UPDATE The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee has tabled its report recommending against the passage of the Recognition of Foreign Marriages Bill 2014. The Committee concluded: 2.54 The committee notes that passage of the Bill would legislate a form of discrimination in that same-sex couples able to marry overseas would be afforded a different set … Read More >>
Media release For immediate release 17 October 2014 ‘Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) welcomes the current review by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights of the Stronger Futures legislation’ says Nathan Kennedy, President of ALHR. ‘ALHR agrees with the Committee that the government needs to demonstrate, rather than simply state, how the measures … Read More >>
UPDATE The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has today tabled its Advisory Report on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014. A copy of the report can be found by following the below link: http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Joint/Intelligence_and_Security/Counter-Terrorism_Legislation_Amendment_Foreign_Fighters_Bill_2014/Report1 ORIGINAL POST ‘We must be careful’, says ALHR President Nathan Kennedy, ‘that in opposing the criminality of terrorism … Read More >>
Sunday 19th October 5:30pm at the Chauvel Cinema The screening will be followed by a Q&A session with Kirk Marcolina, the Producer and Nathan Kennedy, President of ALHR. To receive a 15% discount on your tickets enter the promo code “ALHR” when you BOOK HERE: http://bit.ly/1uIjl6r TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGY5wqPIUhE The fight for marriage equality may seem … Read More >>
Date: Thursday 16 October 2014 Time: 12:30pm to 2:oopm Venue: Law Society of South Australia, Professional Development Centre, Level 10, Terrace Towers, 178 North Terrace, Adelaide Together with the Law Society of South Australia, the SA Branch of the Australian Lawyers for Human Rights, proudly sponsored by Lipman Karas, is presenting a free seminar addressing … Read More >>
Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has introduced two new Bills to Parliament that propose to breach Australia’s obligations under international law. The Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014 will re-introduce Temporary Protection Visas and redefine established principles of international law to suit the agenda of the Liberal-National Coalition Government. … Read More >>
Date: Tuesday, 21 October 2014 Time: 3pm – 7pm (registration from 2.45pm) Venue: Staff Common Room, Level 2, UNSW Law RSVP: Essential, click here Please RSVP by 13 Oct 2014. The Symposium will provide a unique opportunity for policymakers, researchers, advocates and industry stakeholders in Australia to engage with the Asia Pacific region’s … Read More >>
ALHR has endorsed an open letter to Attorney-General George Brandis calling on Australia to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). The letter is available below. The letter has been endorsed by 64 organisations, including indigenous justice, legal, refugee, disability, medical and mental health organisations. Copies have also been sent to State and Territory Attorneys-General.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (CST) Adelaide, SA In this special event, The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, former Justice of the High Court of Australia, will discuss the adoption of a national bill of rights in Australia. During a distinguished career spanning five decades, Mr Kirby served as a judge … Read More >>
ALHR has made submissions to the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Infrastructure and Communications in relation to the use of section 313(3) of the Telecommunications Act 1997. ALHR’s primary concern is that the Act should adhere to international human rights law and standards such as the ‘International Principles on the Application of Human Rights … Read More >>
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights is deeply concerned by reports this week that inadequate medical care in immigration detention facilities on Manus Island has left Iranian man, Hamid Kehazaei, brain dead after an infected cut to his foot led to septicaemia. The right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of … Read More >>
A coalition of diverse community groups, including ALHR, has written to the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights outlining their concerns at the proposed introduction of the Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Bill 2014. The groups have called on three Special Rapporteurs to investigate the incompatibility of the Bill with obligations under international … Read More >>
