ALHR

ALHR has written to members of the Senate cross bench urging them to consider voting outright against the passage of the Australian Citizenship Legislation Amendment (Strengthening the Requirements for Australian Citizenship and Other Measures) Bill 2017 (Cth) (the Bill). The Australian Government is seeking to make substantial changes to the requirements for the acquisition of … Read More >>

In an initiative led by Women’s Legal Service NSW, ALHR along with 87 other organisations has signed an open letter to Minister Kean and Minister Goward, urging the NSW Government to expand the evidence victims of domestic violence will be able to rely on to end their tenancy immediately without penalty. As the Women’s Legal … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the Commonwealth Government’s announcement that it will reinstate funding previously cut from the Australian Community Legal Centre sector (the CLC sector) in the 2017–18 Budget. ALHR has written to the Commonwealth Attorney General thanking him for making this important decision. However, while his office’s press release suggests there … Read More >>

ALHR has written to the new Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan and WA Attorney General John Quigley congratulating them on their very successful election result and offering our support for the introduction of a Western Australian Human Rights Act. Australia remains alone amongst western liberal democracies and common law legal systems as bereft of a constitutional … Read More >>

ALHR has written to the the Hon Susan Kiefel AC to express our congratulations on her appointment as Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and to the Hon James Edelman congratulating him on his appointment to the Court. The appointment of the Hon Susan Kiefel AC as  Chief Justice is historic by virtue … Read More >>

ALHR’s Refugee Rights Subcommittee has been advocating strongly against the Federal Government’s proposed permanent ban on certain refugees ever entering Australia, even on a tourist visa. Under the proposed legislation, persons who arrived in Australia by boat on or after 19 July 2013 and who were over 18 years old at the time they were taken … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has written an open letter to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urging him to ensure that the terms of reference for any Royal Commission into the abuse of child detainees include a broader inquiry into the youth justice systems in all Australian jurisdictions. Dear Prime Minister, RE: Royal Commission should … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urging him to ensure that the terms of reference for any Royal Commission into the abuse of child detainees include a broader inquiry into the youth justice systems in all Australian jurisdictions. ALHR Vice President Kerry Weste said, “Deep systemic failures exist … Read More >>

Benedict Coyne, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) attended the launch of the Victorian Legal Aid Legacy Caseload Initiative on Sunday 17 April 2016.  The initiative is in partnership with Justice Connect, Refugee Legal (Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre Inc) and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre. Following the launch, ALHR wrote to the … Read More >>

ALHR has written to the Northern Territory’s Chief Minister, Attorney-General, members of the shadow ministry and the Northern Territory Children’s Commissioner outlining concerns proposed presumptions against bail to be introduced with the Northern Territory Bail Amendment Bill 2016. ALHR Vice President Kerry Weste said, “The proposed Bill will establish a regime that is not only costly and … Read More >>

On Sunday 17 April 2016, ALHR President Benedict Coyne attended the launch of the Victorian Legal Aid Legacy Caseload Initiative. This initiative will help up to 11,000 asylum seekers living in Victoria get the legal assistance they need to have their claims for protection assessed fairly. Launched by the Attorney-General Martin Pakula, the two-year initiative … Read More >>

ALHR lends its voice to a coalition of Australian NGOs calling on the Australian Government for a National Action Plan on business and human rights.