Latest CLArion Newsletter
CLArion Aug 2026: Rights must underpin civic responsibilities
Support for a Human Rights Act for Australia is now solidified on the ALP election platform. Parliament should pass an Australian ‘rights’ law ASAP before handing down a greater national ‘responsibilities’ education scheme in late-2027, after the Bell Royal Commission into Social Cohesion and Antisemitism reports in December 2026. More than 75% of Australians support legislating a Human Rights Act. Other articles this Time for wholesale review of Australia’s legal-justice system; Australia rejects 61% of UN proposals for positive change ; Electoral committee alarmed at ’shattered norms’ at federal poll; Domestic violence is declining – research report; More prisoners mean heavy hikes for taxpayers; USA midterms – Trump won 2024 election by tiny margin; Will US farmers’ civil liberties over tractor repairs apply in Australia? Click for one-column CLArion Click for 2-column CLArion
Recent CLArions
- CLArion July 2026: Changing one word for human rights
This month’s ALP election platform conference will be asked to change just one word to hasten legislating a Human Rights Act for Australia. Read all about how we got to this pivotal time after nine years of intensive efforts…and we ...
- CLArion June 2026: Building a fairer-kinder society
The nation-building challenge of creating a fairer and kinder society must be underpinned by legislating a national Human Rights Act in the near term, experts across the board are saying. PM Anthony Albanese can show refreshing statesmanlike leadership by ...
- CLArion May 2026: ALP members want Human Rights Act
Australia’s chances of gaining a Human Rights Act within 18 months have suddenly risen sharply as the newly-released draft Labor Party platform – a document reflecting the wishes of ALP members nationwide – specifically calls for the Albanese government to ...
- CLArion April ’26: Bondi RC sub proposes twin solutions
Civil Liberties Australia’s submission to the Bell Royal Commission (see item below) proposes national civics education on people’s rights and responsibilities, underpinned by an accessible bill of rights in the form of a legislated Human Rights Act. CLA has suggested to ...
- CLArion March ’26: Push ramps up as deadline nears
Australia may be only months away from a Bill of rights – a Human Rights Act – being tabled in the Australian Parliament, to operate from late 2027. The Albanese government plans a massive ‘civics and social cohesion’ ...
The CLArion archive
2026 CLArions
- CLArion Aug 2026: Rights must underpin civic responsibilities
- CLArion July 2026: Changing one word for human rights
- CLArion June 2026: Building a fairer-kinder society
- CLArion May 2026: ALP members want Human Rights Act
- CLArion April ’26: Bondi RC sub proposes twin solutions
- CLArion March ’26: Push ramps up as deadline nears
- CLArion Feb 2026: ‘Bill of rights’ support rises again
- CLArion Jan 2026: Oz heads towards HR Act
2025 CLArions
- CLArion Dec 2025: 2026 is Year of Human Rights for Oz
- CLArion Nov 2025: Social justice calls for legislated human rights
- CLArion Oct 2025: Housing officially a human right
- CLArion Sept 2025: Converting promise to reality
- CLArion August 2025: HR Act briefing begins anew
- CLArion July 2025: CLA petition launches HR drive
- CLArion June 2025: HRA campaign relaunches with gusto
- CLArion May 2025: Core problems remain after election
- CLArion April 2025: Candidates – Tell us where you stand on US chaos
- CLArion March 2025: Election will test righteousness v justice
- CLArion FEB 2025: CLA calls on Labor to commit to HR Act
- CLArion Jan 2025: CLA calls on Labor to commit to HR Act
2024 CLArions
- CLArion December 2024: New bid to ‘overturn’ Bromley in HC
- CLArion Nov 2024: Laws, kids, judges under scrutiny
- CLArion Oct 2024: Priorities for next government
- CLArion Sept 2024: Lies and spin take away liberties and rights
- CLArion Aug 2024: Govt should act urgently on rights and liberties
- CLArion July 2024: Top to Bottom, corruption and culture overhaul needed
- CLArion June 2024: Time for a Human Rights Act !
