection that allows all of Australia’s non-refoulement obligations to be considered in one Protection visa process.
Priority Action 303 Assessment of protection claims and non- refoulement obligations The Australian Government will continue to determine refugee status on an individual basis against the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees criteria, with reference to up-to- date information on conditions in the applicant’s home country.

304 305 306 The Australian Government will monitor the operation of new arrangements for a single statutory Protection visa process for both maritime and air arrivals.
The new arrangements mean that all people seeking asylum in Australia, regardless of their mode of arrival, will have their protection claims assessed through the protection visa application process which has access to independent merits review through the Refugee Review Tribunal.

The Australian Government will monitor the operation of arrangements for people seeking asylum in Australia.
The Australian Government will monitor the operation of the newly implemented amendments to the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) which establish new criteria to allow the grant of a protection visa in circumstances that engage Australia’s non-refoulement obligations under human rights treaties other than the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe DIAC Ongoing.

DIAC Ongoing.

The new arrangements commenced on 24 March 2012.

DIAC Ongoing.
DIAC Ongoing.

DIAC Ongoing.

Amendments commenced on 24 March 2012.


73 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 307 Immigration detention32 308 309 32 The Australian Government will review whether any treaty body recommendations which have not been accepted as reflective of Australia’s international obligations and acted upon accordingly can be accepted and acted upon in any event, if consistent with the Australian Government’s immigration detention policy objectives.
The Australian Government will monitor the operation of recent reforms – and will continue to implement a range of measures which take into account Australia’s human rights obligations – to respond more effectively to Irregular Maritime Arrivals (IMAs), including: • Regional processing, including conditions in regional processing countries; • The increase to 20,000 places of Australia’s refugee program; • greater use of the temporary Bridging visa program to allow eligible IMA clients to be released from detention to the Australian community once certain mandatory health, security and identity checks have been completed; • the expanded use of community detention; • utilising the increasing capacity within the immigration detention network to more flexibly and effectively manage clients; • significantly increasing case manager and processing capability; • strengthening the character provisions of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth); and • detaining IMAs for the shortest practicable time and in the least restrictive form of immigration detention appropriate to the management of risks.
The Australian Government will continue to implement the recommendations made in the Commonwealth Parliament’s Joint Select Committee into Australia’s Immigration Detention Network (released on 30 March 2012) and the Expert Panel on Asylum Seekers Report (13 August 2012).

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe DIAC, AGD Ongoing.

DIAC Ongoing.

As at 13 November 2012 DIAC has placed 5,532 people in Community Detention (CD) since the government announcement to expand CD on 18 October 2010.
As at 13 November 2012, DIAC has granted approximately 7,760 Bridging visas (since 25 November 2011).

DIAC Ongoing.
32 UPR Rec 38 (Jordan): A; UPR Rec 121 (Sweden): A; UPR Rec 122 (Slovenia): A; UPR Rec 123 (Norway): A; UPR Rec 124 (Slovenia): A; UPR Rec 125 (Ghana): A, UPR Rec 127 (Ghana): A; UPR Rec 128 (Philippines): A; UPR Rec 129 (Brazil): PA; UPR Rec 130 (Islamic Republic of Iran): A; UPR Rec 131 (Brazil): PA. 74 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency DIAC, AGD Priority Action 310 Immigration detention (continued) The Australian Government will continue to ensure that detention is not indefinite or otherwise arbitrary, and only for the following groups: • all irregular arrivals for management of health, identity and security risks to the community • unlawful non-citizens who present unacceptable risks to the community, and • unlawful non-citizens who repeatedly refuse to comply with their visa conditions.
On 13 October 2011, the Australian Government announced it will be making greater use of existing powers to more flexibly manage Irregular Maritime Arrivals (IMAs) to Australia.

• Bridging visas are granted to IMAs who have no adverse security, health, identity or significant behavioural issues that might pose a risk to the community.

Performance indicator/ timeframe Ongoing.


