Human rights
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Qld youth crime bill will not make the community safer
29th Nov 2024The Queensland Government's Making Queensland Safer Bill 2024, introduced into the Parliament yesterday, is an alarming backwards step that ignores local and international human rights principles and will not work to make the community safer.
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Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 (Cth)
10th Oct 2024 -
Workplace surveillance
20th Aug 2024 -
Vic Government must stick to commitment to raise the age of criminal responsibility
12th Aug 2024A softening of the Victorian government’s commitment to raising the minimum age of criminal responsibility to 14 is a disappointing and ineffective way to respond to youth crime concerns, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) in Victoria.
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Joint statement: Electronic communications must be available for voluntary assisted dying
6th Aug 2024 -
Independent Review of Queensland’s Human Rights Act 2019
21st Jun 2024 -
Government urged to implement recommendations of human rights inquiry
30th May 2024The federal parliamentary inquiry’s recommendation that Australia should adopt its first ever federal Human Rights Act is welcomed by the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Lawyers welcome TLRI recommendation for laws to protect human rights in Tasmania
30th Apr 2024The recommendations made in the Tasmania Law Reform Institute’s research paper on human rights released today have been welcomed by local lawyers.
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Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (Cth)
17th Apr 2024 -
Federal migration bill must be abandoned
17th Apr 2024The Federal Government should abandon the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024 which punishes and criminalises people who are seeking protection in Australia.
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Reversal of youth bail law plans in Victoria will cause harm
20th Mar 2024The Victorian government’s announcement that it will not go ahead with plans to implement a presumption of bail for children will cause harm to young people and will not reduce crime, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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NDIS participant experience in rural, regional and remote Australia
6th Mar 2024 -
A framework for Voluntary Assisted Dying in the NT
21st Feb 2024 -
Inquiry into the potential for a Human Rights Act for South Australia
20th Feb 2024 -
Human Rights Commission Amendment (Costs Protection) Bill 2023
11th Jan 2024 -
International Human Rights Day: reminder of urgent need for reform in Australia
6th Dec 2023International Human Rights Day this weekend is a reminder that Australia is the only Western democracy without a federal human rights act, bill of rights or charter.
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Legalising Cannabis Bill 2023
16th Nov 2023 -
Proposed anti-bikie laws infringe too far on rights and freedoms
16th Nov 2023Proposed new powers which will allow police to prevent convicted criminals from associating in Victoria go too far and will unfairly restrict individual’s rights to freedom of association and political expression.
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Victims of Crime Assistance and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023
26th Oct 2023 -
Disability Inclusion Bill 2023 (ACT)
25th Oct 2023 -
Criminal Law (Coercive Control and Affirmative Consent) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023
24th Oct 2023 -
Inquiry into a Process to Review Bills for their Impact on First Nations Territorians
18th Oct 2023 -
Review of the Counter-Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (Cth)
10th Oct 2023 -
Victoria needs a new independent police oversight authority – but to work what will it need to look like?
21st Sep 2023To succeed, the new independent police oversight authority called for by many, and most recently the Yoorrook Justice Commission, will need new capabilities and new powers, including the power to obtain information directly from Victoria Police systems and the power to directly investigate potentially systemic issues, including over-policing of minorities, racism and cultural issues, such as sexual harassment.
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Lawyers support calls to give Victorian Charter of Human Rights ‘more bite’
11th Sep 2023The Yoorrook Justice Commission’s calls for people to be able to seek compensation for human rights abuses by taking their complaints to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) will make the state’s Charter of Human Rights more effective and powerful.
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Toothless tiger: Human rights committee sits helplessly on the sidelines
31st Aug 2023In place of the highly recommended federal human rights act, Australia has a parliamentary committee without any real power, says Greg Barns SC. Since its formation in 2011, ‘there have been numerous examples of legislation and executive government policies which, if there were a human rights law in place, would have been subject to court challenge.’
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Guidelines for appointments to the Australian Human Rights Commission
25th Aug 2023 -
An inquiry into the options available to survivors of institutional child sexual abuse in Western Australia who are seeking justice
24th Aug 2023 -
Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023
23rd Aug 2023 -
Federal human rights laws will result in positive outcomes for vulnerable Australians
2nd Aug 2023A federal legislative human rights act would benefit us all but would lead to significant, positive, life-changing outcomes for some of the most vulnerable people in our community, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
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Inquiry into Australia's Human Rights Framework
12th Jul 2023 -
Inclusivity: Not just a seat at the table
6th Jul 2023‘Within organisations and the broader community, we are still learning how to have conversations about nationhood, our collective history and so-called “Indigenous issues”.’ While Australia has been struggling with the modest concession proposed by the Voice to Parliament referendum, Nadia Elads has been pondering the meaning of inclusivity, and finding insight in the work of Dr Penny Taylor.
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Justice (Age of Criminal Responsibility) Legislation Amendment Bill 2023
20th Jun 2023 -
Independent review of compulsory treatment criteria and alignment of decision-making laws
19th Jun 2023 -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in the justice system
1st Jun 2023The youth justice system in WA is broken, but there are simple solutions, writes Alice Barter of the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia, raising her voice to speak on behalf of young clients at Banksia Hill Detention Centre and Unit 18, who have been ‘unnecessarily criminalised due to trauma, poverty, disability, racism and over-policing’.
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Decriminalising Personal Drug Use Bill 2023 (Tas)
9th May 2023 -
Rights of nature
4th May 2023What if nature was recognised as a legal entity with the same rights as humans to survive and thrive? What if Australia followed New Zealand's example and granted personhood status to the Murray Darling Basin or the Great Barrier Reef? Dion Bull of Stacks Law Firm discusses the movement gaining momentum using this strategy to protect the natural world from destructive forces such as climate change and overdevelopment.
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Improving Access to Medicinal Cannabis Bill 2023
4th May 2023 -
Consultation: Review into an appropriate cost model for Commonwealth antidiscrimination laws
19th Apr 2023 -
Inquiry into Tasmanian Adult Imprisonment and Youth Detention Matters
18th Apr 2023 -
Path to Treaty Bill 2023
5th Apr 2023 -
Predicting recidivism – the questionable role of algorithms in the criminal justice system
30th Mar 2023As AI becomes increasingly popular in courts internationally, John Gooley of Stacks Law Firm questions the algorithm that predicted an 18-year-old African-American woman who took a child’s bike to be at ‘high risk’ of reoffending, while assessing a 41-year-old white man convicted of armed robbery as ‘low risk’.
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Government response to the Privacy Act Review Report 2023
29th Mar 2023 -
Review of human rights framework welcome
24th Mar 2023Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus KC’s decision to review the Federal Human Rights framework, with a focus on whether the Government should implement a Charter of Human Rights, is welcome, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Are you hiring? Beware of illegal interview questions
16th Mar 2023Director of Stacks Law Firm in Tamworth Anneka Frayne clarifies the boundaries around job interview questions, and provides resources and tactics for avoiding and dealing with illegal ones.
