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The significant role capital plays in shaping our society and environment – both positively and negatively – is in focus more than ever before, writes Simon O’Connor, CEO of the Responsible Investment Association Australasia.

Many investors are beginning to look at the impacts of their investments to gain a better understanding of the contributions they are making to communities and the planet. Consumers too are starting to demand their investments be invested responsibly and ethically.

At the same time, not-for-profit organisations and social entrepreneurs are exploring …

People with disability will be at greater risk of violence during the National Disability Insurance Scheme transition until certain ambiguities are resolved, an Australian Human Rights Commission report says.

The report released on Monday said it was essential states and territories maintained relevant quality, safeguarding and oversight mechanisms until the Commonwealth completely rolled out the NDIS in their jurisdiction.

There was still “a significant level of uncertainty” about resolving a number of key issues regarding the transition to the Commonwealth, the report said.

“Until ambiguities are …

It’s important that charities and civil society organisations turn their attention to state and territory electoral laws, writes Krystian Seibert.

Since the end of last year, there’s been a lot of focus on the federal government’s proposed changes to the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, which would impose new compliance and reporting requirements on organisations which undertake public advocacy on policy issues, including charities.

Whilst there has rightly been a focus on the Commonwealth Electoral Act and its impact on charities and other so called “third …

How do we protect our human rights when technology is changing the way we live at an unprecedented pace?

Driverless cars choosing who to save in a crash, big data targeting democratic systems, personal information being leaked by hackers.

The Australian Human Rights Commission will be tackling the human rights implications of emerging technology with local and international leaders in industry, government and academia at a landmark event in Sydney on 24 July.

The international Human Rights and Technology Conference will also launch a major commission …

Eva Mackinley is the founder and CEO of The Last Straw, a campaign to reduce the use of the plastic straws in venues around Australia. She is this week’s Changemaker.  

Mackinley has been involved in social activism since the age of 15, and in 2010 was selected as one of 14 young people to sit on the federal government’s Australian Youth Forum Steering Committee.

In 2015 she founded The Last Straw, a campaign to reduce the use of the plastic straws in Australian venues by encouraging …