In a submission to the Federal government Department, the Human Rights Law Centre recommended that in place of the proposal for the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to be a “backstop” option for regulation, ACMA should instead be given sufficient powers to regulate social media platforms effective immediately.
Read MoreIn a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework, the Human Rights Law Centre emphasised the need for a Federal Charter of Human Rights. Their research details a series of recent case studies in which Australian government actions have breached people’s human rights. The people featured, and many more like them, could have avoided this harm or obtained redress if we had a strong federal Human Rights Charter.
Read MoreA joint submission by Migrant Justice Institute and the Human Rights Law Centre in relation to these amendments to the Migration Act. This submission relates to the proposed amendments to section 116. Those amendments are intended to form a basis for protections from visa cancellation for exploited migrant workers.
Read MoreIn a submission to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework, the campaign, made up of over 90 organisations provided evidence that a Charter will benefit the whole community by preventing human rights violations, providing a powerful tool to challenge injustice, and fostering understanding and respect for human rights.
Read MoreIn a submission to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) Grant Donaldson SC, the Human Rights Law Centre has recommended a range of reforms to improve the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004 (NSI Act).
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre, Transparency International Australia and Griffith University's Centre for Governance and Public Policy have called on the Albanese Government to swiftly repeal the worst excesses in Australian secrecy laws and strengthen safeguards for whistleblowing and public interest journalism.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre endorsed this position paper, which was authored by Australian Women’s Health Network (AWHN), Children by Choice, Fair Agenda, MSI Australia and the Global and Women’s Health, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine - Monash University.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and Migrant Workers Centre are calling for Australia’s migration laws to centre the rights of people over punitive politics and economic profit in a joint submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre welcomes the proposals to strengthen privacy protections in line with international standards and supports stronger protections against invasive targeting, and the introduction of a statutory privacy tort with appropriate safeguards.
Read MoreWhile 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 has provided a submission to the parliamentary inquiry into the influence of international digital platforms, calling for greater transparency and regulation to protect human rights.
Read MoreThe Migration Amendment (Evacuation to Safety) Bill 2023 would have compelled the Australian Government to bring the last 150 people who are still stranded in offshore detention to Australia. The Human Rights Law Centre’s submission recommended that the Bill be passed, and that further legislation be introduced to repeal offshore processing and provide permanent safety to all people previously subjected to it.
Read MoreQueensland’s public sector whistleblowing laws were once world-leading; they now lag behind other Australian jurisdictions. This submission by Human Rights Law Centre, Transparency International and Griffith University into the independent review into the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2010 (Qld) calls for an urgent overhaul.
Read MoreIn a pre-budget submission, the Albanese Government and Treasurer Jim Chalmers have been urged by the Human Rights Law Centre 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.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre, Griffith University’s Centre for Governance & Public Policy and Transparency International Australia have called for a comprehensive reform process to ensure stronger protections for Australian whistleblowers, building on initial announcements by the Albanese government about its first steps.
Read MoreJoint submission by the Human Rights law Centre, Migrant Workers Centre, Democracy in Colour, GetUp!, ASRC, Liberty Victoria and Amnesty International.
Read MoreJoint submission from Human Rights Law Centre and the Migrant Workers Centre to the historic review of Australia’ migration program.
Read MoreA joint submission by Children and Young people with Disability Australia, the Human Rights Law Centre and People With Disability Australia (PWDA) has outlined the importance of an Australian Charter of Human Rights for people with a disability and the need for human rights to be at the heart of government laws, policies and services.
Read MoreThe effort to make funding behind referendum campaigns transparent is commendable, but should be made as straight-forward as possible. Transparency of the funding for referendum campaigns is every bit as important as transparency in election campaigns.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre have made a range of recommendations about legislative reform, drawing from our extensive experience of working with health experts and law-makers across Australia, including in Western Australia, on abortion law reform.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre calls on the Andrews government to fast track critical reforms that would immediately reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people experiencing injustice at the hands of the criminal legal system, in evidence to be heard by the Yoorrook Justice Commission.
Read MoreIn our submission to the statutory review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth), Human Rights Law Centre proposes reforms to hold companies accountable for preventing modern slavery in their operations and supply chains and require them to undertake due diligence to identify and address modern slavery risks.
The Human Rights Law Centre is calling on the Australian Government urgently act to strengthen the legislation.
Read MoreJoint submission by the Human Rights Law Centre, the Refugee Council of Australia and UNSW Sydney's Andrew & Renata Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law on mistreatment in immigration detention to the UN Committee Against Torture.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre appeared before the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (Committee), to advocate for reforms that will make elections fairer and our democracy stronger.
Read MoreIn a joint submission to the United Nations Committee Against Torture, Change the Record, the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services and the Human Rights Law Centre call on the Albanese government to end human rights abuses in prisons and police cells.
Read MoreAfter a parliamentary inquiry earlier this year recommended an urgent overhaul of the family migration system, the Australian National Audit Office is now conducting an audit of the Department of Home Affairs’ handling of family via applications.
Read MoreSubmission on Australia’s state party report to the Committee Against Torture pursuant to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (75th Session)
Read MoreIn this joint submission by the Human Rights Law Centre, Change The Record and the NATSILS to the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture, we highlight Jurisdictions where little or no work establishing an OPCAT-compliant oversight mechanism for places of detention has been established; systemic concerns within and across jurisdictions; and facilities of particular concern where human rights abuses appear to be systemic, chronic and escalating.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre appeared before the Joint Select Committee on Parliamentary Standards (Committee), to give evidence for reforms that would ensure that politicians and all people working in, or visiting, the Commonwealth Parliament fall under a code of conduct.
Read MoreThis joint parliamentary committee was initiated on the recommendation of Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins in her Set the Standard report, which followed serious allegations of gender-based violence taking place inside Parliament. It follows that a significant focus of this review should be on preventing gender-based violence. However, this is not the only issue that needs to be addressed in order to create a Commonwealth Parliament that will rebuild public trust in our political system.
Read MoreThe Human Rights Law Centre is urging the ACT government to lead the nation and introduce the ‘right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment’ into the Human Rights Act 2004.
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