Since November 2011 the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship has used his non-compellable intervention powers under s 195A of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) to allow some IMAs to live in the community on temporary Bridging Visas E (BVEs) while their claims for protection are being considered.

As at 18 September 2012, DIAC have granted 4,889 Bridging visas (since 25 November 2011).

Ongoing.
Ongoing.

311 312 313 314 315 316 317 The Australian Government will continue to subject length and conditions of detention (including the appropriateness of both the accommodation and the services provided) to regular review.

DIAC, Commonwealth Ombudsman The Australian Government will continue to use the least restrictive form of immigration detention available whilst health and security checks are undertaken for children.
The Australian Government will continue to move more people in immigration detention into community-based detention arrangements, including, as a priority, all children, (including unaccompanied children) and families following appropriate risk, security and health assessments.

The Australian Government will continue to resource a dedicated Children’s Unit to address complex policy issues relating to unaccompanied minors.
The Commonwealth Ombudsman and Australian Human Rights Commission will continue to have general powers that enable it to report on conditions within detention centres.

The Australian Government will continue to ensure that all persons in immigration detention have the right to request and receive consular access at any time without delay, consistent with Australia’s obligations under the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations 1963.
The Australian Government will continue to ensure that all persons in immigration detention have access to appropriate physical and mental health care, commensurate with care available to the broader Australian community.

DIAC Ongoing.

DIAC Ongoing.

DIAC Ongoing.

Ongoing.

Commonwealth Ombudsman, AHRC DIAC Ongoing.

Ongoing.
Ongoing.

DIAC, Indian Ocean Territories Health Service, contracted Health Service Providers 75 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe Ongoing.

Ongoing.

State and territory Forum of Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma Organisations.

Indian Ocean Territories Health Service.

DIAC, Local Hospitals, Indian Ocean Territories Health Service, contracted health service providers.

DIAC 2011–12.
DIAC 2011–12.

DIAC 70 recommendations of the Richmond Review (December 2011) continue to be implemented in 2012–13.

New Risk Management and Quality Assurance Framework have been implemented.

318 Immigration detention (continued) The Australian Government will continue to provide torture and trauma counselling to people in immigration detention when a history of torture and trauma is indicated.
319 The Australian Government will continue to provide emergency health services to people in immigration detention.

The Australian Government’s largest settlement program, the new Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP), will continue to maximise the settlement and learning outcomes of AMEP clients.
Enhancements introduced on 1 July 2011 will encourage greater commitment to the program and increased retention, and equip newly arrived migrants and humanitarian entrants with the language skills they need to access services and participate in Australian society.

The Australian Government will continue to provide intensive initial settlement support to newly arrived refugees and humanitarian entrants.
The Humanitarian Settlement Services (HSS) program commenced was introduced in April 2011 and is delivered by contracted providers under an initial three year term.

HSS aims to equip clients with the skills and knowledge they need to independently access services beyond the first year.

The HSS program features tailored case management, flexible accommodation models, has a strong youth focus and introduces an Onshore Orientation Program (OOP).
The OOP provides clients with practical information to support their settlement into the community such as local orientation, money management, tenancy, education, health, employment, Australian law, driving and citizenship.

The HSS program aims to equip clients with the skills and knowledge to independently access services beyond the initial settlement period and strengthen their ability to participate in the social and economic life of Australia.
Funding $62.4 million was allocated by the Australian Government in 2011–12.
320 Refugees, humanitarian entrants and asylum seekers in the community 321 76 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 322 Refugees, humanitarian entrants and asylum seekers in the community (continued) The Australian Government has recently strengthened the Settlement Grants Program for delivery in 2012–13 by focusing funding on the delivery of quality services rather than on individual projects in recognition of the ongoing nature of settlement service delivery.
Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe DIAC 2012–13.

323 324 325 326 327 328 The Australian Government will continue to provide guardianship, monitoring and settlement support for eligible unaccompanied humanitarian minors in Australia until they reach 18 years of age.