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Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023
10th Mar 2023 -
Religious Educational Institutions and Anti-Discrimination Laws
2nd Mar 2023 -
Human Rights Day: Call for Australian Government to take stronger action to condemn Iran
10th Dec 2022To mark Human Rights Day today, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) calls on the Australian Government to take stronger action in response to Iran’s violations of human rights.
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‘Too great a cost’: The High Court’s ruling in the Garlett appeal highlights the need for a Human Rights Act
13th Oct 2022‘The Garlett High Court case shows the urgent need for a federal Human Rights Act and even constitutional protection of human rights by way of a Charter or Bill of Rights. Indefinite detention such as that sought in relation to Peter Garlett is a form of arbitrary detention … Aboriginal incarceration must only happen as a matter of last resort’ write Dr Hannah McGlade and Dr Harry Hobbs.
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Qld govt urged to decriminalise public drunkenness and begging
8th Sep 2022Public drunkenness and begging must both be treated as health and social issues, not criminal offences, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Children and the justice system
8th Sep 2022'Only five years after the landmark Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse exposed the shocking abuse of children and young people across this nation over decades, one is tempted to say plus ça change', writes Greg Barns SC.
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Merit-based appointment process for Human Rights Commission is imperative: legislation welcome
28th Jul 2022Proposed legislation which will ensure appointments to the Australian Human Rights Commission are made through a merit-based, transparent process is very welcome, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Rights of ACT residents must be protected with simple and affordable complaints mechanism
28th Apr 2022ACT residents who believe their human rights have been breached need a simple and affordable way to make a complaint and access legal remedies, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) in a submission to the ACT Government.
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Djokovic case sets dangerous precedent
16th Jan 2022The argument of the Federal Government in the Novak Djokovic case sets a dangerous precedent in a democratic society.
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Federal human rights charter needed to balance conflicting rights in a crisis
9th Dec 2021A federal human rights charter is needed to help balance the competing rights that have come into conflict in the management of the pandemic, and ensure these rights are protected in future, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Australia’s human rights reputation undermined by lack of transparency in Commissioner appointment
22nd Sep 2021Australia’s international human rights reputation is undermined by processes that lack transparency and result in hand-picked appointments to critical positions within the Human Rights Commission, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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As the Taliban seize control, here’s what Australia can do to help our people
23rd Aug 2021Now that the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan is complete, vulnerable Afghans, especially minority groups such as the Hazaras and women and children remain in a volatile and desperate situation. Arif Hussein and Zaki Haidari urge the Government to protect those who are most at risk under Taliban rule by increasing the humanitarian intake from Afghanistan, providing permanent protection to all Afghan refugees on temporary protection visas in Australia, and lifting the effective ban on family reunion and the ban on resettlement of refugees in Indonesia.
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Behind the closed doors of immigration detention
29th Jul 2021Australia’s harsh laws permitting the indefinite detention of people seeking asylum and refugees have recently been expanded to include persons who are owed protection obligations but have no visa pathways. Rachel Saravanamuthu discusses the increasing detainee numbers during COVID-19, excessive use of force by detention staff, the concerning use of detention records to support visa cancellations and refusals, and the situation for Medevac transferees.
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COVID-19 pandemic highlights urgent need for Australian human rights charter
17th May 2021The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for an Australian charter of human rights to protect all citizens from the impact of arbitrary and unfair government decisions, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Over 1,000 Australians with cognitive disability are detained indefinitely each year
13th May 2021The indefinite detention of people with cognitive impairments and/or mental illness in our criminal justice system has been criticised for being arbitrary in nature and subjecting detainees to abuse and serious human rights violations.
Eileen Baldry AO highlights the reforms needed to dismantle this shameful practice and provide more disability-focused support to those at risk.
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India travel ban is ‘draconian’ use of Govt powers
3rd May 2021Criminalising travel from India to Australia is an intrusive and severe use of the Federal Government’s powers, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) and the Government must take responsibility for creating better quarantine processes to enable Australians to return home.
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Fighting racism in the healthcare system
8th Apr 2021Despite the common belief that the Australian health system treats everyone equally, George Newhouse and Karina Hawtrey argue that the system operates in a way that disproportionately excludes and harms First Nations people. They discuss the ways in which legal advocates can recognise and assist in fighting racism, including by implementing firm-wide anti-racism policies and taking on cases of medical negligence faced by First Nations clients.
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Protecting everyone’s rights benefits us all
11th Mar 2021Australia’s human rights performance was closely scrutinised in the UN’s recent Universal Periodic Review. Hugh de Kretser discusses the review’s recommendations to improve our rights protection, and outlines its concerns on issues including Australia’s low age of criminal responsibility, economic hardship during COVID-19, the Government’s response to climate change, and the treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and of refugees and people seeking asylum.
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Support for Myanmar legal community
8th Feb 2021Lawyers and legal organisations across Myanmar that are fighting for freedom, open justice and the rule of law need the support of the international legal community, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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COVIDSafe legislation welcomed but needs to better protect our right to opt in or out
11th May 2020The COVIDSafe tracing app needs a strong legal framework to safeguard our rights and privacy and the release of draft legislation is welcome, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Legislation needed to manage privacy & data abuse concerns of COVID-19 tracing app
21st Apr 2020The COVID-19 tracing app needs a strong legal framework to safeguard our rights and privacy, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Non-compliance with COVID-19 rules in immigration detention breaches WHS Act
17th Apr 2020Reported failures to enforce COVID-19 social distancing rules in immigration detention centres is a breach of Commonwealth workplace health and safety laws, according to the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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How the new Queensland Human Rights Act can assist clients with disability
16th Apr 2020It is well recognised that people with disability are particularly vulnerable to violations of their human rights. In this article, Emma Phillips welcomes the new statutory human rights protections delivered by the Human Rights Act 2019 (Qld) (which commenced in January 2020) and identifies the rights and freedoms which have particular significance for people with disability. Emma explains how the new statutory right to health services, a new human right in Australia, has the potential to address the denial of appropriate treatment for people with disability and any failures to ensure access to health services for incarcerated people with disability.
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ALA welcomes release of human rights report as COVID-19 response highlights inequalities
14th Apr 2020A scorecard tracking Australia’s record on human rights principles has been released by the Universal Periodic Review NGO Coordinating Committee.
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ALA welcomes QLD health committee’s support for voluntary assisted dying
3rd Apr 2020The recommendation that voluntary assisted dying for terminally ill adults should be legalised in Queensland has been welcomed by the ALA.
