The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) is a national independent statutory body of the Australian Government. It has the responsibility for investigating alleged infringements under Australia’s anti-discrimination legislation. According to its website, matters that can be investigated by the Commission include "discrimination on the grounds of race, colour or ethnic origin, racial vilification, sex, sexual harassment, marital status, pregnancy, or disability." The Commission falls under the portfolio of the Attorney-General of Australia.

Commission Presidents

• The Hon. John von Doussa (current)
• Professor Alice Tay 1998 - 2003
• Sir Ronald Wilson 1990 - 1998
• Hon. Justice Marcus Einfeld 1986 - 1990

Legislation

The Commission investigates alleged infringements under the following legislation:

• Racial Discrimination Act 1975
• Sex Discrimination Act 1984
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• Age Discrimination Act 2004
• Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986

Public inquiries

One of the more visible functions of the Commission is to conduct public inquiries. Some examples of inquires conducted include:

• Same-Sex: Same Entitlements Inquiry into financial and workplace discrimination against same-sex couples
• Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families
• National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
• Homeless Children Inquiry
• Pregnancy Discrimination Inquiry
• Inquiry into the Accessibility of electronic commerce and new service and information technologies for older Australians and people with a disability
• Inquiry into Human Rights and Good Governance Education in the Asia Pacific Region

External links

• The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission website

Government of Australia | Law enforcement in Australia