Last week the NSW Parliament passed the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW), ahead of similar legislation expected to be introduced to Commonwealth Parliament this week. ALHR strongly supports the introduction of a comprehensive suite of new national laws to combat the issue of modern slavery. The Walk Free Foundation estimates there are 45.8 million slaves … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is deeply concerned by the Australian Government’s ruthless decision to abolish the social safety net for thousands of people seeking asylum in Australia. The Status Resolution Support Service (SRSS) provides a basic living allowance of around $247 per week for people seeking protection in Australia, who would otherwise have … Read More >>
1. Free legal advice Know More is an independent service giving free legal advice to assist survivors of institutional child sexual abuse by providing information and advice about the justice or redress options which may be available. Free advice life: 1800 605 762 Mon-Fri, 9am – 5pm. Website: http://knowmore.org.au/. 2. National Redress Scheme The National … Read More >>
Lawyers welcome focus on environment and human Rights ALHR has welcomed a Preliminary Statement released by the Permanent Peoples’ Tribunal (PPT) in response to the recent PPT Session on Human Rights, Fracking and Climate Change. The PPT, as a civil society human rights tribunal, heard testimony and received other evidence relating to fracking and its … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is seeking expressions of interest from lawyers to take up roles as Co-Convenors in Victoria, South Australia,WA and the ACT There are several volunteer positions available. ALHR State/ Territory Convenors are responsible for proactively and energetically engaging the membership of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) locally and contributing … Read More >>
ALHR has made a supplementary Submission to the Inquiry into the provisions of the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017 following on from the draft amendments to the Bill issued on 8 June 2018. We note with some considerable concern that the public has effectively been given only three and a half working days to respond … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights is urging the NSW Parliament to vote against the Anti-Discrimination Amendment (Religious Freedoms) Bill 2018, introduced into State Parliament on 15 May 2018 by Reverend Fred Nile. Nicholas Stewart, Co-Chair of ALHR’s LGBTI Subcommittee said, ”The Bill proposes to provide exemptions to NSW’s anti-discrimination laws allowing for discrimination on the … Read More >>
“What is clear from the Joint Parliamentary Committee report issued last night in relation to the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017”, says Kerry Weste, President of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR), “is that much normal civil society activity may now be regarded as ‘espionage’ or otherwise criminalised because of … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) congratulates the NSW Government on the successful passage of legislation to create ‘safe access’ zones surrounding reproductive health services clinics. Ironically, although these measures to protect and promote the human rights of women accessing abortion services will become law, abortion will remain a criminal offence punishable by up to … Read More >>
ALHR’s 2017/2018 President and Vice President’s Report provides an insightful snapshot into the formidable output in human rights advocacy at ALHR over the past twelve months. The report also marks a new era of leadership at ALHR with Benedict Coyne stepping away from the Presidency after two fantastic years at the helm. Kerry Weste has been elected as the … Read More >>
For immediate release: 4 June 2018 Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) is alarmed by a number of recent attacks on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) which it says amount to attacks on democracy and the rule of law. In response to criticism of the AAT’s role, ALHR President Kerry Weste said: “The independence of … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has written to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop, expressing ‘shock and disappointment’ that Australia was one of only two countries on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to vote against a draft resolution to appoint an independent commission of inquiry to investigate alleged violations … Read More >>