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Moratorium on minor offences needed to help keep community safe
3rd Apr 2020A moratorium on the prosecution of low-level street and drug offences should be implemented immediately so that police can focus on assisting the community to keep well and safe, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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COVID-19 in detention centres & prisons: A potential human rights catastrophe
24th Mar 2020Proposed NSW legislation that will allow for the early release of some prisoners is welcome, and similar legislation should be introduced in all other states and territories as a matter of urgency, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Flawed religious discrimination bill will permit discriminatory conduct
28th Feb 2020The flawed religious discrimination bill is an alarming backwards step which will take away hard-fought protections for people who need them.
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ALA condemns secret filming of Assange’s legal meetings
24th Feb 2020The filming of Julian Assange’s confidential conferences with his lawyers in the Ecuadorian Embassy is a deeply concerning development, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Human Rights Day: ALA urges individuals to protect their rights & freedoms
10th Dec 2019Legislation is increasingly being used to erode individual rights and freedoms in Australia says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) on Human Rights Day 2019.
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Australian human rights protections are fragile and flawed, says ALA
12th Sep 2019Recent events across Australia have highlighted how fragile and flawed our human rights protections are currently.
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Solitary confinement report shows alarming breach of duty of care: State liable for compensation
6th Sep 2019The state has breached its duty of care and could be liable for millions of dollars in compensation, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) in response to the alarming findings disclosed in the recent Victorian Ombudsman’s report into the use of solitary confinement in youth detention facilities.
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Proposed changes to medevac laws must be rejected, say lawyers
26th Aug 2019Proposed amendments to the Migration Amendment (Repairing Medical Transfers) Bill 2019 should be rejected, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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A free press and freedom of speech are fragile rights
13th Jun 2019Greg Barns reflects on last week's police raids of the homes and workplaces of journalists and what this could mean for freedom of speech and freedom of the media.
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Treatment of young people in detention is a national crisis, say lawyers
13th May 2019Tonight’s Four Corners episode showing children locked up in adult watch-houses in Queensland makes it clear that Australia is failing in its duty of care to young people, according to the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Lawyers support NSW Pro-Choice Alliance
9th May 2019Abortion should be regulated like any other health procedure says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA), joining the NSW Pro-Choice Alliance’s call to remove abortion from the NSW Crimes Act.
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Canadian court ruling confirms solitary confinement is a ‘cruel and unusual’ punishment
28th Mar 2019A Canadian court ruling this week which will allow compensation to be paid to prisoners who were placed in solitary confinement for long periods of time could have ramifications for the Australian prison system, according to the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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The re-opening of Christmas Island: Two steps back
28th Mar 2019Following the Senate's passing of the Medevac Bill – which will provide clinical pathways for detainees requiring medical care and ensure that authorities are compelled to determine whether a patient may be transferred to Australia for treatment within 72 hours – the Australian government has announced its intention to re-open the detention centre on Christmas Island.
Kathryn Schmidt discusses the human rights implications of these political actions.
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National security legislation is being misused to prevent a fair trial in Collaery case
27th Mar 2019The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) is alarmed by reports that national security legislation is being misused and causing protracted delays in the prosecution of Witness K and Collaery.
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QLD Human Rights Act sets positive example for federal rights charter
27th Feb 2019The Queensland Human Rights Act passed by Parliament today is an important step forward for the state, but also highlights the lack of human rights protections across the rest of our country, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Gender dysphoria in Australia: The judicial response in Re Kelvin
21st Feb 2019Greg McAllister discusses the case of Re Kelvin and its implications for Australian minors with gender dysphoria who wish to commence hormone therapy.
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Are men still determining women's human rights? (part 2)
7th Feb 2019Anna Kerr discusses the outcomes of Australia's 2018 report to the UN’s Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and how the government’s failures have undermined the human rights of Australian women.
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ALA urges QLD Government to pass Bill of Rights legislation
5th Feb 2019The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) welcomed the Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee’s recommendation to pass the Queensland Bill of Rights saying that the legislation is expected to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society.
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Are men still determining women's human rights? (part 1)
31st Jan 2019Anna Kerr explores whether women's rights are adequately represented and protected by international human rights law. She details the history and shortcomings of various international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
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Immigration lawyers acting for asylum seekers are ‘unAustralian’
20th Dec 2018A reflective essay that responds to this assertion.
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Human Rights Day: a reminder to focus on the need for a national charter of human rights
10th Dec 2018As Human Rights Day is celebrated globally, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) today reiterated calls for a national charter of human rights in Australia.
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QLD Bill of Rights will make a substantial difference but improvements could make it stronger, say lawyers
28th Nov 2018The Queensland Bill of Rights legislation will make a substantial difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA), but there are opportunities to make the Bill stronger and more effective.
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Plaintiff lawyers call for amendments to Sex Discrimination Act
20th Nov 2018The national peak body for plaintiff lawyers has called for the removal of exemptions in the Sex Discrimination Act so that every child can safely attend any school without experiencing discrimination based on their sexuality or gender orientation.
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Algorithms, artificial intelligence, automated systems and the law
15th Nov 2018The extent to which the rights of individuals are threatened by autonomated systems and the ability of the law to safeguard those rights.
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QLD Bill of Rights is the strongest human rights charter in Australia, says ALA
31st Oct 2018The Queensland Bill of Rights legislation is expected to improve the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in our society, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Current legal struggles for people seeking asylum in Australia
25th Oct 2018Dr Carolyn Graydon, Principal Solicitor and Manager of the Human Rights Law Program, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre presented this paper at the ALA National Conference on 19 October.
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Proposed anti-consorting law goes too far: ALA submits alternative form of legislation
19th Sep 2018The proposed anti-consorting law introduced into the Tasmanian Parliament yesterday goes too far and is a violation of individual rights,
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Modern slavery – what can be done?
9th Aug 2018Geoff Baldwin outlines and examines the Australian legal framework through which modern slavery - present in the production chains of goods sold in Australia - can be addressed.
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Maternal rights must be recognised for the sake of children
5th Jul 2018Anna Kerr and Darelle Duncan discuss the move in NSW towards an increase in permanent adoption from foster care placements, and the negative implications this will have for children's welfare and maternal rights.
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ALA backs Uluru Statement
29th Jun 2018The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart as the organisation’s new president, Ms Noor Blumer, commences in her role.
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Collaery charges are concerning
28th Jun 2018The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has expressed concern at the decision to file criminal charges against ACT lawyer, Bernard Collaery.
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Proposed Prohibited Insignia Bill must be fought
21st Jun 2018The Prohibited Insignia Bill introduced into Tasmanian Parliament today violates human rights and threatens principles of democracy, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Refugee Protection Bill is far better policy than current inhumane treatment of asylum seekers
18th Jun 2018The Refugee Protection Bill introduced into Parliament today by Andrew Wilkie MP would ensure a far safer and more humane response to people seeking asylum, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Death on Nauru prompts calls from lawyers for urgent government action
15th Jun 2018‘Cruel, inhumane and unsafe environment’: death on Nauru prompts calls from lawyers for urgent government action.