- CLArion May 2024: Covid inquiry demands human rights base
- CLArion April 2024: HR Act report postponed
- CLArion March 2024: Forensics & genetics under closer scrutiny
- CLArion Feb 2024: Human Rights report near finalised, ready
- CLArion JANUARY 2024: Human Rights come into closer focus
2023 CLArions
- CLArion Dec 2023: Big year ahead for elections
- CLArion Nov 2023: CLA outlines Rights/Remedy imperative
- CLArion Oct 2023: Rights-Remedy law about to pass
- CLArion Sept 2023: Rights & more equal voting on the way
- CLArion Aug ’23: Criminal cases body comes closer
- CLArion July ’23: Human Rights subs close 1 July…please get yours in
- CLArion June ’23: Human Rights sub close at end of June; AAT re-forming
- CLArion May 2023: time to make Human Rights Act submision
- CLArion April 2023: Human Rights Act in place in 2024?
- CLArion March 2023: Voice and Rights timetable clarifies
- CLArion February 2023: Free & Equal: your rights revealed next month
- CLArion January 2023 – Human Rights Act special: model for Oz
2022 CLArions
- CLArion December 2022 – Flawed justice, and women bear the brunt
- CLArion November 2022 – Big win for remedies when rights breached
- CLArion Oct 2022 – Time for new federal human rights outline
- CLArion September 2022 – Justice under threat Oz-wide and in island state
- CLArion Aug 22 – It’s time States came good on justice issues
- CLArion July 2022: Push for No Rights Without Remedies
- CLArion June 2022: ‘Teals’ asked to back Human Right Act
- CLArion May 2022: What should be the new govt’s priorities?
- CLArion April 2022: Parliament powerless over Covid-19 rules
- CLArion March 2022: No Rights Without Remedies needed
- CLArion Feb 2022: Pezzullo the Fox dons sheep’s clothing
- CLArion January 2022: Australia should stand up for Assange
2021 CLArions
- CLArion December 2021: Sue Neill-Fraser appeal DISMISSED
- CLArion Nov 2021: Headed towards an Australia we don’t want
- CLArion Oct 2021: New law gives police power to pry and lie
- CLArion Sept 2021: CLA success, new way to operate, SNF latest
- CLArion August 2021: Pandemic causes ill health to democracy, liberties
- CLArion July 2021: Power battle over rights and Parliament’s role
- CLArion June 2021: Wrong priorities mean rights fight is harder
- CLArion May 2021: Interstate squabbling means children suffer
- CLArion April 2021: Bipartisan bid to restore power to Parliament
- CLArion Mar 2021: Sue Neill-Fraser appeal to start, at last!
- CLArion Feb 2021: CLA calls for equal rights for Territorians
- CLArion Jan 2021: Is Australia a nation of justice?
- Dec 2020 CLArion: killings reveal much more than rogue soldiers
- November 2020 CLArion newsletter: skewed spending analysed
- October 2020 CLArion newsletter: keeping liberties in emergencies
- September 2020 CLArion newsletter: CLA outlines vaccination policy
- August 2020 CLArion newsletter: Pollies, spooks fail to tell full truth
- July 2020 CLArion newsletter: Worst of times provide opportunity to change baseline rights for the future
- June 2020 CLArion newsletter: Can liberties and rights survive onslaughts from spikes of the Covid-19 pandemic?
