Submission: ‘No Rights Without Remedy’ Inquiry ACT Parliament

posted on April 7, 2022

Thanks to over 500 signatures received on our ALHR and ACTCOSS  “No Rights Without Remedy” Petition, the ACT Legislative Assembly is holding an Inquiry into whether the ACT Human Rights Act should be amended to include an accessible complaints mechanism. Unfortunately, while the ACT Human Rights Act was drafted to protect individuals against breaches of their … Read More >>

Submission: Review of QLD Anti-Discrimination Act Discussion Paper

posted on April 7, 2022

ALHR made a submission in response to the Queensland Human Rights Commission’s November 2021 Discussion Paper Review of Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act. Our submission expands on ALHR’s earlier submission to the recent Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into Serious Vilification and Hate Crimes. Prepared by our LGBTI Rights Committee, the focus of this work is primarily on issues relevant … Read More >>

ALHR Submissions on Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 (Cth)

posted on February 1, 2022

ALHR has made submissions to both the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee regarding the Religious Discrimination Bill 2021 (the 2021 RDB), Religious Discrimination (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2021 and the Human Rights Legislation Amendment (Freedom of Religion) Bill 2021, which we note together are referred to as the “religious … Read More >>

Respect at Work Bill does not go far enough

posted on July 24, 2021

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has expressed concern that the Federal Government’s Sex Discrimination and Fair Work (Respect at Work) Amendment Bill 2021 (the Bill) does not go far enough to implement the sweeping and widespread reforms necessary to address sex-based harassment in Australian workplaces.  Cassandra Bourke, Co-Chair of ALHR’s Women and Girls’ Rights … Read More >>

Submission on the Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process Interim Report

posted on May 3, 2021

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has welcomed the opportunity to make a submission on the Indigenous Voice Co-Design Process Interim Report to the Australian Government (Interim Report). Australia stands apart from the vast majority of developed countries in its failure to appropriately recognise First Nations people. We are the only developed Western Democracy bereft of … Read More >>

Public consultation paper on the International Strategy on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery

posted on May 17, 2020

ALHR has made a submission in response to the public consultation paper (Consultation Paper) on the International Strategy on Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery (2020 Strategy).  ALHR welcomes the 2020 Strategy as an ongoing commitment of the Australian Government in supporting international efforts to help eradicate human trafficking and modern slavery. The 2020 Strategy will … Read More >>

Religious Discrimination Bill fundamentally flawed – Australia needs a Human Rights Act for everyone

posted on February 12, 2020

The second exposure draft of the Morrison Government’s Religious Discrimination Bill is flawed, unworkable and at odds with Australia’s obligations under international human rights law. The Bill should be withdrawn in its entirety.  Rather than increasing protection against discrimination in Australia, it would create an anti-human rights situation whereby all Australians can potentially be harmed … Read More >>

Human Rights (Workers Rights) Amendment Bill 2019 (ACT)

posted on February 10, 2020

ALHR has made a submission and provided oral evidence to the ACT Standing Committee on Justice and Community Safety’s public inquiry into the Human Rights (Workers Rights) Amendment Bill 2019 (the Bill) We commend the provision of explanatory material accompanying the exposure draft Bill that has been released for public consultation.  The Bill seeks to include … Read More >>

Submission to the Legislative Council Standing Committee on Social Issues inquiry into the Modern Slavery Act 2018 and associated matters

posted on November 25, 2019

ALHR has made a submission to the NSW Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Social Issues inquiry into the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW) (NSW Act). ALHR supports the modern slavery reporting scheme introduced by the NSW Act. It is commendable that NSW seeks to be a leading jurisdiction in combatting modern slavery, both in Australia … Read More >>

Submission on the draft Modern Slavery Regulation 2019 (NSW) and Section 24 of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW)

posted on November 25, 2019

ALHR has made a submission on the draft Modern Slavery Regulation 2019 (NSW) (Draft Regulation) and the supply chain reporting requirements in the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW) (Act). In our submission we make the following recommendations: Recommendations ALHR recommends that the Draft Regulation contains a clause which provides for a public repository which includes … Read More >>