Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Tue, 25/08/2020 - 09:25
Liberty Victoria is concerned by reports that the Government is considering changing the law so that Victoria’s current state of emergency can be extended for a further 12 months.
At present, Victorian law ensures that a state of emergency cannot last more than 6 months. The current state of emergency, declared on 16 March 2020, is therefore due to expire in mid-September.
The current 6-month limit exists for a good reason. The declaration of a state of emergency imposes extraordinary limits on Victorians’ human rights.
Respecting and protecting human rights have become more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Liberty Victoria recognises that the scale and severity of the crisis has required a response that necessarily limits the human rights and liberties of all Victorians. Sensibly, the focus of the response has been focused on saving lives. However, Liberty Victoria is concerned that there are examples where the COVID-19 response — either through the design of regulation or through the actions of public authorities — has been disproportionate.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Fri, 10/07/2020 - 09:34
When Dylan Alcott gives presentations, he sometimes asks the question “What’s worse than being in a wheelchair?”
Then he flashes up a picture of someone wearing that often contentious form of footwear – crocs.
Dylan is probably best known as a Paralympic gold medallist and grand slam tennis champion.
He is also a passionate advocate for people with disabilities.
For Dylan, being in a wheelchair isn’t the worst thing that can happen to a person. Being hidden away and struggling for confidence and social inclusion probably is.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Wed, 08/07/2020 - 09:03
The secret trials of lawyer Bernard Collaery and Witness J challenge one of the fundamental bases of our legal system: the requirement for open justice and accountability.
In recognition of these extraordinary events it is my privilege to announce Bernard Collaery and Witness J as joint winners of Liberty Victoria’s Empty Chair Award, and to invite you to hear from Bernard at the Voltaire Awards Webinar on Friday 24 July at 7pm.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Fri, 03/07/2020 - 14:03
Liberty Victoria is concerned by news that the Australian Federal Police has recommended that prosecutors consider laying charges against ABC journalist Dan Oakes. The recommended charges relate to Mr Oakes’ reporting on alleged war crimes by Australian soldiers in Afghanistan. It has never been suggested that the allegations are untrue or inaccurate.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Tue, 30/06/2020 - 16:00
Liberty Victoria honours Dujuan Hoosan with the Young Voltaire Human Rights Award. Dujuan was chosen for his courage and determination in challenging governments to change the age they imprison children.
At the tender age of 12, Dujuan was the youngest person ever to address the Human Rights Council at the United Nations, where he asked global leaders to support Australia to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14 years, in line with the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous Rights, and for First Nations languages to be taught in schools.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Tue, 23/06/2020 - 15:45
All humans have the right to be treated equally, with dignity and respect. Sexual harassment is a breach of those fundamental rights, unlawful and unacceptable.
Liberty Victoria joins the voices of condemnation following the results of an independent High Court inquiry into the behaviour exhibited by the Hon Dyson Heydon AC QC in relation to six female complainants.
Women are frequently sexually harassed and assaulted at work and are entitled to feel safe and to effective protection against those and all other forms of discrimination.
No compelling case has been put forward by the Government to justify the proposed amendments and they are entirely unnecessary and disproportionate;
The amendments would provide the Minister with an unjustifiably broad personal power to prohibit anything he or she personally wished to specify, including items that pose no specific threat;
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Tue, 16/06/2020 - 11:22
Liberty Victoria calls for the Government's urgent intervention on behalf of Mr Chaun Van Kham, an Australian democracy activist who has been jailed in Vietnam since January 2019. Mr Kham was prevented from seeing a lawyer for eight months. His trial involved five other defendants, prohibited family within the courtroom and lasted only four and a half hours. He was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.
