Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Thu, 11/01/2024 - 13:03
Liberty Victoria respectfully advocates for the implementation of pill testing facilities at festivals, as a crucial measure to protect the human rights of festival attendees. We understand that the taking of drugs at such events may be illegal, but the provision of pill testing facilities should be viewed as a pragmatic and responsible approach to address this issue.
We write as Presidents of Australia’s leading, membership based human rights and civil society organisations, about the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. We are non-political, non-religious and non-sectarian.
Since October 7, 2023, Australians have witnessed over 12,520 people die in the ongoing conflict in Palestine (including the Israeli civilians), with approximately 11,320 of these deaths caused by Israel’s military operation in Gaza. Alarmingly, an estimated 40% of these deaths have been children.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Thu, 16/11/2023 - 10:31
Liberty Victoria understands that there are moves by the Opposition to introduce anti-protest laws to the Victorian Parliament. The proposed law would give police the power to break up protests and ban some protesters from rally sites.
The right to protest is a fundamental component of a robust democracy, and Liberty Victoria categorically opposes the introduction of any new anti-protest laws in Victoria.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Wed, 08/11/2023 - 11:33
Liberty Victoria is awarding the 2023 Voltaire Empty Chair Award to Mr Victor Yeimo, a strong advocate for West Papua’s independence from Indonesia and an international spokesperson for the National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) and the Papuan People’s Petition.
Established in 2016, the Voltaire Empty Chair Award is presented to a person who is worthy to receive the Voltaire or Young Voltaire Award but cannot be present to receive the award due to the consequences of their exercise of or advocacy for human rights, free speech or civil liberties.
We’re pleased to announce that Nick McKenzie, award-winning investigative journalist and author of “Crossing the Line:
The explosive inside story behind the Ben Roberts-Smith headlines” will be speaking at the Voltaire Human Rights Awards Dinner on 10 November 2023 at the Sofitel Melbourne.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Mon, 30/10/2023 - 11:14
Dear Members and Supporters of Liberty Victoria,
I’m pleased to say that this year we’re launching “Members Week”. Keep an eye out for quotes from current and former members of Liberty Victoria on the value of membership, including the below from Sister Brigid Arthur AO.
This submission concerns the problem of harms caused by vilification and proposes ways to prevent or deal with those harms and those who cause them. It begins with the 2019–20 parliamentary inquiry—the Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee’s Inquiry into Anti-Vilification Protections—and its report on that Inquiry tabled in March 2021 (the “Committee Report” or just “Report” for short).