- May 2020 CLArion newsletter: Trust emerges as even stronger factor in which politicians and parties we’re prepared to put our faith in next time around
- April 2020 CLArion newsletter: Governments impinge on liberties, freedoms as Covid-19 lockdowns become more widespread, individual and draconian
- March 2020 CLArion newsletter: Year of change is likely as politicians battle over personal power ‘without wisdom, lacking moral compass’
- February 2020 CLArion newsletter: Integrity Commission must have teeth; praise for ANAO; decisive leadership needed
- January 2020 CLArion newsletter: CLA helps chalk up rare win as initiatives begin on prisons, press freedom, whistleblowers
2020 CLArions
2019 CLArions
- Dec 2019 CLArion newsletter: ASIO spins and leaks as Australia is confirmed as turning into a police-security state
- Nov 2019 CLArion newsletter: At last, the tide of repressive laws appears to have turned – now for rebalancing liberties
- Oct 2019 CLArion newsletter: Census and new laws move us further down track of mandatory questions & duration
- Sept 2019 CLArion newsletter: Security forces gild lily in seeking to retain unaccountable powers to raid journos and ABC
- August 2019 CLArion newsletter: Book strips bare the perfidy inside parliament as chancers go for broke
- July 2019 CLArion: Parliament resumes, but agenda at cross purposes with nation’s need for greater humanity
- June 2019 CLArion: New Ministers but same old problems face the nation’s liberties and rights
- May 2019: Voters lie in wait – what we want of MPs
- April 2019: Six-year CLA battle helps earn Neill-Fraser appeal over her 23-year sentence for murder
- March 2019: Dissonance reverberates as MPs’ words don’t match actions
- February 2019: Let’s think about positively improving Australia, and ignore negative election campaigning
- January 2019: Bright spots provide hope as new year brings fresh battles over aged care and bills of rights
2018 CLArions
- December 2018: Politicians concentrate on fear-raising activities as police and security agencies escape close scrutiny and control
- November 2018: Aged Care RC must consider liberties/rights of elderly; Dutton makes surreptitious move towards national ID scheme
- October 2018: MPs move to safeguard genes data from insurance companies; ABC management fail, but journos spark another Royal Commission
- September 2018: Major intelligence review likely to beef up security, surveillance
- August 2018: Future of rights and liberties under scrutiny
- July 2018: Nauru has become Australia’s devil’s island
- June 2018: Spook special: how wrong choices skew political monitoring
- May 2018: New campaign for parliament to vote when Australian forces get involved in conflicts
- CLArion April 2018: Religious freedom inquiry delayed, new CLA initiatives
- March 2018 newsletter: FOI, privacy in turmoil as boss resigns out of the blue
- Feb 2018 newsletter: Aged care inquiry is priority; danger lurks in police state laws
- Jan 2018 newsletter: OPCAT to help change attitudes as liberties decline
2017 CLArions
- Dec 2017 newsletter: Prioritising needed for range of issues to be tackled in 2018
- Nov 2017 newsletter: CLA calls for total overhaul in ‘Rebirth of the Nation’
- Oct 2017 CLArion: Govt living in fear is newly afraid of fictitious bodies threat
- Sep 2017 CLArion: Bid for a Bill of Rights to help counter creeping control by ASIS and spooks
- Aug 17 CLArion -Immigration: policy bias treats arrivals differently depending on transport
- Jul 17 CLArion – Miscarriages and genes research likely to spark campaigns for major change
- Jun 17 CLArion -Indigenous leaders show way as calls for change ripple through impatient society
- May 17 CLArion – As tension increases, Parliament must be empowered to decide if we go into wars
- April 2017 CLArion: Parliament at last aware of extradition treaty dangers
- Mar 2017 CLArion: Ratifying convention would open jails to external inspection
- Feb 2017 CLArion: Justice-legal ‘industry’ needs national structural reform inquiry
- Jan 2017 CLArion: Age, genes, drugs and terrorism likely to dominate this year
2016 CLArions
- Dec 2016 CLArion: Mega-fails by govt show how balance has been abandoned
- Nov 2016 CLArion: Fears that govt will use tick-flick to bypass full TPP review
- Oct 2016 CLArion: CLA outlines how to confirm marriage result with prior ‘law’
- Sept 2016 CLArion: Push for Turnbull to ratify OPCAT, to save kids in detention
- August 2016 CLArion: Justice is sought over stolen wages, juvenile detention
- July 2016 CLArion: As Ministers change, the battle for the nation’s soul goes on
- June 2016 CLArion: Pollies must spell out where they stand on liberties, freedoms
- May 2016 newsletter: Members decide priorities for quizzing MPs pre-election
- April 2016 newsletter: Election looming call for priority issues to focus efforts
- March 2016 newsletter: Electoral fiddling set to benefit established parties more
- Feb 2016 newsletter: CLA letters call for Royal Commission and Assange pardon
- Jan 2016 newsletter: Pollies are taking Oz increasingly towards police state
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- Dec 2015 newsletter: the ‘Better Justice’ push starts with letters to PM, AGs
- Nov 2015 newsletter: CLA prepares strategic plan seeking Better Justice
- Oct 2015 newsletter: Ministerial changes create opportunity to reframe the debate
- Sept 2015 newsletter: List of issues shows how our liberties, rights are under attack
- Aug 2015 newsletter: National mood starts to swing towards correcting ‘terror’ excesses
- July 2015 newsletter: Campaign to improve citizenship bill needed for our democracy
- June 2015 newsletter: Urgent need to define rights and responsibilities of citizenship
- May 2015 newsletter: ASIO should be told: ‘You must keep your own secrets’
- Apr 2015 CLArion newsletter: Call to rewrite terror laws from scratch
- Newsletter March 2015: Government turns security into political theatre
- Newsletter Feb 2015: CLA asks for rechecking of AFP’s ‘Bali 9’ rules
- CLArion newsletter Jan 2015: Vote is possible on euthanasia, but beware ID
2015 CLArions
- Dec 2014 newsletter: Groups coalesce to mount national justice campaign
- Nov 2014 newsletter: Elite spook committee seeks supremo powers
- Oct 2014 CLArion newsletter: What can we do when MPs won’t listen to sense?