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Why private sector whistleblowers need better protection
10th May 2018Geoff Baldwin discusses the need for a comprehensive, Australia-wide scheme of private sector whistleblower protections as the public/private sector boundary continues to shift.
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Police accountability in Australia: Complaint mechanisms
12th Apr 2018What are the current police complaint mechanisms around Australia? And is Australia complying with its international obligation to ensure that perpetrators of human rights violations, and specifically those perpetrated by police authorities, are adequately held to account through an independent, effective and impartial investigation into their conduct?
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Sexual harassment in the legal profession
5th Apr 2018Adrienne Morton explores the prevalence of sexual harassment in the legal profession, and the ways in which it could and should be addressed going forward.
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NSW Court of Appeal Justice Mark Leeming headlining law conference
8th Mar 2018Justice of the NSW Court of Appeal, The Hon Justice Mark Leeming, is the keynote speaker at the upcoming Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) annual NSW State Conference being held in Manly next week.
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Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction
8th Mar 2018Is the Convention failing women and children escaping violence?
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Ratifying OPCAT treaty must keep offshore detainees safe
20th Dec 2017The Commonwealth’s ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) this week is a significant step forward in the protection of human rights in Australia and those of asylum seekers held in its detention facilities. To fully implement its obligations, the government must extend OPCAT’s application to offshore detention facilities, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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UN body recommends urgent action to remedy Australia’s human rights
10th Nov 2017The UN Human Rights Committee has today slammed Australia’s human rights record, recommending the implementation of ‘comprehensive federal legislation’ to guarantee human rights, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Voluntary euthanasia laws provide certainty for terminally-ill people
20th Oct 2017Voluntary euthanasia laws passed today by the lower house of the Victorian parliament will ensure much needed legal oversight and certainty for people in need, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Australia’s human rights record comes under UN scrutiny
17th Oct 2017Australia’s approach to implementing and protecting human rights will be scrutinised by a United Nations (UN) committee this week, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Same-sex marriage is a matter of equality
6th Sep 2017Equality demands that we all have the right to marry who we choose, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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No evidence of link between national security and citizenship
6th Sep 2017There is no evidence that proposed changes to the process of gaining Australian citizenship would improve the country’s national security, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Minister seeks to evade the law by criticising refugee advocates
30th Aug 2017By criticising lawyers seeking to assist refugees and asylum seekers, Minister Dutton is seeking to evade the government’s responsibilities, undermining accountability and the rule of law, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Some traditions need to change: students and sexual abuse
3rd Aug 2017AHRC released a report on sexual assault and harassment of university students. The report details disturbing instances of sexual assault and harassment.
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Human rights protections must be part of national security review
21st Jul 2017Federal government proposals to combine Australian security agencies into a single ‘national security super-agency’ must also include strengthened human rights protections for all people in Australia, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Terror law arms race will not increase safety
13th Jun 2017Introducing ever-more draconian anti-terror legislation will not make Australians safer and may actually increase the risk of another terror incident, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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UN migrants expert calls for Australian human rights act
17th May 2017The call by a United Nations (UN) expert for an Australian human rights act reminds us that fundamental human rights in Australia are not protected by a Bill of Rights, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Lawyers welcome damning report from offshore detention inquiry
21st Apr 2017A Senate Report stating that there is an “unacceptable lack of accountability and transparency” and a “culture of secrecy” on Nauru and Manus Island was released today.
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Workers compensation and human rights
13th Apr 2017Since the enactment of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities (Charter) in 2006, it has been necessary for Victorian legislation to be compatible with the 20 basic human rights set out in the Charter.
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Racial discrimination laws no threat to free speech
28th Feb 2017A review into Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act has shown that the country’s racial discrimination laws are working well and that there is no reason to alter the current legislation, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Human rights lawyers win 2017 ALA Queensland Civil Justice Award
20th Feb 2017Three lawyers who successfully fought for improvements in medical care for people being held in Australian offshore detention facilities following the death of a detainee been presented with the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) Queensland 2017 Civil Justice Award (CJA).
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How is the PI compensation process affecting your client’s recovery?
12th Jan 2017The experience of a long, complex and at times adversarial legal process pursuing personal injury (PI) compensation with the need for multiple health assessments and delays in receiving funds has been shown to increase stress and recovery time for injured people.
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Children illegally kept in adult jail may be entitled to bring claims
21st Dec 2016Children who are being detained in adult jails may be entitled to bring a claim for false imprisonment, following a ruling in the Victorian Supreme Court, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Continuing Detention Orders: When courts try to predict the future, we
21st Nov 2016Anna Talbot and Greg Barns discuss continuing detention orders and the legal twilight zone that occurs when courts try to predict the future.
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Lawyers condemn plans to formalise arbitrary detention in Australia
4th Nov 2016The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security has today published a report recommending that Australia adopt the most draconian counter-terrorism laws in the world, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Evidence shows crimes committed by our government on Nauru and Manus
26th Oct 2016Evidence of crimes committed by the Turnbull Government on Manus and Nauru is compelling, say Greg Barns and Anna Talbot from the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
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UN Human Rights expert condemns Australia’s secrecy laws
21st Oct 2016The Australian Government should heed concerns voiced by the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders about the constitutionality of Australian secrecy laws that stifle freedom of speech and fail to protect whistleblowers, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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UN Refugee Summit NY: Turnbull breaks commitments
29th Sep 2016Anna Talbot and Greg Barns report on the UN Refugee Summit in New York and why the Turnbull Government's current approach breaks our commitment to the UN Refugee Convention.
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Abortion Decriminalisation (QLD) and International Human Rights P2
15th Sep 2016Denying women the right to access pregnancy termination services violates their rights in many different ways. Decriminalising abortion is not about morally or ethically condoning it. It's about recognising the dangerous consequences of its criminalisation – for women, girls and medical practitioners.
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Abortion Decriminalisation (QLD) and International Human Rights P1
8th Sep 2016On 10 May 2016, former ALP and now independent Cairns MP, Rob Pyne, introduced a private member’s bill into Queensland parliament to decriminalise abortion. Abortion and its facilitation, assistance and procurement have been criminal acts under Queensland law since 1899. Haven’t social and community standards changed in all that time? Well, “yes” and “no" - Benedict Coyne discusses.
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Imprisoning children – what is going wrong?
25th Aug 2016'You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view' - Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird may have very simply summarised how we should treat children who act out. In light of this, Zoe Le Quesne discusses what is going wrong in the youth justice system, and why it needs to change.
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Martin’s resignation an opportunity to get Commission right: lawyers
1st Aug 2016The Australian Lawyers Alliance welcomes the decision of Brian Martin to stand down as Royal Commissioner into juvenile justice in the Northern Territory.
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Royal Commission terms of reference a missed opportunity - lawyers
28th Jul 2016The Australian Lawyers Alliance said today that the Turnbull Government had missed a once in a generation opportunity to deal with the inherent racism of the Australian legal system towards Indigenous people.
