Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) commends the Palaszczuk government for taking strong leadership on repairing Queensland’s broken record of human rights protection. Over the weekend, the ALP State conference moved to adopt a motion for the Queensland Government to conduct a Parliamentary Inquiry into a Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities during this term. … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is pleased to make a submission to the NSW Legislative Assembly Select Committee inquiring into the regulation of brothels in NSW. The regulation of brothels considers many human rights concerns, including the rights of people with disabilities. The right to sexual expression and equal choice are fundamental human rights … Read More >>
“ALHR believes that Australia should deal with Australian criminals and terrorists in our own courts and not put them beyond the reach of Australian law by terminating their citizenship” says ALHR President Nathan Kennedy about the Federal Government’s proposed amendments to the Australian Citizenship Act. “Nor do we agree with automatic termination of citizenship for … Read More >>
“ALHR endorses the concerns expressed in the open letter published today from 40 medical, educational and humanitarian detention centre staff” says President Nathan Kennedy. “The Border Force Act imposes disproportionate and unreasonable penalties upon Australians. It infringes rights to free speech” says Mr Kennedy. “It overrides the ethical obligations of health workers, and even their … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is deeply saddened to hear of the execution by firing squad of Mr Andrew Chan and Mr Myuran Sukumaran. Our thoughts are with their families and loved ones. These young men had been genuinely rehabilitated and demonstrated an understanding of the criminal nature of their acts and the tragic … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) are appalled by the decision of the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection to refuse mother Maria Sevilla a skilled working visa for her and her son Tyrone to stay in Australia. Ms Sevilla appealed that decision to the Migration Review Tribunal which has rejected the application, resulting in … Read More >>
The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, has delivered a report finding that Australia is violating the UN Convention Against Torture by detaining children in immigration detention, and holding asylum seekers in dangerous and violent conditions in offshore processing centres. Following comments that Australians were “sick of being lectured to by the United Nations”, … Read More >>
Proposed funding cuts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) represent a social justice and human rights failure. It will see more Indigenous Australians imprisoned and more Indigenous children removed from their parents. The cuts announced in the 2014 federal budget equate to around $13.4 million or around 20 per cent of national … Read More >>
Proposed laws to increase mandatory minimum sentences, currently before the Western Australian parliament show why Western Australia and Australia need a Bill of Rights, say the Australian Lawyers for Human Rights. The Criminal Law (Home Burglary and Other Offences) Bill 2014 alters the current “three strike” policy by allowing first-time offenders to be imprisoned after … Read More >>
ALHR strongly opposes the adoption of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment (Data Retention) Bill 2014. “This Bill” says ALHR President, Nathan Kennedy, “is an insult to all Australians. It imposes blanket data collection on us all for surveillance purposes. It assumes every man, woman and child is potentially capable of such criminal activity that … Read More >>
Australian Human Rights Commission Report Reveals Policy of Child Abuse The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) today released its report, The Forgotten Children, providing a comprehensive overview of the degrading conditions in which children seeking asylum are forced to live as a result of current Australian law and policy. The report is the culmination of … Read More >>
ALHR opposes the adoption of the Fair Work Amendment (Bargaining Processes) Bill 2014. “This Bill” says ALHR President, Nathan Kennedy, “restricts the autonomy of workers in the collective bargaining process and tests their claims against possible productivity changes. It does this in two ways: (1) byrequiring‘improvementstoproductivity’tobediscussedduringenterprisebargaining;and (2) by restricting Fair Work Commission approval of protected … Read More >>
