Waleed Aly, Michael Kirby, Jennifer Robinson, Adam Spencer and Nazeem Hussain are part of a unique and compelling show during the upcoming Vivid Sydney festival which will explore how an Australian Human Rights Act could help stop rights going wrong in the future. 

Part of the Vivid Ideas program, Rights On Time puts a fresh spin on the panel format by locating Nazeem Hussain in a hypothetical 2034, where a populist government has a created a bleak future with compulsory brain implants, backyard nuclear waste dumps, AI judges, outback water wars, Pacific climate refugee crackdowns and Centrelink debt recovery gulags. Check out Nazeem’s message from the future: https://youtu.be/rWEKhaV1yP0

Nazeem uses his hilarious satire to set the scene for each issue which the panel – led by broadcaster and comedian Adam Spencer – then explores from a range of perspectives, including the ways in which a Human Rights Act would provide people and communities with increased protection from breaches of their rights now and in the future.

Australia is the only liberal democracy in the world without a charter or bill of rights, and the show explores how an Australian Human Rights Act would help improve how people in Australia experience justice, equity, compassion and respect. A week before the conference, the Federal Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights is set to release its highly-anticipated report into the elements of a new national human rights framework, including whether an Australian Human Rights Act should be enacted.

The panel includes:

• Writer, academic and TV presenter Waleed Aly
• International human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson (represents Julian Assange)
• International jurist, educator and former High Court judge Michael Kirby
• Writer, presenter and comedian Nazeem Hussain (beaming in from the future via video)  
• Writer, commentator and social justice advocate Sisonke Msimang
• First Nations advocate and AFL Diversity & Inclusion Gen. Mngr Tanya Hosch
• Australian Human Rights Commission President Em. Prof. Rosalind Croucher

The show is the curtain raiser for the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference on Friday 6 June, a landmark national gathering of hundreds of human rights advocates and supporters aimed at paving the way for a revitalisation of Australia’s human rights framework with an Australian Human Rights Act at the centre: www.freeandequal.com.au

The conference is being presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission. Commission President Em. Prof. Rosalind Croucher said: “Our Rights On Time panel show provides a wonderfully entertaining way for people to engage with this very significant potential reform to Australia’s legal and administrative frameworks that would change the face of human rights in our country.”

“Tickets for the show are now available from as low as $35. We’re eager to share information about the benefits of a Human Rights Act with as many people as possible, so I encourage anyone with an interest in how human rights are practised in Australia to take advantage of this generous offer to attend this timely and entertaining discussion about advancing human rights in Australia.

Rights-based solutions to critical social issues set to take centre stage at landmark forum in Sydney

With a plethora of issues currently impacting significantly on the rights of people across Australia, an upcoming landmark national conference during the Vivid Sydney festival is set to explore a range of new approaches to protecting and promoting human rights in Australia.

Concerns about racism and freedom of speech stemming from the impact of the war in Gaza; Australia’s domestic violence, youth justice, immigration and housing crises; discrimination against First Nations and transgender people; addressing the recommendations of the recent Disability Royal Commission – these and many other issues will frame discussions at the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference over 6 and 7 June.

Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the conference is set to attract hundreds of delegates from across Australia’s human rights, civil society, legal, justice, government and business sectors to discuss a range of human rights and social justice issues, including paving the way for the introduction of an Australian Human Rights Act and reforming Australia’s Race, Sex, Disability and Age Discrimination Acts.

A week before the conference, the Federal Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights is set to release its highly-anticipated report into the elements of a new national human rights framework, including whether an Australian Human Rights Act should be enacted and if Australia’s suite of anti-discrimination Acts should be updated.

Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher said: “Human rights are at the forefront of many issues which feature in today’s headlines, so our conference couldn’t be timelier in terms of exploring how we can improve how people in Australia experience justice, equity, compassion and respect.   

“An Australian Human Rights Act as well as proposed updates to Australia’s anti-discrimination laws would be major reforms that would have a significant impact on Australia’s legal, justice, government, civil society and business sectors, so understanding the trajectory of these proposals is vital for people working across these areas, including students of law, politics, business and culture.”

“Coming hot on the heels of the PJCHR’s inquiry, the Free + Equal Conference is a not-to-be-missed gathering for anyone with an interest in human rights to be involved in a very timely discussion about how we can advance human rights in Australia and build momentum for a revitalisation of our human rights framework with an Australian Human Rights Act at the centre.”

More than 60 eminent experts, thought leaders, social justice advocates and community heroes will provide a lively and inspirational blend of views, insights and perspectives at what promises to be Australia’s premier human rights event for 2024.

Waleed Aly, Jennifer Robison, Michael Kirby, Adam Spencer, Nazeem Hussain and others will kick off proceedings with the future-shock Rights On Time panel show on Thursday 6 June, while Ten News First presenter Narelda Jacobs will emcee the full day conference on Friday 7 June which will feature more than 50 diverse speakers and panellists across 12 engaging sessions and events. Find out more: www.freeandequal.com.au

Delegates will learn about the benefits and opportunities a Human Rights Act will deliver as well as how to activate community support and engagement for this long overdue reform. Sessions will also focus on other key human rights-related issues including: preventing racism; improving children’s rights and youth justice; exploring the intersection of business, technology and human rights; and marking 40 years of Australia’s ground-breaking Sex Discrimination Act.

