There's a gale of fresh thought sweeping the UK after its recent election...and Her Majesty's Government is leading the way by launching, on 1 July 2010, a new website which asks British people for ideas on how to restore their civil liberties! When will Australia get a similar website here?

The commission controlling the building industry has dictatorial powers out of place in a democracy, Prof George Williams says. A re-elected Gillard Government should legislate immediately to restore civil liberties and individual freedoms to construction workers.

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Bias against males in family matters is perpetuated in proposals from the Australian Law Reform Commission, Roger Smith says. Analysis shows that males are the victims in about one-third of cases, but laws and services are all heavily tilted towards consistently treating men as the presumed guilty party. Read more »...

The troubled island, off the Queensland coast near Townsville, started life as a penal colony for dozens of different Aboriginal groups a century ago. Is it still a purgatory for its people in a paradise-like environment? Keith McEwan tried to visit to see for himself...

Around Australia, drug testing of drivers takes places with no proven benefit to society and great penalty to people's civil liberties. In WA, the accuracy of the tests is declining, research in SA shows (see CLArion newsletter July 2010). Here, Bill Bush outlines why the ACT should not introduce such an uncertain, inequitable form of driver testing.
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In funding and numbers, Australia's national police force has more than doubled over the past decade. In nature and mission, it is now at the 'centre of security' rather than at the core of policing, its own Minister says. Are these changes turning Australia into a police state?
Caption: AFP boss Tony Negus (centre right) at Interpol HQ, France, in June 2010, discussing 'additional collaboration' - INTERPOL photo.

The first Australian Government and Non-Government Organisations Forum on Human Rights in late June 2010 produced mixed results, according to CLA President, Dr Kristine Klugman. She raised questions about making all Australian laws compatible with human rights, and the UN demand, under the ICCPR, that Australia trains its public officials, police and others in human rights.

In a muddled ruling, the US Supreme Court has severely restricted free speech and freedom of association in America. The court apparently believes that unproven intelligence by spy agencies about 'terrorist' organisations should trump the rights of Americans to give aid and succour to people in distress.  Read more »...

A new report – Intimate Partner Abuse of Men – has revealed that about one in three cases of domestic violence in Australia are against men. Government-funded public awareness campaigns and different training within the health and welfare sector are needed, it says. Roger Smith comments »..

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Internet Service Providers may soon have to retain subscriber's private web browsing history for the government to secretly examine, according to news reports. Industry insiders and bloggers are up in arms. Read Article »...

Do the 'bikie laws' breach rights?

What does CLA think of the SA legislation - the 'bikie laws' - now being considered, on appeal, by the High Court. Does the Act breach an individual's human rights, we were asked by a student?

Prisons, parole and a ticket-of-leave system are in the DNA of many Australians, WA's Chief Justice Wayne Martin points out. It's time we re-thought sentencing and parole to better reflect what today's community wants...and it may be a case of deja vu all over again!  Read speech »...