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 >>

Submission on the National Strategy to Achieve Gender Equality

posted on May 13, 2023

In late April ALHR provided a submission to the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet as part of the consultation on the National Strategy for Gender Equality (the National Strategy). Australia’s latest Status of Women Report Card, released 8 March 2023, made plain that women are still facing persistent, entrenched and systemic inequality. Women in Australia … Read More >>

ALHR supports an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament

posted on May 12, 2023

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) supports the Uluru Statement from the Heart and advocacy towards a ‘yes’ vote in the Referendum on a First Nations Voice to Parliament. ALHR acknowledges the importance of the referendum on an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament and its significance, together with Treaty and Truth-Telling, in … Read More >>

Over 100 organisations and experts call on federal government to end Australia’s discrimination against migrants with disabilities

posted on March 21, 2023

A group of more than 100 organisations and experts have signed an OPEN LETTER calling for urgent reform of Australia’s migration health laws to remove their discriminatory impact on people with disabilities and health conditions. The letter is part of the Welcoming Disability Campaign led by Down Syndrome Australia and Australian Lawyers for Human Rights. … Read More >>