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High Court challenge to secrecy laws welcomed by lawyers
27th Jul 2016The Australian Border Force Act 2015 (Cth) undermines our constitutional freedoms. The Australian Lawyers Alliance supports Doctors for Refugees and Fitzroy Legal Service bringing this problem to the High Court.
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ALA welcomes Royal Commission announcement into children in detention
26th Jul 2016The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has today offered its strong support for the announcement of a Royal Commission into juvenile detention, following reports of appalling and sickening torture and ill treatment within juvenile detention in the Northern Territory.
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MEDIA ALERT: Lawyers oppose proposed changes to terror laws
25th Jul 2016The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) opposes the Turnbull Governments proposed preventative detention for terrorism offenders.
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Imprisoning mentally ill asylum seekers suggests offences committed
16th Jun 2016Reports that a mentally ill detainee on Manus Island was sent to prison instead of receiving medical treatment indicates that workplace health and safety law continues to be flouted in immigration detention.
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Refugee week - we are all just people wanting a happy life
16th Jun 2016Imagine you are incredibly wealthy. You have a house that provides for more room than you need, and you have a support network that reaches far and wide. You have medical benefits, superannuation, savings and knowledge of how life works. Imagine life is good for you. Now, imagine you knew someone who was not so lucky. Imagine you knew of someone who was living in fear of their life. Imagine this person was trying to run from a place of violence and abuse. Someone without any benefits and no understanding of how to get these benefits. The question I pose to you is this, would you help them?
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High Court terrorism ruling points to need for Constitutional reform
15th Jun 2016The High Court today ruled that a defendant charged with Commonwealth terrorism offences cannot opt for a trial by judge alone in the New South Wales Supreme Court.
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Untold Damage - workplace health and safety in immigration
10th Jun 2016Abuse, mental illness and neglect of basic hygiene cause unnecessary and lasting health problems for detainees in immigration detention. They have even caused death. As Commonwealth workplaces, all people affected by immigration detention facilities are supposed to enjoy the protections found in the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) (the WHS Act), including detainees. However, an investigation by the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) reveals that this law is being regularly flouted, with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (the Department) regularly failing to meet its obligations.
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Comcare inaction on detention centre abuse shows need for law reform
8th Jun 2016Widespread sexual and physical abuse, self-harm, suicide attempts and deaths in immigration detention are not being adequately investigated, pointing to a need for legislative reform, according to a report released by the ALA this week.
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Immigration detention unsafe workplaces: ALA Report
6th Jun 2016Immigration detention facilities are unsafe workplaces, ALA Report finds.
The Australian Lawyers Alliance (‘ALA’) is today releasing a ground-breaking 150-page report, Untold damage: workplace health and safety in immigration detention under the Work, Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth), (‘WHS Act’).
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The World Humanitarian Summit - a global fight for human rights
20th May 2016Currently, our world is witnessing the highest level of human suffering since WWII, and the biggest humanitarian crisis in our lifetime. There are, at present, around 60 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, 409 ongoing conflicts, and over 100 million people affected by crises and natural disasters every day. What’s worse is that last year proved to be the lowest funding year globally for humanitarian issues, despite being the year with the largest humanitarian needs. This is why, for the first time in the history of the United Nations (UN), the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called for a two-day World Humanitarian Summit to take place in Istanbul commencing on 23 May 2016.
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7-Eleven workers and their rights in Australia
13th May 2016The recent 7-Eleven scandal has highlighted some of the most significant breaches of trust by employers in Australian history. Our firm has been involved pro bono in many of the claims made by 7-Eleven workers in relation to the underpayments of their wages by their employer. We have now claimed over $2 million in underpayments for these victimised staff. The scale of the underpayments has been breathtaking, with one employee owed over $300,000 and another paid as little as 47 cents an hour.
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Solicitor Kerry Splatt named ALA QLD 2016 CJA Winner
12th Feb 2016A solicitor who has been a passionate advocate for injured workers and defender of common law rights for decades has been declared the winner of the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) Queensland Civil Justice Award.
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Gender dysphoria – a child’s right to self determination
12th Feb 2016The shortcomings inherent in a democracy in my view are largely centred around the failure to recognise our fellow human beings as equal, irrespective of their persuasion, sexual or political, religion, race or occupation. Joshua Dale discusses links the acceptance of gender change, with human rights in Australia as a whole.
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Charting New Waters for a Queensland Bill of Rights - Part B
5th Feb 2016The political appetite for an inquiry for a Queensland Bill of Rights was not quite ready in early 2015. There was an already jam-packed agenda for an unexpected Labor government in its first term... In the second part of his article, Benedict Coyne discusses a Bill of Rights in QLD.
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Charting New Waters for a Queensland Bill of Rights - Part A
29th Jan 2016“Land ahoy!” In the distance, the parliamentary promise of a more just, accountable, compassionate, tolerant and democratic society looms large on the political agenda for Queensland in 2016. Benedict Coyne discusses the idea of a Bill of Rights in Australia in his two-part Opinion article commencing this week.
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The challenge of transboundary environmental disasters
9th Dec 2015Following the devastation surrounding the Samarco mine disaster, the Brazilian government has filed legal proceedings against the companies involved. Emily Mitchell, Senior Policy Officer at the Australian Lawyers Alliance asks: had transboundary damage occurred, would there have been such swift action?
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Communicating Rights to Non-Native Speakers of English
2nd Dec 2015Diana Eades discusses the importance of making sure non-native speakers of English understand their legal rights, and provides recommendations for better communicating these rights.
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The ALA: protecting justice, freedom and human rights for 21 years
20th Nov 2015The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has urged journalists and other public commentators discussing the Alliance to take care not to mistakenly create confusion with regards to other organisations which also use the ALA acronym.
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Human rights in OPCs: No Business in Abuse
30th Oct 2015No Business in Abuse board member, Jacob Varghese, argues Transfield has breached its human rights obligations in its provision of services to the Australian Commonwealth on Manus Island and Nauru.
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Failure to provide abortion to rape victim a new low in detainee care
19th Oct 2015The Commonwealth appears to have failed in its duty of care to a 23-year-old detainee rape victim, by neglecting to provide appropriate medical counselling and advice before denying her an abortion, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Australia’s opaque offshore asylum policy on Nauru
2nd Oct 2015Joshua Dale reflects on the Senate committee inquiry into the Nauru regional processing centre and the lack of transparency.
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DIBP leaves regulator in dark on appalling Nauru detainee conditions
28th Aug 2015Numerous incidents over the past two years, including allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and assaults of people held on Nauru, do not appear to have been reported to Comcare by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (‘DIBP’), the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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New Montara Report highlights Australia’s six years of failure
15th Jul 2015A new investigative report released today has called for the Federal Government to negotiate for a full investigation with Indonesia, to pinpoint the cause of economic and environmental devastation experienced by seaside communities in Indonesia following the worst offshore oil spill in Australia’s history.
