CLA’s policy on criminal justice
All Australians are entitled to protection from arbitrary arrest and unnecessary detention; to a fair, speedy and public trial; to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, and to legal advice and representation.
Sentencing should be based on the principle of rehabilitation wherever possible.
Cyber-safety comes down to trusting parents to choose for themselves how much educating and monitoring is right for individual children in relation to web browsing (and bullying and other youth concerns), CLA says. The Australian Government’s role is to…
The first Australian Government and Non-Government Organisations Forum on Human Rights in late June 2010 produced mixed results, according to CLA President, Dr Kristine Klugman. She raised questions about making all Australian laws compatible with human…
In a muddled ruling, the US Supreme Court has severely restricted free speech and freedom of association in America. The court apparently believes that unproven intelligence by spy agencies about ‘terrorist’ organisations should trump the rights of Ameri…
‘Hidden’ victims ofA new report – Intimate Partner Abuse of Men – has revealed that about one in three cases of domestic violence in Australia are against men. Government-funded public awareness campaigns and different training within the health and welfare sector are n…
Internet Service Providers may soon have to retain subscriber’s private web browsing history for the government to secretly examine, according to news reports. Industry insiders and bloggers are up in arms. Read Article »…
Do the ‘bikie laws’ breach rights?What does CLA think of the SA legislation – the ‘bikie laws’ – now being considered, on appeal, by the High Court. Does the Act breach an individual’s human rights, we were asked by a student?Dear Ms XXXXX,Serio…
Time to re-think parole, says judgePrisons, parole and a ticket-of-leave system are in the DNA of many Australians, WA’s Chief Justice Wayne Martin points out. It’s time we re-thought sentencing and parole to better reflect what today’s community wants…and it may be a case of deja vu al…
The 2010 federal budget papers show the Rudd Government is spending more than $500m to “further strengthen security” this year…but has allocated zero funds to further safeguarding the liberties and rights of Australians. The massive spending imbalance…
The government’s own censorship laws will prevent Senator Conroy’s proposed internet filtering method of using the ‘refused application’ classification process, Prof George Williams writes. “Unworkable and unsuitable” is how he describes the current proposal, in legal terms. …
CLA is often asked – by students doing essays for their legal or justice studies at high school – for comment on issues. Here CLA member Arved von Brasch answer some questions on the R18+ issue…the lack of an adult classification for video games in Australia. …