‘Fundamental freedoms’ inquiry has fundamental problems
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights has identified deficiencies in the inquiry which the Commonwealth Attorney-General has set the Australian Law Reform Commission in relation to ‘traditional rights, freedoms and privileges’. Members of ALHR are together formulating ALHR’s submission, and have identified various problems with the TOR which are fully explained in a paper by Dr Tamsin Clarke which … Read More >>
Australia – an Exclusive Club Not for Refugees
Scott Morrison’s remarks yesterday continue to reveal the Abbott government’s ongoing violation of the Convention on the Status of Refugees, Nathan Kennedy, President of ALHR said today.
Removal of Disability Discrimination Commissioner a Disgrace
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has criticised the Australian Government’s decision to cease funding a national Disability Discrimination Commissioner. The Government’s budget, announced earlier this week, declared it will make ‘savings … by reducing the number of special-purpose Commissioners [at the Australian Human Rights Commission] from the current seven to six’.
Inside Manus: Briefing in Sydney on PNG National Court inquiry into Australia’s detention centre
Amnesty International’s Kate Schuetze and the Human Rights Law Centre’s Daniel Webb recently returned from Manus Island, Papua New Guinea where they were participating in the PNG National Court case assessing the lawfulness of the Manus Island detention centre. Following our sold out Melbourne event, we hope you can … Read More >>
OP-ICESCR Open Letter to the Attorney General & Minister for Foreign Affairs
The 5th May 2014 marks the 1st anniversary of the entry into force of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. ALHR, together with 11 other prominent NGO’s have written to the Federal Attorney General and Minister for Foreign Affairs urging Australia to ratify the Optional Protocol. A response … Read More >>
Outcome of Human Rights Dialogue with China
Below is an overview of the meeting between DFAT Deputy Secretary Gillian Bird and Australian NGO representatives to discuss the outcome of the recent Human Rights Dialogue with China.
Submission on Freedom of Speech (Repeal of s. 18C) Bill 2014
Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) has made a submission to the Commonwealth Attorney-General in relation to the proposed amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth).
The Need for a SA Parliamentary Committee to scrutinise bills for their Human Rights Impact
ALHR has written to the South Australian Premier and Opposition Leader concerned that South Australia lacks a parliamentary committee that undertakes pre-enactment legislative scrutiny or post-legislative scrutiny of legislation for human rights impact, or indeed impact on any rights. ALHR has urged that South Australia put such a committee in place.
Extreme CMC reforms undermine democracy in Queensland
The radical changes sought by the LNP in the Crime and Misconduct and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2014 will end a golden era of anti-corruption in Queensland. The reforms will erode the rights of everyday Queenslanders and compromise their ability to hold their Government and police force accountable via our robust and independent Crime and … Read More >>