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Injuries in detention centres apparently not investigated by Comcare
1st Jul 2015Workplace insurer Comcare appears to have failed to investigate numerous serious incidents and injuries which occurred at Commonwealth detention centres, according to a Freedom of Information (FoI) request made by the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Courageous detention centre staff challenge the government
1st Jul 2015Courageous staff from immigration detention centres have today challenged the federal government to prosecute them, as the Border Force Act 2015 commences as law. The ethical and legal dilemma posed to these professionals is considerable with the full consequences yet to come, writes lawyer Ebony Birchall.
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Govt’s rushed Migration Amendment Bill is unconscionable
24th Jun 2015A last-minute Bill seeking to head off court action challenging the Federal government’s power to fund offshore detention facilities is unconscionable, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Doctors should obtain legal advice before treating asylum seekers
19th Jun 2015Medical professionals working in immigration detention centres should obtain legal advice about their professional liability following new legislation which could gag them from speaking out about poor conditions for detainees, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Nauru and the Moss Review
19th May 2015A Senate inquiry is currently examining the Commonwealth's duty of care in Nauru following the release of the Moss Review, which detailed abhorrent allegations of sexual abuse and harassment in the centre. We submitted to the inquiry, asserting that the Commonwealth has a duty of care both at common law and under work, health and safety laws.
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A Letter to Joko Widodo
17th Apr 2015An appeal to the Indonesian President to spare the lives of Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan.
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Detainee abuse letter: Evidence of Govt’s breach of duty of care?
8th Apr 2015A letter alleging that the Australian Government knew children were suffering sexual abuse at the Nauru detention centre is stunning first evidence that the government may have failed to protect detainees from harm, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Baby Ferouz legal team named ALA Qld 2015 Civil Justice Award Winner
13th Feb 2015The legal team which fought to free baby Ferouz and his family from detention has been declared the winner of the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) Queensland Civil Justice Award.
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Ferouz legal team named ALA Queensland 2015 Civil Justice Award Winner
13th Feb 2015The legal team which fought to free baby Ferouz and his family from detention has been declared the winner of the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) Queensland Civil Justice Award.
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Govt must urgently release children in detention
12th Feb 2015Clear evidence that children being held in immigration detention centres are developing serious mental issues shows the urgency of releasing them into the community as soon as possible, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Diplomacy with teeth
9th Feb 2015Is Australia doing enough to save two young Australians on death row in Indonesia?
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Govt treatment of Manus detainees could be found negligent
12th Dec 2014The Manus Island Report shows clearly that the Australian Government may have breached its duty of care to deceased detainee Reza Berati and could be found negligent for its treatment of asylum seekers detained on Manus Island, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Human Rights Day: It’s time to talk about a Bill of Rights
10th Dec 2014Australia must re-open the discussion about adopting a Bill of Rights in order to protect the human rights of all Australians, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Rechampioning a charter's chances: a human rights act for Australia
10th Dec 2014Human rights protections in Australia are still far from adequate. The 64th International Human Rights Day (10 December 2014) provides us with an opportunity to assess where we are at and the direction in which we intend to progress.
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New migration legislation may be unconstitutional
5th Dec 2014Federal legislation which reintroduces Temporary Protection Visas (TPVs) undermines the United Nations Refugee Convention and may in fact be unconstitutional, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Sexual harassment in the workplace - when enough is enough
25th Sep 2014Two recent cases have seen women being awarded with significant damages following sexual harassment in the workplace.
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Immigration Department carrying out asylum seeker ‘round-up’
18th Sep 2014A large group of asylum-seekers currently being ‘round up’ by the Commonwealth are at very real risk of suicide or even death if they are forced to return to their home countries, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Five years of waiting for investigation into Montara oil spill
21st Aug 2014Five years ago today, the Montara oil spill began in Australian waters of the Timor Sea. For five years, Indonesian communities have claimed to have suffered detrimental impacts to their health, environment and economy. To date, there has still not been an independent investigation, writes Australian Lawyers Alliance's Emily Mitchell.
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Examining calls for an institutional abuse redress scheme
15th Aug 2014This week, the Truth, Justice and Healing Council recommended that a national redress scheme be established to compensate survivors of institutional abuse. The devil is always in the detail, writes the Australian Lawyers Alliance’s Emily Mitchell.
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Asylum seekers suffering ‘cruel and inhuman punishment’
23rd Jul 2014The 157 asylum seekers being held on an Australian customs vessel on the high seas are being held in ‘torturous’ conditions which breach international conventions on civil and political rights, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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UN condemns inadequate response to police violence
3rd Jul 2014A powerful condemnation of the inadequacy of Victoria’s laws to compensate victims of police violence has been delivered by the United Nations Human Rights Committee.
Hovarth v Australia marks a new opportunity for the Australian and Victorian governments to ensure our laws conform with international human rights obligations, writes Sophie Ellis, solicitor at Flemington and Kensington Legal Centre. -
Extension of Royal Commission best hope for reform
2nd Jul 2014The work of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is the best hope for major reform in this area, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Decades of case law conflict with Migration Bill
26th Jun 2014Changes to the Migration Act introduced into Parliament yesterday by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison are at odds with decisions made in the High Court since 1989 and international case law, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Migration changes introduced mark a new low
25th Jun 2014Changes to the Migration Act introduced into Parliament today by Immigration Minister Scott Morrison marks a new low in respect of Australia meeting its international human rights protections, and a new attack on procedural fairness and the separation of powers, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Protecting Australia's innocent
19th Jun 2014Few avenues for redress exist for individuals in Australia who have been wrongfully convicted. It's time to discuss establishing an independent Criminal Case Review Commission, writes Lauren Fitzpatrick, Media and Policy Assistant at the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
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Lawyers call for legislative amendment to Migration Act
18th Jun 2014The High Court’s decision in Plaintiff S156-2013 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection highlights the lack of adequate protections in Australia’s migration law, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Manus Inquiry: Lawyers' evidence given
16th Jun 2014Representatives of the ALA appeared before the #manusinquiry, giving evidence as to Australia's duty of care obligations at common law.
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Manus Inquiry: Lawyers to give evidence about duty of care
13th Jun 2014The Australian Lawyers Alliance appears at the Senate Inquiry into the incident at Manus Island today. In our submission, we asserted that the Commonwealth has a non-delegable duty of care to asylum seekers that continues to exist regardless of where they are being detained.
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Independent investigation of Montara oil spill must occur
13th Jun 2014An independent investigation of damage sustained in the closest Indonesian province to Australia should be funded by the company responsible, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said again today.
