Liberty Victoria Statement on the Victorian Government’s Backflip on Bail Reforms for Children and Proposed Electronic Monitoring

Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Tue, 26/03/2024 - 13:54

In 2023, the Victorian Government delayed changes to the Bail Act 1977 (Vic) (Bail Act) designed to reduce the number of children remanded in custody awaiting the conclusion of their criminal proceedings. The proposed changes included removing the reverse onus test, where— subject to fairly low criteria — an accused child would have to demonstrate either “compelling reasons” or “exceptional circumstances” to be granted bail.

Inquiry into the Crimes Amendment (Strengthening the Criminal Justice Response to Sexual Violence) Bill 2024

Liberty Victoria is committed to the defence and advancement of civil liberties and human rights. We seek to promote compliance with Australia’s obligations under international law as recognised in various State and Federal human rights instruments such as the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). As such, we frequently contribute to federal and state committees of inquiry.

Joint CCLs letter re Migration Amendment Bill 2024

Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Fri, 05/04/2024 - 09:39

Tony Burke MP

Leader of the House

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations

Minister for the Arts

Dear Mr Burke

We write as leading civil society organisations, reflecting a broad and diverse membership across Australia, to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the recent introduction of the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024.

Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024

Liberty Victoria is appalled by the introduction of a Bill that, among other things, seeks to jail people for at least a year if they fail to assist with their own removal even where they are owed Australia’s non-refoulement obligations. The Bill also undoes protection findings to broaden who may be removed from Australia to the country from which they fled and excludes visa applications from countries left up to the Minister of the day to designate.

Inquiry into Right Wing Extremist Movements in Australia

Liberty Victoria has been very concerned by the re-emergence of far-right extremism over recent years, and we have made submissions on that issue to:

a. The Commonwealth Parliament’s Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s (PJCIS) Inquiry into Extremist Movements and Radicalism in Australia in February 2021;1

b. The Victorian Parliament’s Legal and Social Issues Committee’s Inquiry into Extremism in May 2022; 2 and

Banning book featuring same-sex parents violates human rights

Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 16:04

The recent move by a NSW council to ban books featuring same-sex couples represents an
ongoing attack on the rights of the LGBTIQ+ community. This is deeply troubling to Liberty
Victoria. It follows a disturbing trend both in Australia and around the globe. This trend
includes the cancellation of ‘drag queen story time’ from public spaces in Victoria, in some
cases following threats and intimidation.

Pages