Funding of $15.693 million was allocated in the 2012–13 Budget.
In January 2012, the Australian Government extended arrangements for the delivery of Complex Case Support services (CCS), with services commencing under a refreshed panel arrangement involving 35 service providers nationally.

These providers deliver intensive case management support to humanitarian entrants who have multiple and complex settlement needs that cannot be met by other settlement or mainstream programs.
The CCS program seeks to help clients to address their immediate needs and put in place supports that will assist clients to self-manage their medium and long-term needs.

The Victorian Department of Health is developing a Refugee Health and Wellbeing Plan 2012–22 to set priorities for actions to ensure that refugees and asylum seekers across Victoria achieve health outcomes comparable to the broader population.
The South Australian Equal Opportunities Commission will address barriers faced by skilled migrants on provisional visas in applying for work in the SA Public Sector.

The South Australian Government will provide specialist refugee health services to ensure that refugees, especially unaccompanied humanitarian minors, and asylum seekers across South Australia achieve health outcomes comparable to the broader population.
Funding has been provided to support improvement of the health and wellbeing outcomes of people of refugee background now living in Tasmania.

In 2010, a regional model was put in place to encourage local responsiveness to existing and emerging refugee health needs.

DIAC Ongoing.

DIAC Ongoing.

Department of Health (Vic) SA Attorney- General’s Department SA Dept for Health and Ageing 2012–22.
Reduction of health inequities experienced by refugees and asylum seekers, through early access to culturally responsive and comprehensive health services where and when they are most needed.

Ongoing.

Support provided.

Ongoing.

Provision of services.

Tas Government Ongoing.

77 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe Tas Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.

ACT Government Ongoing.


ACT Government 2010–14.

ACT Government Ongoing.

Priority Action The Bicultural Community Health Program aims to: • deliver culturally appropriate programs to new arrivals to Tasmania, especially refugees, and • provide training and service development to assist with appropriate, responsive, professional, effective and confident service provision to people affected by female genital mutilation.
The ACT Government is committed to assisting refugees, asylum seekers and other humanitarian entrants to settle in the ACT.

The ACT Refugee, Asylum Seeker and Humanitarian Coordination Committee (RASH) has been established to provide support to Canberra‘s emerging communities.
For example, the RASH had developed a Settlement Contact Information resource which provides important support information and key contact details for services and information most needed by refugees, asylum seekers and other humanitarian entrants.

The ACT Government provides housing assistance through public housing and the Refugee Transitional Housing Program which utilises up to 16 houses.

An emergency fund is administered by the Office of Multicultural Affairs for last resort emergency housing.
The ACT Government provides assistance to migrants to gain English language skills through services including the Adult Migrant English Program delivered by the Canberra Institute of Technology.

Dickson College campus is conducting a College Bridging Program for refugee students who are aged 16 years and over which focuses on English language and academic support, plus the broader welfare of the student, including support with settlement issues.
Students enrolled in this program are from Somalia, Sudan, Afghanistan, Burma and Ethiopia.

The ACT Government funds the Migrant and Refugee Settlement Service to undertake programs which fill gaps in service provision.

ACT Health provides a range of services and supports for refugees, asylum seekers and humanitarian entrants.

For example, Medicare ineligible asylum seekers are provided free of charge full Medicare services at ACT‘s public hospitals.
ACT Health also provides funding to Companion House for medical programs and counselling services for refugees and asylum seekers.

329 Refugees, humanitarian entrants and asylum seekers in the community (continued) 330 331 332 333 334 78 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Lead agency ACT Government Performance indicator/ timeframe Pilot program 2012.

ACT Government Ongoing.

AGD Ongoing.

AGD Ongoing.

SA Attorney- General’s Department ACT Government Ongoing.
Strategies developed.

Cabinet agreed to the 2012–16 ACT Language Policy on 28 August 2012.

