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:
The increasing focus on tackling violence against women in Australia is welcome, but what about women held on Nauru in Australian detention centres? Katie Robertson explains. See more at: https://newmatilda.com/2015/09/29/violence-against-women-australia-bad-violence-against-women-care-australia-acceptable
Queensland is one step closer to a charter of human rights, with the Palaszczuk Government committing to holding a parliamentary inquiry into how the state could adopt its own bill of rights. Click here to read the story in the Brisbane times.
ALHR’s own Claire Hammerton, Chair of our Refugee Subcommittee, writes on the need for a legislative time limit on the detention of children in the latest edition of Asylum Insight. Click here to read her compelling piece.
The new data retention laws have caused quite a stir in both the legal community and the public at large. Since the passing of these laws (with support from both sides of politics), many have questioned whether these laws would be effective in stopping terrorist threats and whether they go too far in compromising our … Read More >>
In July 2015 made a submission on the Bill to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (attached). ALHR believes that Australia should deal with its citizens under its own laws and not put terrorists or other criminals beyond the reach of Australian law. Australia has legal obligations pursuant to United Nations Security Council … Read More >>
Nominations are now open for the 2015 United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA) Media Peace Awards. The Media Peace Awards is a prestigious National Awards Program that recognises journalists, producers and editors, who seek to promote the understanding and awareness about humanitarian and social justice issues in our society and stimulate public debate. Nominations close 5pm Friday … Read More >>
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) has been asked to identify and critically examine Commonwealth laws that encroach upon ‘traditional’ or common law rights, freedoms and privileges. In the attached Interim Report, the ALRC analyses the source and rationale of many of these important common law rights and provides an extensive survey of current Commonwealth … Read More >>
