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
The Victorian Council for Civil Liberties (Liberty Victoria) has a long and proud history of campaigning for civil liberties and human rights for 80 years.
Officially known today as the Victorian Council for Civil Liberties Inc, and previously as the Australian Council for Civil Liberties (ACCL), its work has been driven by the skills and initiatives of active and dedicated volunteers.
The ACCL was established in Melbourne in 1936 by prominent citizens from areas including of law, art, writing and academia. It offered a means of expression to those people – across the political spectrum – who believed that social progress could be achieved only in an atmosphere of liberty.
John Bennett and Beatrice Faust launched the Victorian Council of Civil Liberties (VCCL) in 1966, incorporating a new generation of young activists and bi-partisan supporters in an agenda for law reform.
That Liberty Victoria has functioned successfully as a forthright advocate of liberty and freedom is due to a dedicated and committed committee and executive from 1936 until the present. For many years, the council was spearheaded by Brian Fitzpatrick. In more recent decades retired Federal Court Judges, The Honourable Ron Merkel QC and The Honourable Alan Goldberg AO QC, Ron Castan QC, Dr June Factor, Robert Richter QC, Dr Jude Wallace, County Court Judge Felicity Hampel SC, President of the Court of Appeal, The Honourable Justice Chris Maxwell AC, Brian Walters QC, Julian Burnside QC, Michael Pearce SC, Professor Spencer Zifcak and recently appointed Supreme Court Judge The Honourable Justice Jane Dixon QC have served as presidents.
Liberty Victoria has contributed significantly to public debate in Australia. It is one of the country’s best known organisations campaigning for civil liberties, human rights and democratic governance. Through educational campaigns, public events, interaction with the media, parliamentary submissions, arguing for law reform and acting as a vigilant watchdog over precious freedoms, the council has had a lasting impact on the Australian political landscape.
A history of the Australian Council of Civil Liberties in the 1930s and 40s by Adam Carr
A full history of Liberty Victoria to the late 1990s was published in 2011. “Liberty: A History of Civil Liberties in Australia” by James Waghorne and Stuart MacIntyre, is available through the Liberty Victoria office.
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.