The Victorian Government commissioned a review to consider the legislative amendments required to permit adoption of children by same-sex couples under Victorian law. The review is being conducted by Eamonn Moran PSM QC, former Chief Parliamentary Counsel and a current Commissioner of the Victorian Law Reform Commission. The scope of the review is limited to determining the technical legislative changes required to permit adoption by same-sex couples. The review seeks to establish the best ways to legislate for adoption equality – not whether it should occur or not.
Liberty Victoria has had an opportunity to consider the recommendations of the Law Institute of Victoria and we fully endorse them.
Liberty Victoria would have preferred the opportunity to provide more detailed submissions but the time frame allowed for their provision was impossibly short. We would hope that in future further time is allowed to make submissions on such important issues. We would appreciate the opportunity to give testimony when the Committee has hearings on this matter.
Liberty Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australian and Australian Councils for Civil Liberties made a joint submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM).
The inquiry sought public submissions on the potential impact on journalists by reason of the operation of section 35P of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 concerning offences for the disclosure of information relating to a ‘special intelligence operation’.
The Federal Government is falling into a trap by harshly removing people's rights in the guise of fighting terrorism, Liberty Victoria said today.
"Giving a Minister the power to strip those with dual citizenship of their Australian citizenship if they are suspected of terrorism, with a meagre chance of review plays right into the hands of extremists," said Liberty President George Georgiou SC. "The political use of this power will inflame and incense those Australians who already feel demonised and demeaned."
