Goal: to be recognised and consulted as the leading human rights agency in Queensland.

Overview:
2004-05 was a big year for the promotion of human rights in Queensland. The Commission undertook its most ambitious activity with the inaugural Mabo Oration, which attracted 800 people from throughout Queensland. The success of the event contributed significantly to discussion on Indigenous issues, the profile of the Commission, and our stated goal of being recognised as the leading human rights agency in Queensland.

Complaint numbers were up again on the previous year with 1118 grounds of complaint accepted.

The Commission also maintained and expanded the roles of the advisory committees, engaged in new and ongoing partnerships with other agencies, celebrated important events and represented the Commission views on a range of government and community committees and groups. Staff travelled the state for training, speaking and consultative commitments, engaged the media on 97 occasions across a huge range of issues, and lodged five submissions on subjects as varied as discrimination in employment on the basis of criminal record, Queensland multicultural policy, the national plan of action on decent work, employment and disability,and a review of Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Agreement.

Women in Prison Review
In June last year, a submission was made to the Commission from the advocacy/service organisation, Sisters Inside, requesting an inquiry into issues of alleged discrimination faced by women in prison.

Discrimination was alleged on the basis of sex, disability and race, and particular examples included the classification system, the number of low security beds, conditional and community release, work and other programs, and stripsearching.

The Commission considered the request and agreed to conduct a review into issues affecting women in prison.

The review team drafted terms of reference, placed ads in newspapers calling for submissions, developed a proforma submission and other information for the website, sent letters to specific stakeholders, conducted research on best practice in both Australia and overseas, visited every prison in Queensland housing women inmates, and organised meetings with specific groups, such as ex-prisoners.

We are currently developing a draft report with recommendations for release later this year.