Category: Policy

CLA believes everyone has the right to access all his/her own information, held publicly or privately, except where an impartial tribunal finds a need to protect privacy or the public interest. CLA strongly believes in freedom of information held by governments, their agencies, Ministers and their staff, and that the onus should be on such entities/people to prove to an impartial tribunal why freedom from information is necessary. FOI access should not be inhibited by cost or ease of retrieval

CLA supports a person’s rights over his or her mind and body, from birth through death. Competent individuals should have free choice in advance whether they wish to receive treatment, or continuing treatment when no longer competent. A person is free to end his or her own life. These rights should be contained in legislation.

Government policy on alcohol and other drugs should be consistent and treat alcohol and drug over-use as a disease (and not as an offence punishable by criminal law).

Prison punishes by locking away liberty. CLA believes the State must continue to honour the person’s inherent human dignity. There should be the least intrusive form of imprisonment most conducive to full rehabilitation.

CLA is opposed to the death penalty everywhere, always. We believe Australia has the responsibility, and the right, to campaign and argue internationally for an end to the death penalty.

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.

CLA supports a review of Australia’s Constitution to update it for the 21st Century.

CHARTER (or Bill) of RIGHTS:  CLA believes the nation should have one, and so should each state and territory. Only the ACT (2004) and Victoria (2006) have such laws.  Below are links to information on bill of rights in Australia, and throughout the world. CLA’s policy – Charter of Rights There are no codified guarantees of fundamental liberties under Australian law. CLA believes Australia should have a Charter of Rights and Responsibilities, like the European Convention on Human Rights, or the NZ Bill of Rights. There should be a court where the rights and responsibilities of less-powerful Australians can beContinue reading

The judicial, legislative and executive arms of government must remain clearly separated, CLA believes. Positions and entities set up to keep government accountable must be independent, properly resourced and protected from unwarranted attack.

As a human, you have inalienable rights – see ICCPR – and rights in Australian law, including in the Constitution. Some of the basic ones include: free speech: to speak openly on anything, provided you speak responsibly and do not infringe others’ rights; freedom of assembly: to meet, gather, join and act to further legal views and actions freedom of thought, conscience and religion (and no religion); right to live freely and securely, and to develop yourself; to be treated equally with other citizens by authorities, and under the law; to move around freely, and to leave and return toContinue reading