Excising Australia is Obscene as Well as Ridiculous

posted on December 21, 2012

PO Box A147 Sydney South NSW 1235 DX 585 Sydney alhr@alhr.asn.au www.alhr.asn.au Media Release For immediate release: Thursday, 21 December 2012 Excising Australia is Obscene as Well as Ridiculous Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (?ALHR?) today condemned the government?s legislative proposals to excise the Australian mainland from Australia for the purpose of its international obligations … Read More >>

Press Release:Bill to Provide Natural Justice for Refugees Needs Overarching Human Rights Safeguards

posted on December 19, 2012

PO Box A147 Sydney South NSW 1235 DX 585 Sydney alhr@alhr.asn.au www.alhr.asn.au Media release For immediate release: Wednesday 19 December 2012 Bill to Provide Natural Justice for Refugees Needs Overarching Human Rights Safeguards Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (?ALHR?) has called for overarching human rights safeguards to be included in a Bill which is, itself, … Read More >>

Aboriginal families cannot afford to lose Strong Aboriginal Families, Together

posted on December 5, 2012

MEDIA RELEASE: Wednesday, 5 December 2012 Aboriginal families cannot afford to lose Strong Aboriginal Families, Together ?The Northern Territory Government is taking child rights in the Territory backwards?, said Stephen Keim, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (?ALHR?). ?It is disappointing that the Government has rejected the recommendations of the ?Growing Them Strong Together … Read More >>

Closing the Gap Fails the Human Rights Test

posted on October 10, 2012

MEDIA RELEASE: Wednesday, 10 October 2012 Closing the Gap Fails the Human Rights Test Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (?ALHR?) welcomes the release of the first report from the Northern Territory (NT) Coordinator-General, Ms Olga Haven on 24 September 2012. The report explores in depth government expenditure, programs and service delivery in the NT and … Read More >>

Human Rights Compliance to prevent more deaths in custody

posted on September 18, 2012

ALHR called for greater oversight and monitoring of all places of detention in accordance with international human rights standards, after a recent Aboriginal death in custody was caused by NT Police ?lack of care?. The NT Coroner delivered his findings in Alice Springs,  on Monday  after an inquest into the death of Kwementyaye Briscoe, a … Read More >>

Retaining Australians’ Data – A Potential Breach of International Laws

posted on September 18, 2012

In a submission to a Joint Parliamentary Committee on Intelligence and Security inquiring into proposed changes to national security and intelligence-gathering legislation, Australian Lawyers for Human Rights has expressed concerns about potential breaches of human rights and international law if national security laws are amended to allow for the storage of Australians? online data for … Read More >>

Queensland Government Funding Cuts Undermine Access to Justice

posted on August 1, 2012

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is concerned that the Queensland Government?s recent funding cuts to community legal centres will adversely impact on access to justice in Queensland. The Environmental Defenders Office Qld, the Environmental Defenders Office NQ, Sisters Inside and, most recently, the Queensland Working Women’s Service have had their State government funding cut … Read More >>

Stronger Futures legislation: ALHR calls on Parliament to confirm RDA protections

posted on July 27, 2012

The Stronger Futures legislation is currently before the Parliament, if passed would extend elements of the Northern Territory Intervention for a further 10 years. While the bills formally reinstate the Racial Discrimination Act, suspended in 2007 by the Howard Government’s NTNER Act, the current package is still inconsistent with discrimination laws and several human rights … Read More >>

ALHR supports the recommendations of the Senate legal and constitutional affairs legislation committee on marriage equality

posted on June 26, 2012

“Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (“ALHR”) welcomes the recommendations of the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee supporting the Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2010 (with amendments),” Stephen Keim, President of ALHR, said today. “It is pleasing to see that the Committee has understood that marriage equality is about removing discrimination in relation to a … Read More >>

Recent arrest of PNG Chief Justice undermines rule of law

posted on May 29, 2012

“Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (‘ALHR’) strongly condemns the executive interference with the PNG judiciary that is taking place in Papua New Guinea.” Stephen Keim, President of ALHR, said today. “The threats towards the judiciary, the recent arrest of a Supreme Court Judge and the imposition of public emergency regulations, separately and in combination, undermine … Read More >>

ALHR welcomes announcement of new Children’s Commissioner

posted on May 1, 2012

“Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the announcement of the creation of a National Children’s Commissioner,” Stephen Keim, President of ALHR, said today. “This announcement is timely given Australia’s looming appearance before the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in June” said Mr. Keim. “We believe a National Children’s Commissioner will go … Read More >>