Australia Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) condemns the Northern Territory Government’s announcement this week that it is reinstating the use of spit hoods in youth detention, eight years after the practice was banned. This decision undermines Australia’s international obligations under core United Nations human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child … Read More >>
The Federal Court of Australia has dismissed a landmark case brought by two Torres Strait community leaders. Uncle Pabai Pabai and Uncle Paul Kabai argued the Australian Government had a duty of care to protect the Torres Strait Islands from climate change, and that the government had breached that duty. In the wake of this decision, ALHR’s … Read More >>
In an Australian first, an ACT Government Parliamentary Committee has recommended that the human right to adequate housing be recognised in ACT law and protected within the Human Rights Act 2004 (ACT). The ACT Legislative Standing Committee on Legal Affairs has released its final report following an Inquiry into the landmark Human Rights (Housing) Amendment … Read More >>
ALHR Welcomes ACT’s nation-leading reforms that raise the minimum age of of criminal responsibility to 14. This significant step means that young children in the ACT will be supported with the services they need, rather than being criminalised and imprisoned. This reform reflects UN recommendations to Australia, a wealth of medical evidence and expert advice, and … Read More >>
. JOINT MEDIA RELEASE: 1 May 2025 This Saturday, most adult Australians will vote in the Federal Election. However, there is a whole section of our community who can be removed from the electoral roll and disallowed from having their say: people with “cognitive disabilities.” In an open letter* to the Prime Minister and … Read More >>
MEDIA RELEASE: 29 April 2025 A coalition of leading advocacy organisations has welcomed the SA Parliament’s Social Development Committee’s tabling of its report calling for the enactment of a Human Rights Act for South Australia. This legislation would secure basic rights and freedoms for all South Australians regardless of their background or belief, based on … Read More >>
Today, 28 February, is international Rare Disease Day – a day dedicated to recognising the struggle for equity in social opportunities, healthcare, and access to diagnosis and therapies for people living with a rare disease. ALHR calls on Federal, state and territory governments to ensure that their budgets and policies reflect Australia’s international legal obligations to … Read More >>
The Crimes Amendment (Places of Worship) Bill 2025 was introduced by the NSW Government on 11 February 2025 ALHR has written to the NSW Premier, Attorney-General and other members of the NSW Parliament expressing our concerns that these measures are incompatible with human rights, cast a disproportionately wide, ill defined and punitive net, and may include provisions that are … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has condemned the Queensland Government’s statewide halt on access to puberty blocking agents and gender affirming hormones for all new patients under 18 seeking help for gender dysphoria. The national association of human right lawyers has also joined medical experts, health bodies and LGBTIQ+ groups in cautiously welcoming the … Read More >>
Today, on International Human Rights Day, an alliance of civil society organisations has come together and issued a statement calling for the enactment of a South Australian Human Rights Act that legally protects the dignity and interests of all South Australians. Significant momentum has been building for more widespread legislative protection of human rights across … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is deeply troubled by the Minns Government’s attempts to rush through a further round of draconian anti-protest laws, which threaten to breach Australia’s international human rights law obligations.* The Crimes Amendment (Obstructing a Railway) Bill 2024 would amend section 213 of the Crimes Act by inserting a 200-penalty unit offence, … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) joins the many expert voices condemning the Albanese Government’s Migration Amendment Bill 2024 (Cth) and Migration Amendment (Bridging Visa Conditions) Regulations 2024 (Cth). The new measures seek to drastically expand the Federal Government’s powers, allowing it to warehouse people in third countries, reverse protection findings made for refugees, and … Read More >>
