Liberty Victoria is opposed to the proposed new offence of engaging in grossly offensive conduct in public. It should not become law.
The Bill seeks to respond to particular conduct by Mr Richard Pusey that understandably outraged the community, and in particular his recording of dying police officers.
Two dominant issues have contributed to a recent increase in right-wing extremism: shared grievances and crises of identity. The underlying social and structural issues that are fuelling systemic inequality, injustice, racism as well as a declining trust in institutions, government authority and the media all contribute to an understanding of why there has been growth in far-right extremist views within Victoria, Australia and globally.
We welcome the opportunity to provide a submission to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee’s Inquiry into the application of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) in Australia (the Inquiry).
The Federal Government should develop a national program to implement UNDRIP and schedule it to the definition of human rights in the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 (Cth), so that all new legislation is assessed for compatibility with it along with other foundational international human rights instruments.
Sentencing a parent or caregiver has a direct impact on a child, in particular where the caregiver is incarcerated and separated from their children. The imprisonment of a parent can have socio-economic impacts, compound pre-existing disadvantage and significantly affect their mental and physical health. Parental imprisonment can inflict different harms on children, including unemployment, substance misuse, low academic attainment and anti-social behaviour
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Tue, 17/05/2022 - 09:53
Liberty Victoria is awarding the 2022 Voltaire Empty Chair Award to Mehdi Ali, a refugee from Ahvaz, Iran who had been held in detention by Australia since 2013 including at the Park Hotel in Melbourne. He was held in detention by Australia for almost a decade, from the age 15 until he was 24. He has now been afforded protection in the United States.
Mehdi has been a powerful and tireless advocate for refugees and people seeking asylum in detention, including onshore detention.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Tue, 17/05/2022 - 09:01
The Proposed Ban of the Swastika in Victoria
The Summary Offences Amendment (Nazi Symbol Prohibition) Bill 2022 (Vic)
Liberty Victoria is deeply worried by the emergence of far-right extremism, but opposes the ban of the ‘hakenkreuz’ for the reasons set out in our joint submission to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS).[1]
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Tue, 19/04/2022 - 17:45
Liberty Victoria Statement on the Federal Election
As you are no doubt aware, the Federal Election will be held on 21 May 2022.
Liberty Victoria does not, and will not, endorse any particular political party or candidate. We do, however, make submissions and engage with the community on particular issues. We have, throughout our history, had committee members from across the political spectrum. We receive no Government funding, and depend on volunteers who care deeply about civil liberties and human rights.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Thu, 24/02/2022 - 09:21
On Thursday 10 March 2022, Liberty Victoria’s Rights Advocacy Project (RAP) will launch its report, A Policy for Equality: Painful Periods as a Workplace Issue. The Report shines a spotlight on the discriminatory and non-inclusive treatment of people who menstruate at work, and the social and economic advantages of changing the current approach.
The Report proposes reforms to the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and provides policy templates to be implemented by individual organisations and public authorities.
Submitted by Liberty Victoria on Wed, 16/02/2022 - 16:55
The Morrison Government is seeking to re-introduce the Migration Amendment (Strengthening Character Test) Bill 2021 (Cth) (the Bill) — which has already been rejected by Parliament twice because it is unnecessary and will result in unfair outcomes for vulnerable people.
This Bill has been before Parliament for 1,200 days and a number of Parliamentary Inquiries have looked into the Bill and experts have overwhelmingly criticised the bill and recommended that it be rejected. The Senate did just that in October 2021 when it refused to pass the Bill.
