Yoorrook CEO Hugh de Kretser to head Human Rights Commission

Yoorrook Justice Commission CEO Hugh de Kretser has been appointed as the new president of the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Hugh de Kretser is the new head of the Human Rights Commission. Picture: AFP

Victorian truth-telling body chief executive Hugh de Kretser has been appointed as the next president of the Australian Human Rights Commission, in a major shake up of the body’s leadership that will likely see Indigenous justice become a greater focus.

Mr de Kretser will step into the role, where he will replace Rosalind Croucher, after two years at the helm of the Yoorrook Justice Commission investigating historic and ongoing injustices committed against Indigenous people.

Since it was established by then premier Daniel Andrews in 2021, the commission has heard hours of evidence and received more than 100 submissions detailing the impact of colonisation on First Nations people, culminating in the release of a 445-page report.

The commission made a series of bold proposals to improve outcomes for First Nations Victorians, including abolishing juvenile detention for under-16s and establishing a separate child protection system for Indigenous children.

Yoorrook – chaired by Indigenous elder and academic Eleanor Bourke – also recommended reforms to the Bail Act, raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility in the state to 14 years, and called for a new independent police watchdog.

Professor Bourke said the new role would allow Mr de Kretser to continue his “pursuit of justice and human rights for First Peoples, and indeed all Australians”, thanking him for his “tireless work” in his time as Yoorrook’s chief executive.

“With Hugh’s assistance, the commission has continued to show that truth-telling is a pathway towards justice,” she said.

“It is about creating a shared history, shaping a better future and a new relationship between First Peoples and all Victorians. Hugh will be greatly missed by Yoorrook’s staff and commissioners.

“We are thrilled that he will be continuing his pursuit of justice and human rights for First Peoples, and indeed all Australians, in his new role at the Australian Human Rights Commission.”

The Victorian Labor government has flagged plans to share the wealth of renewable and other power projects with the state’s Aboriginal peoples in a bid to prevent further “land injustice”.

The highly anticipated response, handed down last month, revealed the Allan government supported only four of the report’s 46 recommendations in full. It supported 24 recommendations in principle, had rejected three and was considering the other 15.

Mr de Kretser will replace Professor Croucher in the top role at the AHRC when she departs in July after her seven year term ­expires.

“On behalf of commissioners and staff, I am delighted to welcome Mr de Kretser to the commission,” she said.

“For over 20 years he has been a dedicated and effective advocate for positive change for people and communities whose human rights are at risk. I look forward to handing the baton to Mr de Kretser as he takes the commission into its next phase in its critical role of protecting and promoting human rights in Australia.”

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus announced Mr de Kretser ­appointment on Friday, con­grat­ulating him on the role and highlighting the president’s vital role in managing the administrative affairs of the human rights body.

“The AHRC … plays a critical role in upholding the rights of all Australians to be treated with dignity and live their lives free from discrimination,” he said.

Mr de Kretser was formerly Human Rights Law Centre executive director and head of the Victorian Federation of Community Legal Centres.