The human rights group Liberty Victoria today called on the Federal Government to use its review of security laws to introduce a much higher threshold for access to telecommunications data and limit access to agencies directly responsible for national security and the investigation of serious crime.

The appalling and tragic attack on journalists at the French satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, has once again ignited a debate about the extent and limits of freedom of speech in Australia. 

Liberty Victoria is deeply concerned by the content and tenor of comment on this issue in some segments of the media and more widely by certain community organisations. 

Last week, Australia’s Parliament passed legislation intended to sideline international law, natural justice and judicial oversight from the determination of asylum claims. 

Liberty Victoria condemns that legislation, and the appalling tactics used to secure its passage through the Senate.