Australia’s steadily deteriorating human rights performance has been highlighted in a major report compiled by nearly 200 organisations around Australia. It will be presented to the United Nation’s peak human rights body in the lead up to a major review of Australia that takes place every four years. Emma Golledge, Acting Director at Kingsford Legal … Read More >>
Today ALHR launched an education offensive to highlight the impact of the new Data Retention Laws on lawyers’ ethical obligations. A seminar was held at the NSW Parliament House. David Shoebridge MLC introduced the seminar, which was facilitated by Vicky Kuek, NSW co-convenor, in conversation with: Dr Tamsin Clarke, ALHR National Committee member Jon Lawrence, Electronic … Read More >>
Friday night saw Julian Burnside AO QC speak at our annual fundraising dinner. Mr Burnside presented an insightful, engaging speech and we very much appreciate him attending our event. The night was also a time to reflect on our achievements of the last year. ALHR’s President’s speech which sets out some of those achievements can be … Read More >>
The Honourable Catherine Branson QC Together with Oliver Greeves, Esther Pearson and Holly Ritson Followed by a teleconference link to a Special General Meeting and Annual General Meeting of the Australian Lawyers For Human Rights What: ALHR SA Branch Meeting, followed by Special General Meeting and AGM When: 15 April 2015 at 5:15pm for 5:30pm … Read More >>
ALHR has joined 26 other prominent signatories in an open letter to the Prime Minister requesting that he urgently reverse the proposed funding cuts to legal assistance services under the Attorney General’s portfolio, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS), its peak body National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS), Community Legal … Read More >>
ALHR has provided a submission to the Senate Inquiry into the appropriateness of residential care for young people with disabilities. ALHR addresses the adequacy of aged care for young people with serious and/or permanent mental, physical or intellectual disabilities and the options and consequences of de-institutionalising those people from residential care.
How does the Data Retention Bill (and existing data surveillance) impact your legal practice? In its current form, the proposed Data Retention Bill would significantly infringe Australians’ rights to privacy and chill their freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. All Australians are effectively treated as suspects. If lawyers are to keep client communications confidential … Read More >>
ALHR president, Nathan Kennedy, wrote to all ALP and cross bench MPs and Senators today urging them not to pass the Data Retention Bill. The text of the correspondence can be found below. On behalf of the over 2,600 members of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights I am writing to urge you not to pass the … Read More >>
The UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, has delivered a report finding that Australia is violating the UN Convention Against Torture by detaining children in immigration detention, and holding asylum seekers in dangerous and violent conditions in offshore processing centres. Following comments that Australians were “sick of being lectured to by the United Nations”, … Read More >>
Proposed funding cuts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (ATSILS) represent a social justice and human rights failure. It will see more Indigenous Australians imprisoned and more Indigenous children removed from their parents. The cuts announced in the 2014 federal budget equate to around $13.4 million or around 20 per cent of national … Read More >>
Proposed laws to increase mandatory minimum sentences, currently before the Western Australian parliament show why Western Australia and Australia need a Bill of Rights, say the Australian Lawyers for Human Rights. The Criminal Law (Home Burglary and Other Offences) Bill 2014 alters the current “three strike” policy by allowing first-time offenders to be imprisoned after … Read More >>
Where there is life there is hope… ALHR strongly opposes the death penalty and calls on all other members of ALHR to sign the petition at Mercycampaign.org. Want to do more? Check out Amnesty International’s online campaign at http://www.amnesty.org.au Additional information: Nine men are currently awaiting imminent execution in Indonesia. President Joko Widodo rejected the clemency … Read More >>
