Is COAG, the Council Of Australian Governments, a legitimate cog in the wheel of the nation’s federated system, or just an ultra-Constitutional marionette of the Kitchen Cabinet, playing States and Territories on strings? Two legal academics, Paul Kilde…
Before the next election, Australians are meant to vote in a referendum to recognise Indigenous people in a preamble to the Constitution. But more than that needs to be done, former High Court judge Michael Kirby says, to rid Australia’s founding docume…
At last, a type of War Powers Bill has been debated in the Australian Parliament! Greens Senator Scott Ludlam spoke on why we need such a bill in introducing the Defence Amendment (Parliamentary Approval of Overseas Service) Bill 2008 [No. 2] a.k.a War…
Angry emailers blame civil liberties groups for bikie laws being overturned by the High Court. But it wasn’t us – we told governments the laws were over the top, and would be ruled invalid in the High Court. Governments and MPs should have heeded th…
How was democracy secured in Australia last century? September 22 marks the 60th anniversary of a memorable event, which should be celebrated in stamps, a TV series and inclusion on the history syllabus, author-historian Humphrey McQueen writes.
Social injustice, persistent disadvantage and racism are causing serious mental health problems for Indigenous people, Dr Maria Tomasic says in the lead-up to the annual conference of A-NZ psychiatrists. Dr Tomasic, president of their college (and also…
EXCLUSIVE: Parliament should be more involved in any decision to go to war…and even more involved in a decision to stay at war, says retired General Peter Leahy, the man responsible for our soldiers for most of the Afghanistan war so far. He calls for…
The fight for democratic voting rights is not confined to the Middle East: Australians living in the Territories want them too. Imagine if laws passed by the Australian Parliament could be overturned by the UN Secretary-General, or by a UN vote…ordina…
It’s time for Australia to grow…by one State! So says Jane Aagaard, Speaker of the NT Parliament. She argues – as CLA does also – that Territorians should have the same rights as other Australians, and that the federal parliament should not be able to…
Without a Bill of Rights, the Australian Law Reform Commission is one of the pillars safeguarding Australia’s civil liberties, CLA has told a Senate inquiry. It should receive more staff and funding, and its independence should be publicly re-emphasised…