Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission

1. Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission1986–2009
2. Australian Human Rights Commission2009–present

Established on 10 December 1986 under the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986, replacing the Human Rights Commission and taking over the role of the Commissioner for Community Relations under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.

Legislation: Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986

1. 1 January 1989The Privacy Commissioner, a member of the commission, began regulating Commonwealth agencies' handling of personal information when the Privacy Act 1988 commenced.
2. 1993Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner position created within the commission.
3. 1 March 1993Took on administration of the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, with a Disability Discrimination Commissioner.
4. 2004Took on administration of the Age Discrimination Act 2004.
5. September 2008Began using the name Australian Human Rights Commission ahead of the formal change of name.

Renamed the Australian Human Rights Commission on 5 August 2009 by the Disability Discrimination and Other Human Rights Legislation Amendment Act 2009, having used that name informally since 2008.

• Investigation and conciliation of discrimination complaints
• National human rights inquiries
• Human rights education and research
• Advice on Commonwealth laws and international human rights obligations
• Privacy regulation (1989-2000)

Last in the portfolio of Attorney-General's Department.

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