The 2014 annual general meeting of ALHR will be held on 31 March 2014 at 6pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (ie. the time in Sydney/Canberra/Melbourne). Full details are available below. All ALHR members are encouraged to consider nominating for a position on the national committee, and to attend the AGM where elections for the 14/15 … Read More >>
ALHR made a submission to the Senate inquiry into overseas aid and development. ALHR’s submission identified the relevant international human rights standards, to which Australia has committed, and emphasised two main points. [1] Australia is able to be a more significant actor in international development, particularly when compared with the action of other countries in … Read More >>
On 16 February ALHR made a submission to the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs Defence and Trade, in relation to the Inquiry about the Fair Trade (Workers’ Rights) Bill 2013. ALHR’s submission stated that ‘passing the Bill will assist Australia to meet its obligations as a member of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and to … Read More >>
On 23 December 2013, ALHR announced it will be making a submission to inquiry by the Australian Law Reform Commission into ‘laws that encroach upon traditional rights, freedoms and privileges’. Various ALHR members have indicated an interest to be involved in ALHR’s work on this, and the research and drafting will begin in earnest in … Read More >>
ALHR has criticised the Commonwealth’s announcement that it will cap onshore permanent protection visas for 2013/14 at 1650 already issued. ALHR’s Vice President, Nathan Kennedy, spoke on SBS condemning the Government’s decision: “It seems to be certainly within Australian domestic law an ability to do this but once you owe someone protection under the Refugee … Read More >>
ALHR is seeking leave to appear as amicus curiae in a High Court appeal in a native title case. The matter will be heard in February 2014. ALHR’s submissions focus on human rights standards about racial equality, and their implications for the common law and extinguishment of native title. All parties’ submissions are available on … Read More >>
ALHR made a submission to Queensland Parliament’s Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee. ALHR raised concerns about inconsistencies with human rights principles, and potential to foster anti-Islamic prejudice in the broader Queensland community.
ALHR made a submission to Queensland Parliament’s Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee, regarding the proposed bill. ALHR considers that powers proposed under relevant sections of the G20 (Safety and Security) Bill 2013 are already appropriately dealt with under the current law which provides the powers for police and ?authorised persons? to carry out the … Read More >>
ALHR wrote to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor regarding the review of Australia?s terrorism financing legislation and the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004. ALHR requests the INSLM’s report to the Prime Minister: (a) reinforce the central importance of human rights in designing and implementing measures to counter terrorism; (b) explain … Read More >>
ALHR, with other lawyers, have been quoted in a Lawyers Weekly article “Lawyers question legality of PNG asylum plan”. Lawyers’ Weekly interviewed ALHR’s President in writing their article. The article’s concluding paragraphs are extracted below. Australia has promised to ‘provide support, through a service provider, to any refugees who are resettled in PNG’, but Southalan … Read More >>
ALHR commended the Government’s proposed reference to Australian Law Reform Commission to examine and report on issues about native title. ALHR suggested that the Commission’s inquiry should also examine the operation of extinguishment law and the courts’ use of historical documents.
ALHR commended the draft Business Reference Guide on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. However ALHR suggested that more attention is required on issues such as who it applies to, and what occurs in relation to existing company operations which were established contrary to human rights.
