UPDATE: The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection has responded. The letter is accessible below. ORIGINAL POST: ALHR supports UNICEF’s call for an independent & systematic monitor for immigration detention.
In a statement issued today Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) urges the government to protect Australians with a Federal human rights charter in the wake of the High Court’s rejection of a challenge to the Queensland bikie laws. ALHR insists the High Court’s rejection of the challenge highlighted once again the dangerous lack of protection … Read More >>
ALHR has found the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 does not reflect an appropriate balance between the government’s domestic and international obligations to protect its citizens from terrorism and its international obligations to preserve and promote its citizens’ fundamental human rights. In a report to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security ALHR submits it is essential that Australian anti-terrorism laws … Read More >>
In a submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Migration and Maritime Powers Legislation Amendment (Resolving the Asylum Legacy Caseload) Bill 2014 (attached below), ALHR has found aspects of the Bill incompatible with Australia’s international human rights obligations. ALHR recommends that the Bill not be passed. At a time when, more than ever, people require the protection … Read More >>
The ALHR supports the Human Rights Law Centre’s report (attached below) provided to the United Nations Committee Against Torture for the Committee’s fifth review of Australia during its 53rd session in November 2014. The report, titled ‘Torture and cruel treatment in Australia: Joint NGO report to United Nations Committee Against Torture’, examines Australia’s compliance with the Convention … Read More >>
The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law has launched a series of videos called ‘Have you got that right?’ The Castan Centre says the videos will answer important human rights questions “quickly, clearly and in a way that won’t put you to sleep”. Episodes one to three – ‘What are human rights?‘, ‘Is there a human right to marriage … Read More >>
The Hodgman Government’s Workplaces (Protection from Protesters) Bill 2014 (‘the Bill’) threatens to violate the human rights of all Tasmanians. ALHR is deeply concerned by the prospect of the Bill passing into law and urges the Tasmanian MLCs to reject the Bill as it is clearly inconsistent with International Human Rights law. The Bill’s proposed … Read More >>
FURTHER UPDATE Kim Wells MP, Minister for Police and Emergency Services, has responded outlining the changes made to legislation by the Victorian Government. The response is available below. UPDATE The Shadow Attorney General, Martin Pakula MP has responded to the joint letter. His response can be found below.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ALHR has made a submission (below) UN Committee Against Torture as part of its fifth periodic review of Australia during its 53rd session from 3-28 November 2014. ALHR’s submission solely addresses issues concerning Australia’s policies, laws and practices on asylum seekers and refugees and, in particular, how Australia’s current policies, laws and practices contravene … Read More >>
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 >>
