CLA has succeeded in getting nine words inserted into the new, draconian Serious and Organised Crime Bill so that judges have discretion to overturn cases where it would obviously not be in the public interest to prosecute. As well this month, t…
The Greens’ have chosen a candidate for the Higgins federal by-election who is rabidly pro-censorship of the internet – directly contrary to the Greens’ stance on the issue, so that they appear to be adopting the rubbery principles of other political par…
Requests for CLA to analyse and propose improvements to federal and state laws are increasing considerably. Current issues we’re working on cover children’s issues to the nation’s war powers, as well as reforming our electoral laws. The pace will only i…
Australian are becoming more conscious of liberties and rights, and view with increasing suspicion excessive fear campaigns mounted by politicians and other power groups, CLA reports. Hope rises for a new human rights charter, and a privacy tort, but sti…
Issues identified by Civil Liberties Australia and raised in Senate hearings have motivated the government to change Australia’s laws relating to extradition and mutual assistance in criminal matters. But protecting Australians from being “shopped” by Au…
Australian government agencies have ignored mandatory Model Litigant Rules (MLR), which was highlighted in the Vance case, settled recently by Defence after 15 years and a reputed cost of $15m. The MLR project is a major undertaking for CLA in 09 and 10.…
The poor way some Senators treat NGOs and people who give evidence voluntarily to Senate Committees leads the June issue of the CLArion monthly bulletin, with news of a letter by CLA to the Chair of the Committee Chairs group. The problem arose again…
The way Australia gets new laws is changing, CLA says, because the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General has become an executive authority instead of a consultative forum. The result is that we get the worst-possible (lowest common denominator) leg…
CLA is anticipating a positive report from the current national human rights consultation…and is planning how to lock in better ongoing protection for the liberties and rights of Australians as part of the nation’s foundation documents. A meeting i…
The first of the national consultations got under way last month, examining what civil liberties and human rights Australians should have. CLA was there, and you can read what we thought of the inaugural meeting (thre’s a link to when upcoming meetings w…
