As states and territories plump more and more for harsh new ‘law and order’ legislation, and curtail bail options, the number of prison places needed through the nation is likely to surge dramatically. Private prison operators have sometimes been seen as a solution to curbing jail running costs…but are such companies as efficient and effective and humane as claimed? Rick Sarre takes a look.
Long term barrister and passionate justice advocate John Lawrence has written about the ‘collapsing’ NT legal system as a new government tries to legislate to prevent crime. That hasn’t worked anywhere, and is unlikely to fare any better in the NT, which faces unique challenges.
An amended Human Rights Act for the Australian Capital Territory, tabled in September 2023, contains nation-leading clauses to ensure ’No Rights Without Remedy’ can become a model for a possible federal Human Rights Act in future. Celebrating the 20th anniversary of Australia’s first HR Act, the nation’s first Human Rights Minister, Tara Cheyne, has introduced changes in the ACT so that citizens from 2024 can seek formal conciliation if there is an alleged breach of their rights by the bureaucracy, which has a positive duty whenever possible to act consistently with human rights. She also praised CLA and Chris Stamford for our work in helping to make positive change happen,
The security czars are playing fast and loose with the spook agencies – and, of course, the Australian people – in a power play occurring around the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The end result could be more and deeper secrets kept, less public transparency, writes Paul Gregoire.
