Liberty Victoria and the Rights Advocacy Project are deeply concerned about the proposal to expand Victoria Police’s existing designated area search powers under the Control of Weapons Act 1990, which allow for the stopping and searching of any individual in a specific area without a warrant or any reasonable grounds.
Recent political and media attacks on legal procedures governing visa cancellation are of immense concern. They threaten the rule of law and the integrity of institutions and outcomes. The Tribunal is an expert body established by the Government as a vital check on administrative decision-making power. Attacks like these impair that function. It is fundamentally necessary that institutions like the Tribunal are independent and able to perform its role without intimidation or influence.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Thu, 09/05/2024 - 16:04
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 ‘drag queen story time’ from public spaces in Victoria, in some
cases following threats and intimidation.
Liberty Victoria has been very concerned by the re-emergence of far-right extremism over recent years, and we have made submissions on that issue to:
a. The Commonwealth Parliament’s Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s (PJCIS) Inquiry into Extremist Movements and Radicalism in Australia in February 2021;1
b. The Victorian Parliament’s Legal and Social Issues Committee’s Inquiry into Extremism in May 2022; 2 and
Liberty Victoria is appalled by the introduction of a Bill that, among other things, seeks to jail people for at least a year if they fail to assist with their own removal even where they are owed Australia’s non-refoulement obligations. The Bill also undoes protection findings to broaden who may be removed from Australia to the country from which they fled and excludes visa applications from countries left up to the Minister of the day to designate.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Fri, 05/04/2024 - 09:39
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 introduction of the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024.
Liberty Victoria is committed to the defence and advancement of civil liberties and human rights. We seek to promote compliance with Australia’s obligations under international law as recognised in various State and Federal human rights instruments such as the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). As such, we frequently contribute to federal and state committees of inquiry.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Tue, 26/03/2024 - 13:54
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 criteria — an accused child would have to demonstrate either “compelling reasons” or “exceptional circumstances” to be granted bail.