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ALA to speak re asylum seekers and duty of care to Senate Inquiry
12th Jun 2014On Friday, the Australian Lawyers Alliance will appear at public hearings for the Senate Inquiry into the incident at Manus Island in which Mr Berati was tragically killed.
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Norrie: paving the way for meaningful recognition of sex and gender
5th Jun 2014The recent High Court decision in Norrie was significant in its recognition of identity, and that not all human beings can be classified by sex. Giri Sivaraman and Alessandra Peldova-McClelland examine the case's impact on LGBTI rights in Australia.
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ALA appears at Productivity Commission Access to Justice Inquiry
4th Jun 2014This week, the Australian Lawyers Alliance was invited to appear before the Productivity Commission in its inquiry into Access to Justice.
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Release of ACT Human Rights Commission report praised
16th May 2014The ACT Human Rights Commission has released a human rights review of the conditions for women imprisoned at Alexander McConachie Centre in the ACT. The Australian Lawyers Alliance has welcomed the report's release.
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ALA announces winner of Victorian Civil Justice Award 2014
16th May 2014The Victorian Civil Justice Award 2014 has been awarded to the Flemington and Kensington CLC for their advocacy against police brutality in Victoria.
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Budget overview: Cuts to justice and human rights
15th May 2014With the Federal Budget announced on Tuesday night, commentary has spread far and wide. Here, we provide a snapshot overview of some of the suggested changes that impact on human rights review, legal assistance, Indigenous rights, asylum seeker rights and human rights education.
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Govt knowledge of security breaches may strengthen claims
13th May 2014Revelations that the Commonwealth knew of security flaws at Manus Island may strengthen claims by asylum seekers who have suffered injuries as a result of security breaches, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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National security legislation may receive no independent review
8th May 2014The government has proposed the repeal of the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor. In our submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, we oppose the repeal, citing the need for an independent body to review legislation, especially in the absence of an Australian Bill of Rights.
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Manus: You can't delegate your duty
5th May 2014The Australian government may have a non-delegable duty of care to asylum seekers, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today, in a submission to a Senate inquiry into the tragic death of Reza Berati on Manus Island.
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Racial discrimination changes to axe vicarious liability & exemptions
1st May 2014Proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) are being hotly debated in the media, however, the focus on s18C could be missing crucial issues, writes Emily Mitchell, Legal and Policy Officer at the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
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Vicarious liability to be chopped under RDA changes
30th Apr 2014Employers may win and individuals lose out with vicarious liability and exemptions on the chopping block under proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Sexual abuse of minors by Royal Australian Navy should be investigated
17th Apr 2014The Australian Lawyers Alliance calls on the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to hold an open hearing into the allegations of decades of sexual abuse of minors at HMAS Leeuwin.
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Breaches have gone further than Senate Inquiry suggests
29th Mar 2014Breaches into Indonesian waters could be far more common than recorded by the Defence and Customs Review and Senate Inquiry report, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Proposed changes to RDA will disallow people from utilising law
26th Mar 2014Proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act will effectively disallow people from utilising the law, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Breaches have gone further than Defence Customs Review suggests
21st Mar 2014Breaches into Indonesian waters could be more common than recorded by the Defence and Customs Review, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Catholic church concession on Ellis defence is inadequate
11th Mar 2014A historic concession made yesterday only goes halfway to according justice for thousands of victims of sexual abuse, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Damaged human rights record will plunge further
22nd Jan 2014The Australian Lawyers Alliance said today that Human Rights Watch’s assessment of Australian asylum seeker policy as ‘draconian’ will plunge further in coming months if legislation currently on the table passes in the Parliament of Australia.
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Australian Lawyers Alliance Civil Justice Awards
1st Jan 2014Every year, the Australian Lawyers Alliance presents the highly acclaimed Civil Justice Awards to individuals and organisations around the country who have displayed outstanding advocacy in their support for human rights and social justice.
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Concern for asylum seekers wellbeing – ALA
13th Sep 2013Almost $28 million has been spent by Australia on asylum seekers compensation claims since 2000. Of this, $21.1 million was for unlawful detention in 299 matters and $6.9 million for breaches of duty-of-care and statutory duties towards 150 others, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers may breach international law
5th Aug 2013Australia’s treatment of asylum seeking detainees may be considered akin to torture and urgent measures were needed to protect such vulnerable people under law, the Australian Lawyers Alliance warned today.
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Orphan must be taken from Christmas Island to his family - ALA
10th May 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance today called on the federal government to remove a nine-year-old Sri Lankan boy, recently orphaned, from Christmas Island, to save him from exacerbated psychological trauma.
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Clarity needed over Abbott’s ‘turn back boats’ policy
29th Apr 2013An opinion piece by ALA National President, Anthony Kerin, on Abbott's 'turn back boats' policy.
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Reopening detention centre will increase compensation claims – ALA
24th Apr 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance today called on the federal government to stop detaining children and families as part of its asylum seeker policy.
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ALA lauds NZ in voting to acknowledge same sex marriage under law
18th Apr 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance today congratulated New Zealanders on their leadership and humanity in acknowledging same sex unions as legitimate marriages under law.
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Asylum seekers in WA must be offered protections of Aus law - ALA
15th Apr 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance is concerned that the rights of a boatload of Sri Lankan men, women and children who reached WA on Tuesday are being ignored as Australia continues to flout its international obligations to asylum seekers.
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NDIS recovery rights fall short
15th Mar 2013People with disabilities can be pressured into legal action under provisions in the National Disability Scheme legislation passed in the House of Representatives yesterday.
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Don’t use asylum seekers for political gain - ALA
27th Feb 2013“The fact that one asylum seeker, out of tens of thousands, has been charged with a criminal offence should not lead to a further erosion of the already limited rights of asylum seekers in the community,” ALA criminal law spokesman, Greg Barns, said today.
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Proposal to extend NSW prison terms could be unconstitutional
21st Feb 2013The New South Wales government’s proposed continuing detention laws for serious sex offences or violent crimes are possibly unconstitutional and are likely to meet a High Court challenge, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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NDIS Bill inadequate in protecting rights of those with disabilities
19th Feb 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance today told an Adelaide public hearing on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) that the Bill, in its present form, would not adequately protect the rights of those with disabilities.
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ALA expresses concern over new anti-doping body powers
11th Feb 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance today expressed concern over the federal government’s plan to remove privilege against self-incrimination and to compel witnesses in Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) investigations.
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ALA applauds rejection of Police Costs Bill (SA)
29th Nov 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance applauds the Upper House Independent Members and the Liberal Party for standing up, yet again, for the rights of the innocent.
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ALA hosts Chinese judges to educate about Australian judicial process
27th Nov 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance met with 20 judges from in and around the Fujian Province in Sydney, today, as part of an educational exchange to examine court case management in Australia.
