Debate fires up over UN reports
Debate heats up as Australian civil society and the government begin to finalise the wording of how we’ll report on human rights progress to the UN in 2015. 24 Dec 2014
Terror laws: some good, some unneeded
Delivering the Lionel Murphy memorial lecture for 2014, Prof George Williams gave this excellent rundown of the status of Australia’s terror laws. MPs, please take note. 6 Nov 2014
The TPP: what’s wrong with it?
As partner countries gathered in Canberra to hold more secret negotiations over the TPP, speakers at a protest outside Parliament House pointed out what is wrong with it. 22 Oct 2014
ISDS: A cut above the courts?
Many groups, including CLA, are warning about the dangers of adopting Investor State Dispute Settlement: here the Chief Justice sounds the alarm to his fellow judges. 2 Sept 2014
TPP negotiations again falter
As US mid-term and presidential elections inch closer, politicking could destroy the Trans-Pacific Partnership deal, even if greedy copyright, pharmaceutical and dispute resolution clauses don’t. 24 July 2014
Fast track to abusing the law
Our government is breaking international law. It is ‘refouling’ (sending back into probable persecution) Sri Lankan asylum claimants. Please stop, says Louis Coutts: not in my name. 7 July 2014
It can’t…, it won’t…, and it shouldn’t work
The G20 tax agenda, which basically makes private information globally public, offends on at least three levels, Terry Dwyer writes…but not least because it infringes personal liberties.
TPP: New biblio, plus video of rally
The Trans-Pacific Partnership pact continues to be a major concern: here is a new Pauline Westwood bibliography, plus a video of the Parliament House rally, by Graham Macafee.
Coming the raw prawn: lies over spies
The Australian Prime Minister and Attorney-General have been caught out telling huge porkies. Australia spies commercially and runs, tail-wagging, to provide intell to our US masters.
Brandis deaf and dumb on security
The closest we get to open and public debate on security and surveillance in Australia is this type of childish bickering: Attorney General, you can and should do better.