Dramatic rise in the personal, “God-like” legal powers of Immigration Minister, new report finds

Liberty Victoria’s Rights Advocacy Project (‘RAP’) today released a new report revealing the dramatic rise in the personal discretions and legal powers of the Immigration Minister.

One of the report’s authors, Lauren Bull, said that RAP’s investigations had found that despite previous Immigration Ministers warning that the Minister already held too much unchecked personal discretion, there was an alarming trend towards further expanding the Minister’s personal powers and removing checks and balances.

Gillian Triggs takes out free speech award

The retiring President of the Australian Human Rights Commission, Professor Gillian Triggs, is to be honoured for her fearless work in pursuit of people’s rights.

She is the recipient of the nation’s top free speech prize the Voltaire Award.

Given by Australia’s oldest human rights organisation, Liberty Victoria, it celebrates those who speak out, write, campaign, stand against authoritarianism or expose through whistle-blowing. Often award winners have gone beyond the call of duty or office and refused to be cowed or silenced.

Independent National Security Legislation Monitor’s Statutory Deadline Review

Liberty Victoria has made a submission to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor’s (INSLM) Statutory Deadline Review of:

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Public Order) Bill 2017

  1. The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Public Order) Bill 2017 (the Bill) is intended to address concerns regarding violence at public demonstrations, in particular the commission of violent acts while wearing masks.
  2. Liberty Victoria provided a preliminary comment on public calls for laws to prohibit wearing a mask at protests, and for potentially mandatory or prescriptive sentences for those that commit violent acts at protests.

Inquiry into Youth Justice Centres in Victoria

Government should reject calls for a more punitive approach to child prisoners, and should focus on the promotion of the rehabilitation of children and the removal of children from detention.

'Swift and Certain’ Sentencing Of Family Violence Offenders In Victoria

Liberty Victoria is mindful of the profound, pervasive, often catastrophic impacts of family violence in Victoria, and the need to develop holistic and sustained strategies to prevent and reduce family violence. Our organisation’s core concern is maintaining a society in which people’s rights, freedoms and dignity are valued and protected.

Proposed Activities (Public Amenity and Security) Local Law 2017

In Liberty's view the City of Melbourne’s proposed Activities (Public Amenity and Security) Local Law 2017 (“Amending Laws”) are draconian in their nature and target some of the most vulnerable persons in our community.

Liberty Victoria has had the opportunity to read and consider the submissions of the Infringements Work Group (“IWG”).  We fully endorse those submissions which are consistent with the preservation of the human rights and civil liberties of persons in our community who suffer the misfortune of homelessness. (A link to this submission will be posted shortly.)

Bail Review

Liberty Victoria's submission to the Bail Review focuses on five topics related to the Bail Act 1977 (Vic):

  1. Who should make bail decisions?; 
  2. The construction of section 4 of the Bail Act; 
  3. The need for improved information-sharing;
  4. The need for bail support programs; and 
  5. The impact on indigenous accused persons.

 

The Use of Drones in Australia: An Agenda for Reform

Liberty Victoria and the unmanned systems industry are seeking answers to such questions as: is it legal for a neighbour to fly a drone over your backyard? Can you stop someone filming you from above at the beach?  

To mark the Privacy Awareness Week 2015, Liberty Victoria and the Australian Association for Unmanned Systems (AAUS) have detailed plans for reform in order to resolve these questions and tackle growing concern about the right to privacy at a time of increased private drone use.  

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