Implementation will begin in November 2012.

Priority Action 335 Refugees, humanitarian entrants and asylum seekers in the community (continued) 336 On 5 September 2011, the ACT Government launched its Services Access Card for use by asylum seekers to gain smoother access to a range of services.
The card aims to alleviate the need for these individuals to retell their stories at service delivery points across the ACT administration.

Companion House is administering the card program.

The ACT provides support for asylum seekers who live in community detention while their claims are being processed.
337 Access to justice The Australian Government will continue to fund community legal centres, including those with a primary focus on providing legal information and help in relation to refugee and immigration matters.

The Australian Government has allocated $1.5 million over four years commencing in 2010.
338 339 340 The Australian Government will continue providing funding to enable the community legal centres to utilise the services of the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) when assisting culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) clients.

The Government has allocated $2.3 million over four years commencing in 2010.

The South Australian Government (via the Commissioner for Victims’ Rights) will develop strategies to inform victims of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The 2012–16 ACT Language Policy takes a whole of government approach to the use of interpreter services.
The Policy details the ACT Government’s four-themed commitment in relation to ‘languages’ that: • all Canberrans will have the opportunity to acquire English language skills • all Canberrans will be able to access language services to improve their use of government- funded services and programs • all Canberrans will be encouraged to learn and treasure languages other than English, and • embrace the economic benefits of the knowledge of other languages and cultures to increase tourism, global markets, trade and international education.
79 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 341 Community attitudes and multi- culturalism33 342 343 344 345 33 The Race Discrimination Commissioner of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) leads the development and delivery of a National Anti-Racism Partnership and Strategy, including government and non-government partners (Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia and the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples).
In 2012, the AHRC undertook extensive national consultations.

The resulting national anti-racism campaign, Racism.

It stops with me, was launched on 24 August 2012, and will be implemented over three years to 2015.

The Australian Government will continue to engage with and monitor the effectiveness of the independent and non-partisan Australian Multicultural Council (AMC) which was established in 2011.

Since September 2012, the AMC has met eight times and provided advice to Government in various forms.
The Australian Government will monitor the effectiveness of the People of Australia Ambassadors program to promote the benefits of multiculturalism.

In January 2012, 40 Ambassadors were appointed for a 12 month term, following a national Expression of Interest which generated over 350 applications.

The Australian Government conducted an inquiry into the responsiveness of Australian Government services to clients disadvantaged by cultural or linguistic barriers.
In June 2012, an independent inquiry panel provided the Government with an assessment of the Australian Government’s current approach to Access and Equity, and prioritised recommendations for improving the responsiveness of Australian Government services to a culturally and linguistically diverse population.

The Government is developing its response to these recommendations.
The Australian Government will work with state and territory governments under the Council Of Australian Governments to endeavour to ensure that data collected by government agencies on client services can be disaggregated by markers of cultural diversity.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe AHRC, DIAC, FAHCSIA, AGD, the Australian Multicultural Council (AMC) The Strategy was launched on 24 August 2012, with implementation of the strategy rolled out over three years (2012–15).

DIAC Ongoing.
DIAC Ongoing.

DIAC The Program itself is ongoing.

DIAC The Panel delivered its final report and recommendations to the Australian Government in June 2012.

DIAC is currently progressing a whole-of- government response to the recommendations.

DIAC 2012–14.
33 UPR Rec 48 (Islamic Republic of Iran): A; UPR Rec 59 (Algeria): A; UPR Rec 60 (Sweden): A; UPR Rec 61 (Singapore): A; UPR Rec 62 (Malaysia): A; UPR Rec 63 (Morocco): A; UPR Rec 64 (Yemen): A; UPR Rec 65 (Russian Federation): A 80 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action 346 Community attitudes and multi- culturalism (continued) 347 348 349 350 351 352 The Australian Government will monitor the effectiveness of the recently established Multicultural Arts and Festivals Grants (MAFG), a subset of the Diversity and Social Cohesion Program (DSCP).
MAFG provides funding for multicultural arts and festivals small grants to support community organisations to express their cultural heritages and traditions.

