‘The cause for which we stand and when we must, fight, is freedom,’ says Malcolm Turnbull in a thoughtful analysis of effects from the WikiLeaks/Assange matters. He also points out that the High Court in Australia is unlikely to protect the secrets of a…
Other nations, like Britain, can review and wind back oppressive, over-the-top laws created in panic after the Twin Towers aircraft attacks in New York 10 years ago. If so, why can’t Australia, asks Prof George Williams, where some of the laws are the w…
Harmless-sounding international conventions are the latest favoured way for governments to sign away individual liberties, and allow international spying on private data. Anti-rights ‘crimes’ are increasingly being committed by our politicians in the na…
Gradually, every Australian’s DNA is aggregating through heel pricks into a national database. But no cohesive laws or firm guidelines govern use of this or other personal DNA data, which is controlled by a “spaghetti junction” of rules. Academics Diana…
No-one in the Queensland Police made any mistake whatsover in connection with the death in a cell on Palm Island of Mulrunji Doomadgee, or in the years of investigations and coronial inquests and court cases which followed. Oh to be a Queensland police…
Restorative justice aims to help victims of crime, turn prisoners into contributors, make prisons better for everyone, and send convicted criminals back into the community to NOT re-offend. Why isn’t it in use everywhere? Brian Steels explains how it wo…
In a scathing report, the Commonwealth Ombudsman has lambasted the Australian Federal Police for its lack of commitment to a complaints system. He accuses the AFP of wasting information, exonerating its own officers, and taking forever to resolve ma…
Rather than pillory Julian Assange, and ‘shop’ him to the US Administration to meet whatever fate, the Gillard government should stand up for him…and for the world’s right to free speech, even if honesty and transparency doesn’t suit the Americans, CL…
CLA campaigner Brian Tennant welcomes the decision in WA to presume innocence, and so allow bail, under a charge of wilful murder in the Rayney case. His comments echo CLA’s call for a review of bail law in Tasmania also, where bail was not granted in 2…
Restorative justice is a growing trend worldwide, but the concept needs better definition, more targeted use, better reporting and support from governments, Auneesh Kishore writes. His internship report, a joint undertaking with CLA and the Law Faculty…