As the Actor represents Everyman, so Paul Hogan represents us all over the bureaucratic inequities of oppressive legality and secrecy laws in Australia. He is now locked in the debtor's prison the nation is becoming, reverting to its penal role two centu… more »

In a recent series of articles, The Economist queries the sanity of the USA locking away more and more people in jails, some for almost unbelievable 'crimes', at increasingly greater cost year by year. There are lessons here for Australia.Crime and p… more »

The Editor, The Australian, Sir: I respond to your report by David Nason "Lindy savages police investigation of Azaria" The Australian 18 Aug 2010, p.3. I noted at the time, 30 years ago, that the first coroner's report by Denis Barritt had cleared… more »

CLA works with advanced and honours students on topics of mutual interest, where the student gains credits for 'internship' programs or honours studies, and CLA benefits from excellent research papers which help to shape a current or future dilemma. See… more »

Crime is down in Australia and throughout the western world. But people think crime is rising, with some academics theorising it's because of all the cop shows on TV. Here's the official rundown for Australia - what do you think?   Read more »... more »

'Lateline' is on the TV, and its part 1 of a two-part program regarding Mentoring Team Alpha in Afghanistan...and I think of the Australian men killed in Afghanistan since 2001. I reflect on my five years in Iraq and the men killed there. I think of t… more »

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 constructio… more »

Editor, West Australian: I respond to your report 'Frustrated DPP sees flaws in quality of police probe' 29 June 2010, p7. I have read Coroner Alastair Hope's report on Aborigine elder Mr Ward's death in custody, in the back of a prison transfer van,… more »

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 Bus… more »

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 A… 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 n… more »

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?Dear Ms XXXXX,Serio… more »

Police should not investigate police deaths in custody, CLA's Keith McEwan says. There needs to be an independent body set up for such cases - justice demands no less, he says. Investigate independently The Editor, The Age: Your editorial ‘Justice te… more »

Attorney-General Robert McClelland has the opportunity to resolve an overwhelming injustice by acting on the Bryce case, where a man who could not be jailed elsewhere in Australia languishes in a Queensland jail on a federal charge. The time to act is no… more »

"I'll never be affected by abuse of civil liberties: it won't happen to me". But, as Susan Carty explains, you can be accused and convicted on an Australian street - even when innocent - if someone whose identity is kept secret reports youfor littering,… more »