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Legal community welcomes review of SA CTP scheme
26th Nov 2012Australian and state peak legal bodies, the Australian Lawyers Alliance and the SA Law Society, are welcoming the SA CTP insurance White Paper report by SA Treasurer Jack Snelling, but warned administrative review was crucial to success of any such scheme.
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Govt reaches new low with its treatment of asylum seekers
30th Oct 2012The Gillard Government has reached a new low in its inhumanity towards asylum seekers, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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ALA cautions against $50 million pledge for more CCTV cameras
8th Oct 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance says that the pledge by Opposition Leader, Tony Abbott, today, to spend $50 million for additional CCTV cameras around Australia to monitor people’s movements in response to Jill Meagher’s death, does not take account of privacy concerns and potential misuse of cameras to profile groups and individuals.
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ALA cautions that death should not lead to the overuse of surveillance
29th Sep 2012“The greater use of surveillance cameras by the Victorian Police and local government, as announced by Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu today, will not necessarily improve the detection of crime and comes with serious policy implications attached,” Australian Lawyers Alliance director and Criminal Barrister, Greg Barns, said.
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Charitable VIC motorcycle club members are having property confiscated
26th Sep 2012Nine members of the Wangaratta-based Tramps Motorcycle Club have had their firearms, some of which are needed to work jobs and farming properties, confiscated by Victorian Police because of alleged prejudice and false assumption.
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NSW violent offender proposals fail fairness test - ALA
24th Sep 2012Proposed laws announced by NSW Attorney-General, Greg Smith, today, enabling violent offenders to be kept in prison beyond the term imposed by a court or only released subject to strict limits on their freedom, failed the fairness test, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Proposed abolition of right to silence in NSW will allow police abuse
19th Sep 2012The right of individuals to remain silent when being interrogated by police is a fundamental human right reflected in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and in Canadian and US human rights laws and for New South Wales Attorney-General Greg Smith to give the community only 10 days to comment on his proposal to dismantle that right is appalling, said the Australian Lawyers Alliance today.
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Nauru’s tent city shames Australia - ALA
11th Sep 2012The ALA reiterates its opposition to offshore processing, following reports of tents being erected to house asylum seekers for up to six months during the wet season on Nauru.
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Opportunistic politicians trading in human misery for votes - ALA
3rd Sep 2012“Professional people smugglers aren’t the only occupation trading in human misery in Australia – opportunistic politicians are capitalising on fear and ignorance with a quick easy vote-grab that harshly punishes some of the world’s most vulnerable people,” Australian Lawyers Alliance National President, Tony Kerin, said today.
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'Right to silence' crucial for democracy in NSW - ALA
15th Aug 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is expressing disbelief that the O’Farrell Government would strike at the heart of democratic principles with an attack on every NSW citizen’s right to silence by amending such a law.
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ALA labels Gillard asylum seeker measures 'cruel and outrageous'
15th Aug 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is labelling as ‘cruel and outrageous’ rushed Federal Government plans to process asylum seekers in both Nauru and Manus Island by Friday.
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ALA welcomes panel recommendation to increase asylum seeker intake
13th Aug 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance today welcomed an expert panel decision to increase the intake of asylum seekers into Australia, but is concerned about a recommendation for offshore processing in countries that can not guarantee the health and welfare of asylum seekers.
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Trial by media has no place in upholding justice in Hey Dad case - ALA
10th Aug 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is today urging restraint on the part of the media and the alleged victims of former Hey Dad star Robert Hughes, following prejudicial comments in the media that could impinge on Mr Hughes right to a fair trial.
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ALA responds to Abbott call to end Racial Discrimination Act provision
6th Aug 2012“Liberal Leader Tony Abbott’s proposal to wind back the Commonwealth Racial Discrimination Act’s protection against racial abuse should alarm all Australians,” Australian Lawyers Alliance Director and barrister, Greg Barns, said.
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Mandatory sentencing laws for people smuggling crews unfair - ALA
3rd Aug 2012“Organisers behind people smuggling stand to make windfall profits from each boat, however the skippers and crews of these vessels are often just additional victims of this trade in human misery,” Australian Lawyers Alliance Northern Territory spokesman, Greg Phelps, said today.
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Aust Gov must compensate children illegally detained - ALA
27th Jul 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is calling on the Australian Government to pay compensation to children who have been illegally detained in this country on suspicion of people smuggling following the release of a damning Human Rights Commission report on the matter today.
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Apartheid-style legislation is incompatible with human rights
29th Jun 2012The Federal Government’s recklessness in pushing through parliament, with the support of some Opposition MPs, racist legislation, that sets the rights of Indigenous people in the Northern Territory back decades, will not go unchallenged, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Dark day as bills threaten asylum seekers and Indigenous rights
28th Jun 2012“Two bills concurrently being considered by the Australian Federal Parliament flag the urgent need for a Federal Human Rights Act to protect the rights of the marginalised and disadvantaged,” Australian Lawyers Alliance National President, Greg Barns, said today.
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ALA calls for independent prisons inspectorate
18th Jun 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance has expressed concern about the case of a woman handcuffed to a South Australian prison bed for up to 20 hours a day.
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Assange anti-extradition rally
30th May 2012Details released of the Julian Assange anti-extradition rally on Thursday 31 May 2012.
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ALA applauds stance of Indigenous elders against 'Stronger Futures'
2nd May 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance today applauded the bold stance of Indigenous elders in west and central Arnhem Land who are refusing to participate in land lease negotiations for mining exploration licences in revolt against the Federal Government’s Stronger Futures legislation.
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ALA concerned Assange's lawyer on 'no fly' list
19th Apr 2012Australian Lawyers Alliance National President, Greg Barns, has expressed grave concern at the placing of lawyer Jennifer Robinson on a ‘no fly list.’
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ALA calls for National Judicial Inquiry into police weapon use
19th Mar 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is calling for a National Judicial Inquiry into the use of Tasers, capsicum spray and other potentially lethal police weapons, following the death of a man in Sydney, yesterday.
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Bipartisan Stronger Futures policy in breach of international law
14th Mar 2012Release today of the Senate report on the proposed Stronger Futures law, has prompted the Australian Lawyers Alliance to warn the federal government to be wary of breaching international human rights decrees if the legislation passes through the Senate.
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Politicians ruling by stealth as wilful ignorance flourishes
12th Mar 2012Opinion piece written by Mandy Wyer for attribution to ALA National President, Greg Barns. It appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald Opinion page on Friday 16 March 2012.
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Stronger Futures film and consultation at Parliament House today
27th Feb 2012Notification of the Our Generation Indigenous film and Stronger Futures Consultation Evening at Parliament House theatrette, Canberra.
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Indigenous rights documentary to be screened at Parliament House
3rd Feb 2012Concern that federal politicians are about to vote on crucial Indigenous rights legislation, without proper evaluation or community consultation, has prompted an Indigenous documentary screening and discussion evening at Parliament House, Canberra, this month.
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