Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights Awards 2011
The first thing I would like to do right now
is acknowledge the traditional owners of this land
which is the Cadigal Clan of the Eora Nation,
and now welcome up on the stage Michael West
to present the traditional Welcome to Country.
Please make him welcome.
It's very important we to take a moment of silence
to pay our respects to not only the Cadigal of Eora
but to all ... elders,
traditional owners and custodians,
that is of the past, present and future
for looking after this wonderful land,
this sunburnt country we call it Australia,
and for looking after the spirit of the land,
and the culture.
Building understanding and respect for rights
remains an important challenge.
We will all be better off if more of us are empowered
to address violence, harassment and bullying,
and to assist those who have newly arrived
to feel at home,
if more of us understand how we unwittingly exclude
those with disability from so much of public life.
I'm delighted today to be able
to introduce a key initiative of the Commission,
Something in Common.
Something in Common is a social media initiative.
It engages with individuals about human rights
in ways that will inspire them to promote, defend
and apply human rights in their daily lives.
Freedom Equality
Something in Common Respect - Belonging
When I realized what the rates of abuse of women
were in Australia,
I couldn't stand by and not get involved.
When students do hear about human rights,
they get information and they start getting involved,
there is a real passion that emerges.
For more information go to somethingincommon.gov.au.
And for human rights facts go to tellmesomethingidontknow.gov.au.
Thank you and have a wonderful Human Rights Day tomorrow.
Thank you very much Catherine.
Something that Catherine didn't touch on all that much
but it's at the top of everyone's mind at the moment
I think is gay marriage
after the ALP National Conference and that kind of thing.
I tweeted about gay marriage, I'm obviously in support of it
and it's amazing the responses you get back from that.
One of the arguments that I find the most hilarious
is: "It's the thin edge of the wedge.
If you allow the gays to get married, what's next?
People will be allowed to marry anything. Anything!"
That has already happened.
Let us not forget that Kyle Sandilands once had a wife.
And I would now like to welcome back to the stage
Commission President Catherine Branson
to introduce the Law Award
sponsored by the Law Council of Australia.
The Law Award recognizes an individual or organization
for promoting human rights through the practice of law.
And the winner of the 2011 Law Award
is Allens Arthur Robinson,
Debbie Mortimer SC, Richard Niall,
and the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre.
Thank you very much to the Commission for the award.
I'd like to think though that the award
doesn't just recognize the work on those two matters,
but the work by hundreds or probably thousands of lawyers
around Australia who act pro bono for asylum seekers.
The Community Individual Award
is a chance to recognize everyday people
doing extraordinary things.
And now the winner of the 2011 Community Individual Award
goes to the late Lola Jane Edwards.
Please join with me in welcoming Lola's husband, Bill Pritchard
to accept the award for Lola. Thank you.
I lost my Bub five months ago, almost five months ago.
She failed to close the gap by five weeks.
She was passionate about Aboriginal health.
She was passionate about Aboriginal social justice
and that was her passion.
She continued to fight for social justice
for the Stolen Generations to the end.
I'll just say one last thing.
She was actually nominated for Order of Australia
at one stage, and they rang her up
and said: you'll have to swear and agree to take it.
And she said, and I apologize: "Not until that ... says sorry."
Sponsored by the Co-op Bookshop,
the Literature Non-Fiction Award
recognizes the extraordinary depth of talent
and sheer determination that goes into composing
a piece of non-fiction that can change hearts and minds.
The winner of the 2011 Literature Non-Fiction Award is
"Half a Citizen: Life on Welfare"
by John Murphy, Suellen Murray, Jenny Chalmers,
Sonia Martin and Greg Marston.
Today we are recognizing the achievement
of those individuals who have been so endowed with reason,
good conscience and act in a spirit of brotherhood
to advance the cause of human rights as required by Article I
of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights.
But I mentioned our participation
before the universal periodic review
and we committed to that to renew Australia's
National Action Plan on Human Rights.
And the National Action Plan
will assist in prioritizing our efforts
to those most pressing areas.
Can I also briefly mention the work
of the Australian Human Rights Commission
which is being supported at a government level
in my area and Senator Kate Lundy
in terms of developing the anti-racism partnership strategy
and commend Helen Szoke
for the work she is already doing in that area.
Thank you Attorney.
It's great to have the chance to work with an attorney
who has a real passion for human rights.
And Corinne, can I just add my two,
and there are only two words, to those who say
that gay marriage will damage the institution of marriage,
and those words are: Kim Kardashian.
And now the Radio Award.
I'm absolutely delighted. It's my first experience
at the Australian Human Rights Commission Awards,
and to that end I will stay on script, Graham.
The Print and Online Media Award is sponsored by Vibe Australia.
This award recognizes the research, writing
and analytical skills required to provide outstanding journalism
in print or online.
And the winner of the Print and Online Award for 2011
is Adele Horin of Fairfax Newspapers.
The Community Organization Award is sponsored
by the David Unaipon College of Indigenous Education and Research.
The winner of the 2011 Community Organization Award
is Swags for the Homeless.
I'm very grateful to be here.
I am humbled to be standing here on behalf of Gracia.
And thank you to the Commission
for obviously choosing her as the winner.
Now is the time we've all been waiting for,
the 2011 Human Rights Medal.
The Human Rights Medal is awarded to Australians
who have worked above and beyond the call of duty
to protect, promote and advance the human rights of others.
The winner of the 2011 Human Rights Medal is
Ron Merkel QC.
Unfortunately long before this medal was on my father's horizon,
he and my mom were committed to being in India.
My father was both thrilled and humbled
when told about winning the medal in such an extraordinary group
that had certainly equalled his achievements.
Thank you very much.
Ladies and gentlemen, that brings us to the end
of the formal proceedings for today.
We have the room until 3pm so you've got a chance to mingle,
congratulate the winners and all the finalists as well.
On days like this when we celebrate the people who have made a change
lets you all know that your work matters.
Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights Awards 2011