- Sept 2014 CLArion newsletter: Terror laws tilt the balance between state and citizen
- August 2104 CLArion newsletter: Civil liberties bodies to mount joint campaign
- July 2014 CLArion newsletter: Rights bill turns 10, but freedoms under threat
- June 2014 CLArion newsletter: Spying on Australians reaches into Parl House
- Past CLArions
- May 2014 CLArion newsletter: Spooks continue to access our private data
- April 2014: CLArion newsletter: Monitor abolished – is surveillance to expand?
- March 2014: CLArion newsletter: Trade agreement rally aims to lift awareness
- Feb 2014: CLArion newsletter – TPP trade agreement to re-tilt balance between rule of law and corporate greed
- Jan 2014: CLArion newsletter – Liberties in danger of right turn as new AG mounts a militant personal battle to repel the tide
2014 CLArions
- Dec 2013: CLArion newsletter: Turning 10: highlights of CLA’s first decade as national campaigner for liberties, rights
- Nov 2013 CLArion newsletter: How colluding ‘Five Eyes’ have stolen your rights and liberties
- Oct 2013 CLArion newsletter: Will Abbott govt and AG Brandis rise to the challenge on liberties?
- Sept 2013 CLArion newsletter: Govt has chance to opt for moral stance on PRISM
- August 2013 CLArion newsletter:
‘Shadow of Doubt’ doco will launch new focus on miscarriage of justice - July 2013 CLArion newsletter:
Hush-hush ‘Quintet’ is meant to control world surveillance, under orders made in the USA - June 2013 CLArion newsletter: Five civil liberties campaign issues identified; sneaky govt censors ‘net
- May 2013 CLArion newsletter: Mood of social change and regaining people power sweeps in before the federal election
- April 2013 CLArion newsletter:
‘Right to Appeal’ Act passed in SA needs to be mirrored throughout Australia - March 2013 CLArion newsletter:
Drugs in sport and gene patents bring liberties and rights issues into focus - Feb 13 CLArion newsletter:
CLA eAGM begins…and why is Emergency Minister on holidays over disaster season? - January 2013 CLArion newsletter:
Government spins rehash of old activities and pretends it supports human rights
2013 CLArions
- December 2012 – CLArion newsletter: Sexual abuse inquiries to hear voices of victims as parallel election demands Year of Speaking Out
- November 2012 – CLArion newsletter: CLA to develop performance measures for police, crime bodies to report effectiveness
- October 2012 – CLArion newsletter: Journos get shields, but citizens suffer as politicians choose police over people
- September 2012 – CLArion newsletter CLA asks Human Rights Committee to define Aussie rights from Conventions
- August 2012 CLArion newsletter Save our genes: CLA leads a new campaign to rescue patent rights
- July 2012 Newsletter Airport scanners operate revealingly as government kowtows to USA
- June 2012 Newsletter It’s official: Justice Minister does exactly what the police tell him to do…always!
