ALHR

Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has expressed disappointment in the passing through the House of Representatives of the National Security Legislation Amendment (Espionage and Foreign Interference) Bill 2017 and the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017 – particularly because the latter as amended now provides a blanket exemption for sitting federal politicians and holders … Read More >>

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 >>

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 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 >>