Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Fri, 13/10/2023 - 09:22
Statement from Michael Cope, President of the Queensland Council of Civil Liberties, Josh Pallas, President of New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties, and Michael Stanton as President of Liberty Victoria.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Fri, 22/09/2023 - 12:59
The Referendum
On 15 October 2023, the day after the referendum, we’ll awake to one of two possible Australias. One where – against the current polls – we’ve accepted the gracious invitation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and have taken an important step towards reconciliation. Another where, at a time of economic uncertainty and social media echo chambers, we find ourselves still the Lucky Country as Donald Horne meant it – isolated, complacent, and ever resistant to big ideas.
As the discussion paper acknowledges, the judiciary represents an important arm of the Australian constitutional system. Amongst other things, it is responsible for upholding the rule of law and dispensing justice. Predominantly, it achieves this by resolving controversies according to law without fear or favour.
1. At the hearing before the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 26 July
2023, we took questions on notice from Senator Scarr in relation to two topics:
(1) The directions on consent that are given in Victoria; and
(2) The submission of Professor Quilter and Dr McNamara, and examples of
cross-examination.
2. These issues will be considered in turn. Where possible this document provides
hyperlinks to relevant statutory provisions and other material.
This is a joint submission with NSW Council for Civil Liberties.
Liberty Victoria and NSW Council for Civil Liberties acknowledge the importance of protecting the community from acts of terrorism. Terrorism and the threat of terrorism violate the rights to life and security of innocent people. Terrorism is regarded as a crime apart from others as it threatens the very fabric of liberal democracy by utilising violence and fear to further, often fundamentally illiberal, political, religious or ideological goals.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Mon, 31/07/2023 - 17:03
Victoria’s broken bail laws need urgent fixing. These harsh laws result in the unnecessary detention of many persons accused of committing low-level minor offences and disproportionately affect First Nations people and women. In no uncertain terms, the Coroner’s Court has found that these laws are a “complete, unmitigated disaster” which breaches the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.
Liberty Victoria is grateful for the opportunity to make this submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) review of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill 2023 (Cth) (the Bill).