This encourages social cohesion and mutual understanding.

The Australian Government has committed $500,000 over four years commencing 2011–12 from the DSCP appropriation.

Monitor the effectiveness of the recently established Multicultural Youth Sports Partnership Program.
The Australian Government coordinates an annual Harmony Day to celebrate Australia’s cultural diversity on March 21 to coincide with the United Nations Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

The Australian Government will undertake future work on community grants to promote social cohesion and combat violent extremism e.g.

Building Community Resilience Youth Mentoring Grants Program.
The Australian Government will continue to fund the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) to provide advice on the views and needs of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

The Government allocated $432,000 in 2012–13.


Australian Governments will work together with international students and the international education sector to implement the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) International Students Strategy for Australia 2010–14 to support a high quality experience for international students.
The Victorian Government will continue to support health service providers to better meet the needs of the diverse communities they serve, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds through a variety of initiatives.
Examples include: • Cultural Responsiveness Framework: guidelines for Victorian Health Services, specifying standards for reporting, and • Victorian Patient Satisfaction Monitor, to survey and collate information about patients’ experiences with adult in-patient healthcare in Victorian hospitals.

Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe DIAC Applicants may apply for funding on an ongoing basis.

Applications are considered through distinct cycles over the financial year.

Ongoing.
Ongoing.

Australian Sports Commission DIAC Annual.

AGD Funding across four years was provided in the 2010–11 Budget terminating in 2013–14.

DIAC, FECCA Annual.

Ongoing.

DIISRTE, states and territories Department of Health (Vic) Ongoing.

Improved access and responsiveness of health services for people from CALD backgrounds.
81 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Priority Action Lead agency Performance indicator/ timeframe 353 Community attitudes and multi- culturalism (continued) The South Australian Government will provide grants to support activities that increase understanding of the culturally diverse community in which we live and improve equality and tolerance in society.
354 355 The South Australian Government will support health service providers to better meet the needs of the diverse communities they serve, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds through a range of initiatives.

The Tasmanian Government has implemented a process of anonymous reporting of incidents of racial vilification and or violence in the community to allow for monitoring of the incidences of such and to allow for targeting of programs to address incidences.
This is in addition to formal complaint mechanisms to allow for a nonthreatening process.

The Tasmanian Government has allocated $20,000 per annum to this initiative.

SA Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (Multicultural SA ) SA Department for Health and Ageing Ongoing.

Grants provided.

Ongoing.

Provision of services.

Tas Government Launched 2010.

Monitoring The Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department will monitor overall implementation of the Action Plan.
Reporting on progress will be timed to coincide with the Australian Government’s next Universal Periodic Review report expected in 2015.

All information in the Action Plan is current as at 25 September 2012.

Priority Action 356 Data collection and analysis The Australian Government will work to improve measurement of progress on human rights in Australia.
This work will commence with the development of indicators relating to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, to be linked to the evaluation of the National Anti-Racism Strategy.

