ALHR

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.

Update We have received a response from Senator Scullion, attached below is the response. ——————————————————————————————– Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is warning that failure to fund the Custody Notification Service (CNS) successfully operated by Aboriginal Legal Service NSW & ACT for 15 years may ultimately result in a return to Indigenous deaths in police custody in … Read More >>

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights strongly endorses the below press release from the Refugee Council of Australia: Refugee Council of Australia July 22nd 2015 Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Shadow Immigration Minister Richard Marles are pandering to the politics of fear by supporting the forced turnbacks of asylum seeker boats, the Refugee Council of Australia … Read More >>

ALHR has joined 26 other prominent signatories in an open letter to the Prime Minister requesting that he  urgently reverse the proposed funding cuts to legal assistance services under the Attorney General’s portfolio, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS), its peak body National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS), Community Legal … Read More >>

ALHR president, Nathan Kennedy, wrote to all ALP and cross bench MPs and Senators today urging them not to pass the Data Retention Bill. The text of the correspondence can be found below. On behalf of the over 2,600 members of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights I am writing to urge you not to pass the … Read More >>