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copyright ©2011 Civil Liberties Australia | Canberra, Australia
As a human, you have inalienable rights - see ICCPR - and rights in Australian law, including in the Constitution. Some of the basic ones include:
- free speech: to speak openly on anything, provided you speak responsibly and do not infringe others' rights;
- freedom of assembly: to meet, gather, join and act to further legal views and actions
- freedom of thought, conscience and religion (and no religion);
- right to live freely and securely, and to develop yourself;
- to be treated equally with other citizens by authorities, and under the law;
- to move around freely, and to leave and return to Australia;
- to marry, choosing your own partner, and to raise a family;
- to work, with just and favourable conditions and hours, including reasonable rest, leisure and holidays;
- freedom to join a trade union, or to not join; and
- the right to share reasonably equitably in the economic, social and cultural rights of the community as part of an inherent dignity of person.
Resources:
- CLA policy on technology and civil liberties: see policy document.
Freedom for the stupid is important too
Article posted on Tuesday 31 January 2012Banning flag burning would be doubly unproductive, CLA says in response to an RSL call for a new law to that effect. Australian Diggers fought to ensure Australians enjoyed freedom of expression, which a ban would do away with. As well, forbidding flag burning could well be a strategic error: police might like to identify who is so hostile to Australia they are prepared to burn the flag.
Laws enforce protection, but ignore freedom
Article posted on Friday 27 January 2012The wearing of bike helmets and car seat belts engages the classic liberty v public good argument. Bill Curnow, a CLA member, gives his opinion that there has been little evidence-based analysis of the public good. It's time for some independent and open inquiries, he says.
Extradition to US is doubly doubtful
Article posted on Wednesday 18 January 2012Mark Summerfield, a patent attorney, analyses the current UK alleged piracy/copyright extradition case with major international ramifications. As well, there's links to the NYT coverage of proposed new US laws which are even more draconian, and to an SMH story of the real-life experience of an Australian extradited and jailed in the US for a similar 'offence'.
Minister can drive reduced homelessness
Article posted on Tuesday 17 January 2012
It's not often you get a chance to profoundly make the nation a better place, but new Homes and Homelessness Minister Robert McClelland has just such an opportunity. He needs to gather disparate policies across portfolios and stop them pulling in different directions to the detriment of Australia's downtrodden.
Information boss commits to biometric guidance
Article posted on Saturday 24 December 2011
Information Commissioner Prof John McMillan has agreed to highlight the risks surrounding biometric technology to both government and the private sector in future. His positive response follows a campaign by Civil Liberties Australia, the Australian Privacy Foundation and others over many months to raise appropriate awareness among those choosing security systems.
Note to Minister: we pay you to make the law
Article posted on Friday 23 December 2011
Fringe-dwelling firms are finding sneaky ways to exploit government agreements to milk them for private data never envisaged when the deal was originally done. In the West, you park at your peril, because the government willy-nilly hands over your private address details – despite previously saying the information was 'off limits'
Census 'randomness' doesn't make sense
Article posted on Tuesday 13 December 2011Being selected for a 'Census' activity can be like the reverse of winning the lottery: all pain and no gain. CLA often gets complaints about mandatory rules of the Australian Bureau of Statistics for their numerous types of surveys. Here Toni Walker wonders what are the odds of being picked twice in a decade? What do you think?
Moti: Australia on trial..and guilty as hell
Article posted on Thursday 08 December 2011
The High Court has ruled that the Australian government – diplomats and police mainly – abused legal processes in assisting the deportation of Julian Moti, former Attorney-General of the Solomon Islands, to Brisbane to face age sex tourism charges. Moti is now free to seek an apology and compensation for the politically-inspired misery visited on him for four years. The Moti Farce marked a low point for the Howard/Downer axis in foreign affairs, writes CLA's CEO, Bill Rowlings.
Removing face cover is reasonable, CLA says
Article posted on Tuesday 06 December 2011"Giving police the power to ask a driver to remove their face covering or veil is a reasonable response to a legitimate public concern," Civil Liberties Australia director and media spokesperson, Tim Vines, said.
'Black fellow' tag costs man his job
Article posted on Monday 05 December 2011A man says he has been summarily dismissed, without a hearing, for describing a fellow worker as a 'black fellow'. Conflicting rights are always difficult to resolve - what do you think?
God didn't say what type of 'another'
Article posted on Sunday 04 December 2011Why does our PM do something as stupid as putting the gay marriage issue to a conscience vote? We all know how she feels about the subject...and she’s up a tree.
Such is the uneven quality of justice in Oz
Article posted on Monday 28 November 2011Government attempts to tackle the Mr Bigs of crime in Australia often end up punishing the Mr and Mrs Littles and their innocent children. At a parliamentary hearing, CLA CEO Bill Rowlings has called for uniform justice throughout Australia, laws which meet the high standards of international convention obligations we have signed, and removing mandatory clauses which prevent judges exercising the full range of punishment options.
Faulkner sums up first year achievements
Article posted on Thursday 17 November 2011
The Father of Freer Information in Australia, Senator John Faulkner, has given his creation – the Office of the Information Commissioner – a tick for achievements in its first 12 months. But he has reminded the Information, Privacy and FOI Commissioners that the big battles are still ahead, and that government information is a national resource.
Security: wrapped in a 'cost-free' blanket
Article posted on Saturday 12 November 2011"Security" is the new catch-all excuse for massive, over-the-top spending without having to prove value for money, or pass a cost-benefit analysis, says economics guru Saul Eslake. From manufacturing through food to electricity and water, "security" has become the password for avoiding rigorous, independent, arms length scrutiny.
Shoppers face (secret) camera evaluation
Article posted on Wednesday 09 November 2011
As each week passes, slick salespeople flog new "miracle" surveillance cameras. Here, a report indicates national chain stores are installing devices that analyse shoppers emotions, pick their gender, guess their age, deduce their mood. As CLA's National Media Director, Tim Vines, points out, shops infringe people's privacy if a person's image is used for a purpose they are not aware of.
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