Category: Articles

CLArion May 2025: Core problems remain after election

CLA CLArion Monthly newsletterWe vote by 3 May on the character of the federal leaders, the promises of the parties, and in the pollyanna-ish hope that current global turmoil can produce positive prosperity in future. As our votes are counted, we know definitely that there are urgent, existing, unaddressed issues in Australia to fix so that individual rights and the national rule of law remain our guiding principle.

We highlight some of those issues in this issue, and also cover:

  • Human Rights Act ready and waiting for a progressive legislature
  • Juries, coroners, judges who won’t step down: legal problems abound
  • Costly corruption allegations survive change of government
  • Failure to disclose keeps raising its ugly police/DPP head
  • People to be stopped and searched everywhere in the state
  • Pope’s legacy is a constant plea for human rights
  • Batman and Robin join the police to nab swindlers

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CLArion April 2025: Candidates – Tell us where you stand on US chaos

Never have Australians voted amid such international uncertainty and chaos. Because of that, the political parties and all local candidates must clearly state the approach they will take to US President Donald Trump’s current and future assaults on stable and sensible global affairs. It’s time to recalibrate our own fundamental values in dealings with the world: to be able do that properly, first we must confirm our basic internal standards, rights and liberties that comprise Australia’s ethical infrastructure.

CLArion March 2025: Election will test righteousness v justice

The coming federal election result will demonstrate clearly how Australia stands in relation to a world trend towards self righteous indignation benefiting the few contrasted with greater social justice lifting the many. Even global media barons, like Rupert Murdoch, are painting themselves as much-put-upon underdogs, as we report in this issue. 

Human Rights for Oz: when & why PM should act

As the 2025 federal election looms, CLA believes it’s time for PM Albanese’s Labor Party to promise Australia that they will enact a federal Human Rights Act in the next Parliament, if returned to power, before the end of 2026. ATTACHED is CLA’s direct letter to the PM, asking for that promise, and background papers supporting why Australia’s establishing firm human rights and civil  liberties benchmarks, now in the Trump 2024 era, is so much more important than ever (see Scoping Paper: International Relations).   Letter to the Prime Minister   THE ROLE OF A HUMAN RIGHTS ACT IN INTERNATIONALContinue reading

CLArion FEB 2025: CLA calls on Labor to commit to HR Act

Civil Liberties Australia – in its customary Australia Day letter – has called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to commit to a social justice program, including a Human Rights Act for Australia, if he and the Labor Party are re-elected in the coming months. After four years of active campaigning, CLA believes a re-elected Labor govt would have plenty of support from the Greens, Independents, and the ‘teals/etc” to pass such legislation. Meanwhile, recent state election results, coupled with the likely return of the govt in WA, means Australia is tilting strongly towards a nationwide police state mentality.