ALHR

The unfitness to plead project looks at how defendants who lack sufficient ability to participate meaningfully in trial should be dealt with in the criminal courts. Defendants may be unfit to plead for a variety of reasons, including difficulties resulting from mental illness (longstanding or temporary), learning disability, developmental disorder or delay, a communication impairment … Read More >>

To the Lawyers, Solicitors, Attorneys, Barristers, Law Consultants and to legal fraternity in general, to friends, well wishers, defenders of “Human Rights” and the “Rights of a Child” and to all people , who just care for the children in general.   I am Arek Zoltowski, a Polish citizen since birth and the Australian citizen … Read More >>

Amy Sinclair, Chair of ALHR’s Business and Human Rights Sub-Committee, has written for the Guardian on migrant labour abuse and the importance of developing a National Action Plan to ensure that Australian businesses respect human rights. To read the full article click here.

Angela Liantzakis a current Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor of International Relations student at La Trobe University writes:  Disability is experienced by one in five Australians. Many Australians with disabilities, as well as their families, friends and carers, are facing discrimination despite legislation to address this. The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) (DDA), Australia’s key legislative mechanism … Read More >>

A group of organisations that assist and speak on behalf of the most disadvantaged Australians have written an open letter to Government calling for the introduction of legislation to protect victims of domestic violence from being directly cross-examined by their abuser in family law proceedings. Victims of domestic violence are more likely to agree to a … Read More >>

Minoli Perera a Master of Laws student at La Trobe University writes: The Australian government’s policy of mandatory detention for boat-arriving asylum seekers has been characterised by commentators as a human rights violation. Under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) there is no time limit on detention and as a consequence asylum seekers are often detained for … Read More >>

Fariha Zaima, a Bachelor of Law and Psychological Science Student at La Trobe University writes about how the Australian government has recently implemented a politically pragmatic but inherently unfair process, which makes it much more difficult for asylum seekers to gain access to protection visas. http://law.blogs.latrobe.edu.au/2015/10/12/yet-another-hurdle-for-asylum-seekers/  

Traditional owners of Central Queensland opposed to the development of the  Carmichael Coal Mine in the Galilee Basin have taken their case to the United Nations in a bid to prevent Federal and State Governments from reigniting the project.  The move to gain international assistance is gathering support with Benedict Coyne Queensland convenor for Australian Lawyers … Read More >>

ALHR recently lodged a submission to the Parliamentary Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade regarding Australia’s international advocacy for the abolition of the death penalty.  “ALHR strongly opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle,” ALHR Qld Convenor Benedict Coyne said.  The World Day Against the Death Penalty … Read More >>

Monday 14th September 2015 saw an exciting development on the legislative human rights front in Australia, as a coalition of NGOs, community groups and community members hosted a public launch of the campaign for a Queensland Charter of Human Rights at Queensland’s Parliament House in Brisbane. During the launch, Qld Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath and Deputy … Read More >>

The Chair of ALHR’s Business and Human Rights Subcommittee, Amy Sinclair, has written a piece for New Matilda examining the need for better solutions to corporate foul play in Australia. Read the article here: