About
Liberty Victoria is one of Australia’s leading civil liberties organisations - working to defend and extend human rights and freedoms in Victoria since 1936.
We do this on limited funds, with no support from Government. We rely on a small part time office team, volunteers who do the work and the financial support of our members, donors and people who come along to our events.
Liberty Victoria aims
- Help foster a society based on the democratic participation of all its members and the principles of justice, openness, the right to dissent and respect for diversity.
- Secure the equal rights of everyone and oppose any abuse or excessive power by the state against its people.
- Influence public debate and government policy on a range of human rights issues. We have policy statements on issues such as access to justice, a charter of rights, freedom of speech and privacy.
- Prepare submissions to government, support court cases defending infringements of civil liberties, issue media releases and hold events.
Mission Statement
Independent, Vigilant, Informed
Liberty Victoria traces its roots to 1936. For more than eighty years we have advocated for civil liberties and human rights. These are spelled out in the United Nations’ international human rights treaties, agreed to by Australia. We speak out when such rights and freedoms are threatened by governments or other organisations.
Assaults on civil liberties and human rights by Commonwealth and State governments in recent years make our work more important than ever.
We examine proposed laws and policies that may erode these liberties and rights. We believe that Commonwealth and State legislation should conform fully with Australia’s international human rights obligations and to rights embedded in common law.
We do not take a party political stance, but the issues we tackle are often political. We advance our positions to whichever political party is in government and also to those in opposition and the independents. We pride ourselves on our independent, considered and carefully presented positions.
By mentoring students and young professionals we develop the next generation of human rights advocates through the Rights Advocacy Project.
As a voluntary organisation Liberty Victoria relies on the knowledge, skill and commitment of our members, fund-raising and the support and participation of the wider Victorian and Australian community.
History
Liberty Victoria has a long and proud history of campaigning for civil liberties and human rights since 1936.
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Liberty Victoria Constitution
The objects of the Victorian Council for Civil Liberties Incorporated (the Council) are to advance measures and take those steps it deems necessary for the defence and extension of:
(a) Civil liberties in Victoria;
(b) The rights recognised by the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities; and
(c) The rights and freedoms recognised by national and international law.