Category: Articles

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.

Other highlights in this issue include:

  • Parliamentary Education Office needs contractor to educate students?
  • Election 2025: Beware the Law ’n’ Order campaigning, based on fearmongering
  • SPECIAL REPORT: Human Righrs and the Australian Parliament
  • 87% support Human Rights Act; only 4% oppose one
  • Judges and inquiries lead to…more judges and inquries
  • Rights ignored, major consultation dismissed, by Qld government
  • NT descends into farce amid secret appointments and contracting
  • Australia should cash in on Scandinavian experience

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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.

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

Civil Liberties Australia is calling on the Leader of the Government, Anthony Albanese, to commit his Labor Party to legislating a Human Rights Act for Australia before the end of 2025. “He must commit to doing so during the imminent election campaign, then follow through on the promise if his party is elected as a majority or minority government,” CLA President Dr Kristine Klugman said. “From his first speech in 1996 to now, he has said he is commitment to social justice: now is the time to deliver the fundamental underpinning of human rights legal protections for all Australians.