In a statement issued today Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) urges the government to protect Australians with a Federal human rights charter in the wake of the High Court’s rejection of a challenge to the Queensland bikie laws. ALHR insists the High Court’s rejection of the challenge highlighted once again the dangerous lack of protection … Read More >>
Media release For immediate release 17 October 2014 ‘Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the current review by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights of the Stronger Futures legislation’ says Nathan Kennedy, President of ALHR. ‘ALHR agrees with the Committee that the government needs to demonstrate, rather than simply state, how the measures … Read More >>
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has introduced two new Bills to Parliament that propose to breach Australia’s obligations under international law. The Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014 will re-introduce Temporary Protection Visas and redefine established principles of international law to suit the agenda of the Liberal-National Coalition Government. … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights is deeply concerned by reports this week that inadequate medical care in immigration detention facilities on Manus Island has left Iranian man, Hamid Kehazaei, brain dead after an infected cut to his foot led to septicaemia. The right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of … Read More >>
ALHR fears that proposed changes to bail laws in New South Wales threaten to breach Australia’s international human rights obligations. Under the proposed reforms for serious offences, the onus will be on the accused to “show cause” that their detention in custody is unjustified. Nathan Kennedy, President of ALHR said “The changes would undermine the … Read More >>
ALHR welcomes the Government’s decision to drop proposed changes to s 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act. Nathan Kennedy, President of ALHR, said: “these changes were unpopular with the majority of Australians and inconsistent with international human rights law. The Prime Minister rightly acknowledged that the proposed changes would have undermined Australia’s social cohesion.” Mr Kennedy … Read More >>
Scott Morrison’s remarks yesterday continue to reveal the Abbott government’s ongoing violation of the Convention on the Status of Refugees, Nathan Kennedy, President of ALHR said today.
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has criticised the Australian Government’s decision to cease funding a national Disability Discrimination Commissioner. The Government’s budget, announced earlier this week, declared it will make ‘savings … by reducing the number of special-purpose Commissioners [at the Australian Human Rights Commission] from the current seven to six’.
The radical changes sought by the LNP in the Crime and Misconduct and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 will end a golden era of anti-corruption in Queensland. The reforms will erode the rights of everyday Queenslanders and compromise their ability to hold their Government and police force accountable via our robust and independent Crime and … Read More >>
ALHR raised concerns with the Government’s exposure draft of proposed amendments to racial discrimination laws. John Southalan, ALHR’s President, said “This proposed change to the law removes important protections against racial discrimination. We reject the Government’s suggestion that racial vilification or intimidation is acceptable if done ‘in the course of…public discussion of any political [or] … Read More >>
ALHR today criticised the Newman Government’s proposed juvenile justice laws. Queensland Convenor, Benedict Coyne, stated this morning: “The Newman Government’s proposals are inconsistent with various human rights obligations under international instruments including the Convention on the Rights of the Child which Australia was one of the first countries to ratify in December 1990”. The full … Read More >>
ALHR today endorsed an open letter of support for African Refugee Communities published by the Darfur Australia Network in The Australian.
