Annual reports

Download Liberty Victoria Annual Report 2024

President's Report 2024 - Michelle Bennett

Dear Members and Supporters of Liberty Victoria,

The strength of Liberty Victoria has always been, and will continue to be, in its people. Our
Committees are filled with talented, knowledgeable, and highly motivated individuals who give
their time, energy, and skills to further our work. I am grateful for their unwavering dedication
to considering draft legislation, government proposals and current events and their
implications, particularly for vulnerable individuals and groups. It is through their efforts that
we are able to continue the work of defending and extending human rights and civil liberties
across Victoria and beyond.

There has been a huge volume of issues to keep our Committees occupied in the last year.
Disappointingly, they have had to work under enormous time pressure to respond as both State
and Federal governments have announced major legislation with minimal consultation time.
Just last week, the Federal Government allowed only one day for submissions after releasing a
Bill to limit access to social media for persons under 16.

In the same week, there was a period of three business days allowed for submissions on
another bill which would grant the Government broad powers to re-detain and forcibly remove
non-citizens, reimpose punitive and discriminatory conditions while exempting its agents from
civil liability for harms caused through exercise of these extraordinary powers. These measures
follow the High court ruling in YBFZ and continue a depressing trend of demonising asylum
seekers in a year in which Palestinian refugees in particular have been treated as political
footballs.

The rush to legislate, and curtail the opportunity for any meaningful scrutiny, is deeply
disturbing, but our Committee members responded with powerful and considered submissions
in exceptionally short order. It spoke to their commitment, their refusal to allow human rights
to be overridden in a rush of populism and political expediency, to take a stand and raise their
voices in defence of others.

In the last year we have made submissions on freedom of information, freedom of association,
freedom of speech and assembly, the right to privacy. We supported Murphy’s Law to curtail
gambling advertising and the introduction of pill testing at festivals.

We have made representations on the need to hold the State and its instrumentalities to
account for their actions, to require disclosure and accountability even as legislation was
passed to immunise them from the consequence of police misconduct in the Lawyer X scandal.
We called for more support for people seeking asylum, an end to forced removal of persons at
risk of persecution overseas, and the harsh and discriminatory detention measures that the
High Court has repeatedly rejected and the Government repeatedly sought to reinstate. This
year has seen a barrage of negative messaging from a range of politicians seeking to remove all
rights, hopes and dignity of people seeking asylum.

Our immediate past president Michael Stanton SC and Committee Member Isabelle Skaburskis
gave powerful evidence to the Commonwealth Inquiry into Right Wing Extremist Movements in
Australia. Together with Jonathon Cooper they also provided considered and insightful written
submissions in relation to the need for protection of privacy and freedom of expression as well
as effective measure for fostering social cohesion.

We have continued to call for the abolition of mandatory sentencing, to require police
disclosure, retain committal hearings and reject myriad other incursions on the fundamental
rights of an accused person. We saw progress as the age of criminal responsibility was raised
from 10 to 12, but voiced our disappointment as the Government then backed away from their
commitment to raise it again to 14, and backflipped on bail reforms for children. There is a
disturbing contrast between the Federal Government’s position that people under 16 lack the
judgement and maturity to deal with the risk of harm online and the belief of the Victorian
Government (as well as other States and Territories) that those same children should be
presumed to have an adult’s capacity to form criminal intent and be subjected to remand and
imprisonment.

The contrast between the delay and debate on gambling advertising compared to the rush to
introduce the social media bill without hearing from those most affected is equally striking.
One of the most notable features of the political landscape in Melbourne, and Australia, has
been the number of protests occurring - in particular in response to the war in Palestine. The
right to protest, to express opposition and to draw attention to a cause has come under
repeated attack. Liberty Victoria will continue to strongly advocate in defence of the right to
protest.

Protest is one of the most powerful tools for social and political change. In Australia, this right
has historically been essential in securing many of the freedoms and protections we now take
for granted. The struggles for civil rights, Indigenous sovereignty, environmental protection,
and labour rights have all been driven by public protest. Defending the right to protest is not
only about protecting freedom of expression; it is about ensuring that people can continue to
challenge power, question injustices, and demand that our leaders be held accountable.

We have also sought to preserve the right not to be subject to arbitrary and intrusive police
searches, particular as such search powers have been used as a tool to discourage the exercise
of our right to protest.

In the face of these challenges, it is essential to remember the fundamental purpose that
drives Liberty Victoria. Our organisation exists to defend and extend human rights and civil
liberties, and our roots stretch back to the founding of Australia’s first civil liberties
organisation in 1936. While we are incredibly proud of this legacy, Liberty Victoria is not just a
historical entity — it is a living, breathing community of people who share a commitment to the
principles of justice, equality, and freedom.

That spirit was powerfully embodied at our Voltaire Awards Dinner, held on November 15th. We
all left the evening deeply moved and inspired by the remarkable individuals who were
recognised. To hear from our deserving winners — Antoinette Lattouf, Samara Fernandez-
Brown, and about the courageous journalists honoured by the Empty Chair Award — was an
uplifting reminder of the vital importance of standing firm in defence of our. Their resilience
and unwavering commitment to justice were a timely reminder of the strength we draw from
those who champion human rights, often at great personal cost.

Samara held the room in her hand as she accepted the first Sophie Trevitt Award, previously
known as the Young Voltaire Award. It has been named in honour of last year’s Voltaire winner,
the late Sophie Trevitt, and we were proud to be able to honour her in this way.
Going into the next year we are particularly sorry to be losing two former Presidents, Jessie
Taylor and Julia Kretzenbacher, from our Committee. The contribution they have made,
before, during and in the continued commitment following their terms as President cannot be
overstated. We trust they will continue to be strong supporters of Liberty Victoria, and while
they would both be entitled to sit back and rest on their laurels we know it is in their DNA to
continue to make an extraordinary contribution in all their future endeavours.

Virajith Hewaarchchi and Jay Chandramohan have also resigned from our
Committee, after several years in which they have lent their considerable expertise to both
lead and contribute to many important submission and and we thank them for all of their work
and dedication during their time. Finally, our Volunteer co-ordinator Lindy Smith has also
resigned, and we thank her for all her efforts to support us and our volunteers, including in
particular at the Voltaire Awards in 2023.

While we will miss the contribution of all of these Committee Members we are grateful for all
they have done to date. We are also grateful to all those who continue to contribute their
time and energy. With their efforts, together with the support of all our members and
sponsors, we will consider this important work.

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Annual reports

Download Liberty Victoria Annual Report 2024

President's Report 2024 - Michelle Bennett

Download Liberty Victoria Annual Report 2024