On 23 December 2013, ALHR announced it will be making a submission to inquiry by the Australian Law Reform Commission into ‘laws that encroach upon traditional rights, freedoms and privileges’. Various ALHR members have indicated an interest to be involved in ALHR’s work on this, and the research and drafting will begin in earnest in … Read More >>
Cuts to legal services risk human rights Australian Lawyers for Human Rights (ALHR) have joined national calls for the Australian Government to reconsider its cuts to legal services. ‘These cuts will undermine national efforts to protect the human rights of all Australians,’ said ALHR President, John Southalan. ALHR opposes cuts to the Aboriginal and Torres … Read More >>
ALHR has criticised the Commonwealth’s announcement that it will cap onshore permanent protection visas for 2013/14 at 1650 already issued. ALHR’s Vice President, Nathan Kennedy, spoke on SBS condemning the Government’s decision: “It seems to be certainly within Australian domestic law an ability to do this but once you owe someone protection under the Refugee … Read More >>
ALHR is seeking leave to appear as amicus curiae in a High Court appeal in a native title case. The matter will be heard in February 2014. ALHR’s submissions focus on human rights standards about racial equality, and their implications for the common law and extinguishment of native title. All parties’ submissions are available on … Read More >>
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been asked to revoke his statement, made during his recent visit to Sri Lanka for the Commonwealth summit, that suggested that the use of torture can be justified in “difficult circumstances”. In a joint letter, the Human Rights Law Centre, Human Rights Watch, the Castan Centre for Human Rights, … Read More >>
ALHR considers that the Prime Minister’s response to allegations of torture in Sri Lanka represents an alarming shift in Australia’s approach to international law. Torture is unconditionally banned under international law. This has always been the consensus: in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, and in subsequent treaties on Civil and Political Rights and on … Read More >>
ALHR issued a press release strongly condemning Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s recent response to allegations of torture in Sri Lanka.
Queenslanders should be extremely concerned about a number of laws that were passed by the Newman government last week. The amendments radically extend the power of executive government at the expense of the courts, undermine human rights principles such as equality before the law and the freedoms of association and expression and further politicise crime … Read More >>
ALHR made a submission to Queensland Parliament’s Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee. ALHR raised concerns about inconsistencies with human rights principles, and potential to foster anti-Islamic prejudice in the broader Queensland community.
Thanks to everyone who attend ALHR’s fundraiser for the Asylum Seekers’ Centre of NSW on 17 October. More than 120 people attended and we raised more than $3700 for the Asylum Seekers’ Centre. The panellists Prof Mary Crock (University of Sydney), Graham Thom (board member of Asylum Seekers’ Centre) and Natalie Young (RACS) spoke eloquently … Read More >>
ALHR made a submission to Queensland Parliament’s Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee, regarding the proposed bill. ALHR considers that powers proposed under relevant sections of the G20 (Safety and Security) Bill 2013 are already appropriately dealt with under the current law which provides the powers for police and ?authorised persons? to carry out the … Read More >>
ALHR wrote to several NSW MPs with concerns about the potential implications which could arise from the Crimes Amendment (Destruction of Child in Utero – Zoe’s Law) Bill 2011 which is being considered by the NSW Parliament. ALHR urges NSW Parliamentarians to consider any such law changes carefully, to ensure they do not subject women … Read More >>
