The family of Veronica Marie Nelson, a strong Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Wiradjuri and Yorta Yorta woman who passed away in custody, are calling on the Andrews Government to implement urgent changes to the state's bail laws and have asked that these reforms are referred to as Poccum’s Law.

While Australia has been an early mover on reform for online safety and digital media, it lags on key aspects of regulating digital platforms. The Human Rights Law Centre’s submission to the parliamentary inquiry into the influence of international digital platforms calls for greater transparency and regulation to protect human rights.

This week, the Federal Government had the opportunity to end a decade of cruel, inhumane treatment of 150 people stranded in offshore detention. Instead, the Albanese Government voted with the Coalition and One Nation to block Greens senator Nick McKim’s Evacuation to Safety Bill that would remove the last refugees from Nauru and Papua New Guinea. 

Queensland’s public sector whistleblowing laws were once world-leading; they now lag behind other Australian jurisdictions. Queensland’s public sector whistleblowing laws are in need of an urgent overhaul, a coalition of organisations have told an independent review into the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 (Qld).

In response to Victorian Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes’ announcement addressing Victoria’s bail laws, the Human Rights Law Centre calls on the Andrews Government to listen to Aboriginal organisations and expert advice, and commit to wholesale bail reform as recommended by Coroner McGregor.

A national coalition of over 40 legal service providers, unions, ethnic community peak bodies, churches, and national organisations is calling on Minister for Home Affairs Clare O’Neil to urgently bring widespread migrant worker exploitation out of the shadows.  

The coronial inquest into the police-shooting death of Kumanjayi Walker will next week hear evidence from Aboriginal experts on community-led solutions to prevent future deaths in custody of Aboriginal people.

The United Nations torture prevention body has formally terminated its visit to Australia after being forced to leave the country early in October following the prevention of full access to prisons and mental health facilities in New South Wales and Queensland. 

A legal challenge against the Australian Government, seeking fair and equal access to the age pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, will be heard by the Full Federal Court. Proud Wakka Wakka man Uncle Dennis* is bringing the case, where the Federal Government will face court for its failure to close the gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people.

The Albanese Government’s announcement that it will provide a pathway to permanent residency for people on temporary protection visas offers hope at last to thousands of people who have built lives in Australia but have been held back by punitive visa rules.

Today the Federal Government abolished Ministerial Direction 80, a policy that has intentionally kept thousands of refugee families apart for a decade. While the policy change marks a necessary first step towards reuniting people with their loved ones, the Human Rights Law Centre calls for further action from the Albanese Government to stop separating families to punish and deter people from seeking safety in Australia.  

The Human Rights Law Centre urges the Albanese Government and Treasurer Jim Chalmers to improve the upcoming Federal Budget for people across the community by placing human rights at the heart of the budget decisions they will be making.