On 12 February ALHR sought leave to make amicus submissions to the High Court, on the hearing of an appeal brought by the Western Australian Government and BHP Billiton against a native title decision of the Federal Court. The Court did not grant ALHR leave, but issued its decision on 12 March 2014 dismissing the … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) said today the Queensland Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie is deliberately cultivating a climate of fear. The Attorney-General has made legal demands on an advertising company about trade union billboard advertisements. Spokesperson, Benedict Coyne, says that the approach is part of a wider campaign by the Newman Government to silence critics … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights is deeply concerned about whether newly appointed Human Rights Commissioner, Mr Tim Wilson is properly fulfilling his role following comments on ABC’s Lateline program (17 February 2014). This morning in Sydney, Vice-President of ALHR, Mr Nathan Kennedy stated: “Mr Wilson’s comments about the nature of human rights show a fundamental … Read More >>
On 24 January ALHR issued a media release in response to the proposed new NSW laws imposing mandatory minimum sentences for a range of crimes including assault and affray. ALHR’s Vice President, Nathan Kennedy, said “The deaths due to recent ‘one-punch’ attacks in NSW are tragic and the Government has a responsibility to protect the … Read More >>
On 17 January ALHR issued a media release welcoming the announcement by Premier Newman that the Queensland government intends to repeal the bikie laws. ALHR’s spokesperson, Benedict Coyne, stated ‘The government is obviously under pressure. Its propaganda war against bikies as a justification for passing such repugnant and undemocratic laws is clearly not working’.
Cuts to legal services risk human rights Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) have joined national calls for the Australian Government to reconsider its cuts to legal services. ‘These cuts will undermine national efforts to protect the human rights of all Australians,’ said ALHR President, John Southalan. ALHR opposes cuts to the Aboriginal and Torres … Read More >>
ALHR considers that the Prime Minister’s response to allegations of torture in Sri Lanka represents an alarming shift in Australia’s approach to international law. Torture is unconditionally banned under international law. This has always been the consensus: in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and in subsequent treaties on Civil and Political Rights and on … Read More >>
ALHR issued a press release strongly condemning Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s recent response to allegations of torture in Sri Lanka.
Queenslanders should be extremely concerned about a number of laws that were passed by the Newman government last week. The amendments radically extend the power of executive government at the expense of the courts, undermine human rights principles such as equality before the law and the freedoms of association and expression and further politicise crime … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) expressed grave concern at the announcement by the Prime Minister that asylum seekers and refugees would be sent to Papua New Guinea
President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, John Southalan expressed disappointment, today, that the government has backed down from its long-standing commitment to consolidate its anti-discrimination laws. Mr Southalan said “This Bill is significant. It improves access to justice and fairness for Australians. Through lengthy and detailed consultation, the government has made several important achievements … Read More >>
Media release For immediate release: Thursday 21st March 2013 Right to silence abolished in New South Wales The people of NSW will no longer have the right to remain silent after the NSW Government passed the Evidence Amendment (Evidence of Silence) Bill 2013. The new law will allow juries to draw an adverse inference if … Read More >>