The keynote address will be delivered jointly by eminent international jurist and former High Court judge Michael Kirby and leading international human rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson (who represents Julian Assange). Other speakers include:

• All but one of Australia’s national human rights commissioners: Katie Kiss, Robert Fitzgerald, Giri Sivaraman, Anne Hollonds, Dr Anna Cody and Lorraine Finlay (Disability Discrimination Commissioner Rosemary Kayess will be overseas) 
• Eminent human rights law professors and practitioners Philip Alston, Kim Rubenstein, George Williams, John Tobin, Chris Ronalds, Kate Eastman, Amanda Third, Sarah Moulds and Geoffrey Levey
• UNSW Chief Scientist Prof. Toby Walsh, Australia’s Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind and Human Rights Law Centre CEO Caitlin Reiger
• First Nations rights advocates and academics June Oscar, Karly Warner, Nareen Young and Vanessa Turnbull-Roberts
• Human rights and social justice advocates Tasneem Chopra, Juliana Nkrumah, Zaki Haidari, Rob Hulls, Assoc. Prof. Ramona Vijeyarasa, Alan Wu and Daney Faddoul
• Disability rights advocates Dr Dinesh Palipana, Samantha Connor, Natalie Wade and Hannah Diviney
• LGBTIQ+ advocates Anna Brown, Ghassan Kassisieh and Aisya Zaharin
• Youth advocates Zahra Al Hilaly, Seleena Blackley, Anjali Sharma and Kupakwashe Matangira
• Business and human rights experts Dr Pichamon Yeophantong, Dr Meg Brodie, Siobhan Toohill, Sarah McGrath, Prof. Kristy Muir and Ilona Millar
• For-purpose media and messaging experts Sam Koslowski, Hannah Ferguson, Mark Chenery and Gemma Pitcher

The conference is also part of this year’s Vivid Sydney festival, providing visiting delegates with opportunities to indulge in all the fabulous entertainment, food, music and spectacle that the Vivid Sydney festival offers. Stay for the King’s Birthday long weekend and make your time in Sydney a memorable getaway!

Esteemed international jurist, human rights advocate and former Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby is one of several new speakers and panellists who have been announced as participants in the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference during this year’s Vivid Sydney festival.

Justice Kirby will join the line-up for the Rights On Time show on the evening of Thursday 6 June in the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom where he’ll panel through time with Waleed Aly, Jennifer Robinson, Nazeem Hussain, Adam Spencer and others as they try to save the future from rights gone wrong.

Other speakers and panellists who have just been announced include:

• Academic, lawyer and First Nations rights advocate Dr Hannah McGlade
• Human Rights Law Centre CEO Caitlin Reiger
• Human Rights Law Centre Campaign Manager Daney Faddoul
• Transgender rights advocate Aisya Zaharin
• Daily Aus co-founder and media commentator Sam Koslowski 
• Cheek Media Founder/CEO and media commentator Hannah Ferguson
• Common Cause Director and values-based messaging expert Mark Chenery
• Common Cause Associate and values-based messaging expert Gemma Pitcher

Presented by the Australian Human Rights Commission, the Free + Equal Human Rights Conference will take place over 6 and 7 June at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney and will focus on revitalising Australia’s human rights framework, including efforts to introduce an Australian Human Rights Act. The conference will include 12 engaging sessions and events featuring a diverse line-up of more than 60 eminent experts, thought leaders, social justice advocates and community heroes.

Hundreds of delegates from across Australia’s human rights, civil society, legal, justice, government and business sectors are set to attend the event at which the Federal Government is expected to respond to recent reviews by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Australian Human Rights Commission into revitalising our country’s approach to human rights, including a proposal from the Commission for an Australian Human Rights Act. Find out more: www.freeandequal.com.au

Conference delegates will learn about the benefits and opportunities a Human Rights Act will deliver as well as how to activate community support and engagement for this long overdue reform. Sessions will also focus on other key human rights-related issues including: enhancing Australia's anti-discrimination laws; preventing racism; improving children’s rights and youth justice; exploring the intersection of business, technology and human rights; and marking 40 years of Australia’s ground-breaking Sex Discrimination Act.

Commission President Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher said: “An Australian Human Rights Act would be a major reform that would have a significant impact on Australia’s legal, justice, government, civil society and business sectors, so understanding the trajectory of its introduction is vital for people working across these areas.

“Delegates will also be able to get the latest information on a range of other key human rights and anti-discrimination issues, ensuring they come away informed, connected and activated in new and exciting ways which will help them develop their professional practice and personal advocacy.”

Early bird discounts of 10% are available on all conference registrations purchased by 5pm 14 April 2024.