- May 2012 Newsletter: Government to use entrapment on the workers…but not for politicians
- April 2012 Newsletter: Lack of choice over see-through scanners is part of mixed bag of liberties/freedoms
- March 2012 Newsletter: CLA warns that giving Crime Commission chief unbridled powers is risky move
- February 2012 Newsletter: Compulsory health survey asks intimate questions; ABS asked to justify stance
- January 2012 Newsletter: AG admits Australia’s counter-terrorism priorities have been unclear for a decade
2012 CLArions
- December 2011 Newsletter: Australia gets its own Liberty Tree as the pollies dissemble, spin and tell porkies
- November 2011 Newsletter:- Your patient health records, along with security issues, rise to fore
- October 2011 Newsletter: Cyber crime and censorship issues to be subjected to consultation, focus groups
- September 2011 Newsletter Govt prevents debate on secret store of people’s email/net data
- August 2011 Newsletter: Australia to get National Liberty Tree in December as initiative of CLA
- July 2011 Newsletter: Vulnerable are falling behind, especially Indigenous youth
- June 2011 Newsletter: A-G McClelland says clear no to adoption of Sharia law here
- May 2011 Newsletter: Leaks back up torture claims; Hicks justice campaign launches
- Apr 2011 Newsletter Attorney-General’s eye off ball as disasters dominate
- Mar 2011 – Newsletter SCAG takes obfuscation a higher level of density
- Feb 2011 – Newsletter: Review of spooks may slash overblown staffing, budgets
- Jan 2011 – Newsletter: Gillard chooses faulty COAG structure to boost standing
2011 CLArions
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- Dec 2010 – Newsletter: Censorship looks likely to be centre stage next year
- Nov 2010 – Newsletter Parliament has chance to give Territorians equality
- Oct 2010 – Newsletter Here’s a rundown of the ways we could improve
- Sept 2010 – Newsletter Uncertainty brings chance of major change for the good
- Aug 2010 – Newsletter Sorry election is a choice between Tweedledums
- July 2010 Newsletter: New PM means rights may make a comeback
- June ’10 Newsletter: Fearful Rudd government spends big on security
- May ’10 Newsletter: Tasmania holds fresh hope for human rights
- Apr ’10 Newsletter: Concern rises for the rights of older people
- Mar ’10 Newsletter – No Human Rights Bill, but blessed election?
- Feb 10 Newsletter – War Powers, Veto emerge as election issues
- Jan 10 Newsletter – Year’s priorities to include censorship and elections
2010 CLArions
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- Dec 09 Newsletter – Nine little words chalk up win for common sense
- Nov 09 Newsletter – Greens betray trust over internet censorship
- Oct 09 Newsletter – Submissions range from children to war
- Sept 09 Newsletter – Liberties awareness on the rise
- August 09 Newsletter – CLA helps change extradition law
- July 09 Newsletter – Model litigant behaviour questioned
- June 09 Newsletter – Senators poor form under scrutiny
- May 09 Newsletter – SCAG plans major change to Australian law
- April 09 Newsletter – CLA to decide strategy on liberties/rights charter
- March 09 Newsletter – CLA helps launch rights consultation
- Feb 09 Newsletter – CLA asks for Human Rights Committee
- Jan 09 Newsletter – Sedition to go, at last
2009 CLArions
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- Dec 2008 Newsletter – CLA launches anti-filtering campaign
- Nov 2008 Newsletter – Internet censorship – initiatives on terror laws
- October 2008 Newsletter – Rights charter debate launches 10 Dec
- September 2008 Newsletter – Harmonising laws is major focus for 2009
- August 2008 CLArion Newsletter
- July 2008 CLArion Newsletter
- June CLArion now available
- May 2008 Newsletter – NGOs gather to develop
- April 2008 Newsletter – Focus falls on liberties as Australian
- March 2008 Newsletter – Rudd refuses to review how Australia
- February 2008 Newsletter – Protesting death sentence and mental
- January 2008 Newsletter – Members prepare for diverse ’08 activities
2008 CLArions
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2007 Clarions
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CLArions 2006
2005 CLArions
- CLArion Jan 05
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2004 CLArions
2003 CLArion
- CLArion May 2026: ALP members want Human Rights Act