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.
An independent body should oversee complaints against police, Liberty Victoria said today. This follows the sacking of one officer and disciplining of three more after a man being held was left to die “like a dog” in the rain.
Liberty President George Georgiou SC said Deputy State Coroner Iain West’s comments that there is “no such thing as a minor deprivation of liberty” echoed his organisation’s long-held view that holding a person carries big responsibilities. “All people arrested are required to be treated with dignity and respect,” he said.
1. None of the reforms proposed by the Children, Youth and Families (Disclosure of Youth Offending) Bill 2014 are necessary. They reflect an erosion of the longstanding, important and internationally-recognised principle that children who offend must be protected from publicity in all but very rare circumstances.
2. Liberty Victoria stands against that erosion.
Legislation
3. It is rare for child offenders to be identified. Section 534(1) of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 states:
Barrister George Georgiou SC is the new President of Liberty Victoria.
Elected at the recent annual meeting, he was welcomed by outgoing President Jane Dixon QC who said: “Liberty's role in advocating for civil liberties and justice is particularly important at the present time.
"George Georgiou is a passionate and dedicated lawyer who has always shown a willingness to look out for the underdog.
“He is fortunate to be taking over the helm of a strong and united organization which is uniquely placed to confront the many challenges ahead."
The social and economic costs of hardline anti-crime policies are simply too great, the President of Liberty Victoria, George Georgiou SC, warned today.
He said all Victorians should be concerned that two former judges of the Supreme Court say that the trend to jail more offenders will only lead to many becoming more violent on release. “The abolition of suspended sentences and the introduction of mandatory sentencing for a number of offences means prisoner numbers will increase,” he said.
For the following reasons, Liberty Victoria is opposed to this Bill:
1. The Bill seeks to repeal entirely the scheme for Freedom of Information (FOI) Review set in place in 2010. It is a return, therefore, to a system of external review that had been found wanting only four years ago. The 2010 administrative reforms sought to achieve a number of very important objectives, each of which were designed to facilitate the public’s right of access to governmental information. In summary these objectives were the following:
Liberty Victoria wishes to endorse the submission made by the New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties to the Inquiry into the Migration Amendment (Character and General Visa Cancellation) Bill 2014.
Of particular concern to Liberty is the increase in the Minister's personal powers under s 501, which have no merits review. We see this as contrary to the rule of law.
Joint statement on the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill 2014
15 October 2014
The Australian Government has an important duty to protect the community from terrorism. At times, laws can legitimately limit the rights of individuals for the purpose of countering this threat, provided the limitations are necessary and proportionate.
In fact, national security laws and the protection of human rights share complementary goals; both are concerned with protecting Australians from harm.