Lead agency AGD, AHRC Performance indicator/ timeframe Ongoing.
A suite of indicators developed in time for evaluation of the National Anti-Racism Strategy 83 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society ACkNOWlEDGEMENTS The Australian Government would like to thank the following non-government organisations and individuals for their contributions to consultations on the National Human Action Plan, along with those who elected not to have their submissions published: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Legal Service Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Legal and Advocacy Service ACT Human Rights Commission Amnesty International Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Australian Bahai Community Australian Centre for Disability Law (formerly NSW Disability Discrimination Legal Centre Inc) Australian Christian Lobby Australian Federation of Aids Organisations Australian Federation of Disability Organisations Australian Human Rights Commission Australian Lawyers for Human Rights Australian Lawyers for Human Rights Cairns Community Legal Centre’s Disability Discrimination Service.
Castan Centre for Human Rights Law Gerard Crewdson Environment Defenders Office (Victoria) Executive Council of Australian Jewry FamilyVoice Australia Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW) Human Rights Law Centre Kathy Knoble Law Council of Australia Legal Aid New South Wales Multicultural Council of the Northern Territory Multicultural Youth Advocacy Network National Children’s Youth Law Centre National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples National LGBTI Health Alliance Netball Australia NSW Young Lawyers Human Rights Committee Organisation Intersex International Australia People with Disability Australia People with Disability Western Australia Public Interest Advocacy Centre Refugee Council of Australia Scarlet Alliance United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Uniting Justice Australia (Uniting Church) 84 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society Vision Australia Women with Disabilities Australian Capital Territory Womens Health Victoria Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Women’s Legal Service Victoria Women’s Legal Services New South Wales Youth Advocacy Centre Youthlaw The Australian Government would also like to acknowledge the following State and Territory Government Departments for coordinating within their jurisdiction: New South Wales Department of Premier and Cabinet Victorian Department of Justice Queensland Department of Justice and Attorney-General Western Australia Department of the Premier and Cabinet South Australian Department of the Premier and Cabinet Tasmanian Department of Justice Australian Capital Territory Government Justice and Community Safety Directorate Northern Territory Department of Justice The National Human Rights Action Plan Secretariat was based in the Human Rights Policy Branch of the Australian Government Attorney-General’s Department.
85 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society lIST OF ACRONyMS ABS ADF AFP AGD AHRC ALRC AMC Australian Bureau of Statistics Australian Defence Force Australian Federal Police Attorney-General’s Department Australian Human Rights Commission Australian Law Reform Commission Australian Multicultural Council ANZPAA The Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency APS ASEAN ATHOS Auslan BLITS CALD CCS CDPP CEDAW CERD COAG CRC CRPD CVS DBCDE DCCEE DEWR DFAT DHP DIAC DoHA DoJ DRF Australian Public Service Association of South East Asian Nations Aboriginal Transitional Housing Outreach Service Australian Sign Language Business Leaders Innovative Thoughts and Solutions Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Complex Case Support program Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Council of Australian Governments Convention on the Rights of the Child Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Community Visitors Scheme Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Disability Housing Program Department of Immigration and Citizenship Department of Health and Ageing Department of Justice Disability Rights Fund DS NMDS Disability Services National Minimum Dataset Diversity and Social Cohesion Program Disability Support Pension Domestic Violence Order Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Council of Australia DSCP DSP DVO FaHCSIA FECCA 86 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society FWO HSS ICCPR ICESCR ICMS IEDS IGIS ILO IMAs Fair Work Australia Humanitarian Settlement Services International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Integrated Case Management Service Indigenous Economic Development Strategy Inspector General of Intelligence Services International Labour Organisation Irregular Maritime Arrivals INSLM Independent National Security Monitor IOT Health Services Indian Ocean Territories Health Services ITAS LGBTI MAFG Intensive Treatment and Support Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Multicultural Arts and Festivals Grants NATSIWA National Aboriginal and Torres Straight Island Women’s Alliance NDA NDIS NDS NGOs NHRAP NJCEO NPAH National Disability Agreement National Disability Insurance Scheme National Disability Strategy Non-Government Organisations National Human Rights Action Plan National Justice Chief Executive Officers National Partnership Agreement on Homeless NSWLRC New South Wales Law Reform Commission NT AIS NTPS OHCHR OOP OPCAT PJCIS PM&C RSO SAIF TIS UN UNICEF UNTOC WCBS Northern Territory Aboriginal Interpreter Service Northern Territory Public Service Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Onshore Orientation Program Operational Protocol on the Conventions Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Regional Support Office Supported Accommodation Innovation Fund Translating and Interpreting Service United Nations United Nations Children Fund United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime Wheelchair Accessible Taxi Centralised Booking Service 87 National Human Rights Action Plan 2012 Achieving A just And secure society