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 ‘... Read more
It couldn’t be clearer. Labor’s 2023 National Platform states:
Labor opposes mandatory sentencing. This practice does not reduce crime but does undermine the independence of the judiciary, lead to unjust outcomes and is often discriminatory in practice.
Labor’s position against mandatory sentencing... Read more
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... Read more
In November 2023, the High Court handed down a decision which has led to a response centred in fear, a lack of compassion and, troublingly, a disregard for equal treatment before the law.
In handing down the decision in NZYQ, which is remarkable in a number of ways - not least the response it has... Read more
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... Read more
Two climate protesters who blocked three lanes on the West Gate Bridge have been sentenced to 21 days imprisonment. The disruption caused significant delays, impacted emergency services and forced a woman to give birth on the side of the road. Past president of Liberty Victoria Michael Stanton told... Read more
Police have denied racial profiling after wrongly arresting a former immigration detainee in relation to a sexual assault in an inner Melbourne suburb this week. Victoria Police revealed yesterday they had charged the 44-year-old former detainee with sexual assault, stalking and two counts of... Read more
Statement on Entrapment
The criminal law in Victoria, and in Australia more broadly, does not recognise entrapment as a legal defence.[1] This is a situation which must be remedied immediately in order to avoid the ongoing exploitation of some of our most vulnerable community members and to avoid... Read more
Dear members and supporters,
The Liberty Victoria Voltaire Human Rights Awards is an important event in the Australian human rights calendar. For more than two decades, the Voltaire Human Rights Award has been presented to a person or organisation for outstanding contributions to civil liberties... Read more