ALHR submits that Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Bill 2015 (the ‘Bill’) amending the Australian Citizenship Act (the ‘Act’) not be adopted

posted on August 8, 2015

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 >>

United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Awards 2015

posted on August 7, 2015

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 >>

Traditional Rights and Freedoms – Encroachments by Commonwealth Laws (Interim Report)

posted on August 7, 2015

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 >>

‘Traditional’ rights and freedoms – Encroachments by Commonwealth Laws’ – Interim Report

posted on August 7, 2015

UPDATE The ALRC has released its Interim Report which reflects the law as at 17 July 2015. Attached is a copy of the report titled ‘Traditional’ rights and freedoms – Encroachments by Commonwealth Laws’.   ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In February 2015, ALHR submitted to the ALRC that: International human rights standards are the criteria by which the … Read More >>

Joint Statement of Support for Adam Goodes

posted on August 4, 2015

Some of Australia’s largest companies have joined over 150 of Australia’s corporate, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and community organisations to issue a joint statement to call for renewed efforts to stamp out racism in sport and in everyday life.   ALHR is in support and will stand together to not only lend our support to … Read More >>

Submission in Response to OHCHR Corporate Accountability and Remedy Project

posted on July 28, 2015

ALHR has made a submission in response to the OHCHR’s global consultation initiative on business and human rights (the ‘Accountability and Remedy Project’). The aim of the Accountability and Remedy Project is to gather information on corporate accountability for human rights abuses in different legal jurisdictions. The Accountability and Remedy Project seeks information on corporate … Read More >>

Maintaining the Good Order of Immigration Detention Facilities Bill

posted on May 4, 2015

ALHR is strongly opposed to this Bill and recommends that it be rejected in its entirety. The Bill gives private security officers the power to use force against people, including children, in immigration detention facilities that is greater than the force allowed in analogous State and Territory prison legislation. ALHR notes that most people in … Read More >>

Inquiry into the adequacy of existing residential care arrangements available for young people with severe physical, mental or intellectual disabilities in Australia

posted on March 19, 2015

ALHR has provided a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the appropriateness of residential care for young people with disabilities. ALHR addresses the adequacy of aged care for young people with serious and/or permanent mental, physical or intellectual disabilities and the options and consequences of de-institutionalising those people from residential care.

Data Retention Bill

posted on February 10, 2015

ALHR has made a submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security in relation to the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014.  ALHR strongly opposes the adoption of the Bill. As the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security noted in 2013: a mandatory data retention regime raises fundamental privacy issues, and … Read More >>

UNCAT delivers Concluding Observations on Australia

posted on January 15, 2015

The Committee against Torture considered the combined fourth and fifth periodic reports of Australia at its 1260th and 1263rd meetings, held on 10 and 11 November 2014, and adopted at its 1284th and 1285th meetings, held on 26 November 2014, the attached concluding observations. UNCAT Concluding Observations