Review of operation of doli incapax in NSW for children under 14

posted on July 31, 2025

In May 2023, the NSW Attorney General Michael Daley, appointed the Honourable Geoffrey Bellew SC, former Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and Mr Jeffrey Loy APM, former Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force, to conduct a review into the operation of doli incapax in NSW. The review will report on the … Read More >>

Joint Report on behalf of the Australian NGO Coalition

posted on July 31, 2025

The Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Joint Report on behalf of the Australian NGO Coalition has been submitted to the UN. The Report, from more than 150 NGOs – including ALHR – shows that human rights are sliding backwards and we are falling far short of meeting our international obligations. Globally, Australians are amongst the only … Read More >>

ALHR Women and Girls UPR Shadow Report

posted on July 31, 2025

ALHR’s Women and Girls’ Rights Committee has submitted a report to Australia’s fourth Universal Periodic Review at the United Nations (UPR). As lead authors and contributors to the UPR Report on behalf of the Australian NGO Coalition, ALHR also strongly endorses all of the recommendations in that report. Our report emphasises some key areas of progress and concern for the … Read More >>

Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Bill 2025 (NSW) Briefing Note

posted on February 20, 2025

On Tuesday 18 February the NSW Government introduced the Crimes Amendment (Inciting Racial Hatred) Bill 2025 (the Bill). The Bill will amend section 93Z of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) to create a new criminal offence of intentionally inciting racial hatred. The offence will carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison, fines of … Read More >>

EOIs sought ALHR QLD Co-Conveors

posted on August 28, 2024

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is seeking expressions of interest from lawyers to Co-Convene our Queensland activities. If you want to play a leading role in standing up for human rights and the rule of law in your jurisdiction then please read on!  About the roles The successful applicants will be lawyers or final … Read More >>

Submission: Inquiry into Australia’s efforts to advocate for the global abolition of the death penalty.

posted on August 27, 2024

ALHR recently made a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s efforts to advocate for the global abolition of the death penalty. Our submission supports Australia’s strategy and includes strong recommendations for the Australian government to publicly and proactively fulfil its commitments and enhance its leadership in the Asia Pacific region. We also call for … Read More >>

Submission: DFAT consultation on LGBTQIA+ human rights in Australia’s development program

posted on March 15, 2024

ALHR has provided a submission to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) consultation on LGBTQIA+ human rights in Australia’s development program.  Despite engagement with LGBTQIA+ rights internationally, Australia has not, to date, developed a formal LGBTQIA+ foreign policy strategy.  We therefore welcome the Federal Government’s intention to increase its support and advocacy for … Read More >>

EOI’s Invited: ALHR Western Australia Convenors

posted on February 10, 2024

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is seeking expressions of interest from lawyers to Co-Convene our Western Australian activities and play a leading role within the Western Australia for a Human Rights Act Coalition (WA4HRA) About the roles The successful applicants will be lawyers or final year law students with a knowledge of and passion … Read More >>

Submission: Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023 (NSW)

posted on January 31, 2024

ALHR made a submission to NSW’s Portfolio Committee No. 7 – Planning and Environment, providing feedback on the Climate Change (Net Zero Future) Bill 2023 (NSW) (“the Bill”). Our submission was solely directed towards the Bill’s inclusion of the human right to a healthy environment as a guiding principle, and does not otherwise comment on the … Read More >>

ALHR Submission: Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Bill 2023

posted on January 25, 2024

ALHR made a submission to the ACT’s Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety (the Committee) providing feedback on the Human Rights (Healthy Environment) Amendment Bill 2023 (‘the Bill’). ALHR’s submission outlines our support for the articulation of the right to a healthy environment in the Bill, our significant concerns with the non-justiciability of that right … Read More >>

ALHR Submission: PJCHR Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework

posted on December 8, 2023

ALHR commends the Federal Attorney-General, the Hon. Mark Dreyfus KC, on the establishment of a PJCHR Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights Inquiry to investigate Australia’s human rights framework, with a focus on whether the Federal Government should introduce a federal human rights Act.  For thirty years ALHR has called on Australia to comprehensively incorporate … Read More >>

EOI’s Sought: ALHR National Women and Girls’ Rights Committee

posted on May 16, 2023

EOI’s Sought: Senior Co-Chair & Deputy Chair Join ALHR’s incumbent Senior Co-Chair, Dr Tania Penovic, in leading our National Women and Girls’ Rights Committee There are still many areas in Australian society in which women and girls experience unequal treatment and violations of their internationally recognised human rights. As such this area is a critical … Read More >>