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Legal and Social Issues Committee ,
March 24, 2025
Liberty Victoria appreciates the opportunity to provide a submission to this important Inquiry into THE DRUGS, POISONS AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AMENDMENT (REGULATION OF PERSONAL ADULT USE OF CANNABIS) BILL 2023. Liberty Victoria supports the reforms proposed by the Drugs, Poisons and... |
Legal and Social Issues Committee, Parliament of Victoria ,
February 14, 2025
Liberty Victoria has consistently advocated for the reform of Victoria’s cannabis laws. Consistent with previous submissions, we consider that the best way to protect the health of those adults who use cannabis, to protect public health and safety, and to prevent criminal activity relating to... |
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Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights ,
January 7, 2025
Liberty Victoria welcomed the opportunity to provide a submission to the Inquiry into Antisemitism at Australian Universities. We support actions of government and universities to address antisemitism on university campuses and in Australia generally, and believe the best way to protect the... |
Senate Standing Committees on Environment and Communications ,
November 24, 2024
There needs to be a more considered approach. Liberty Victoria advocates for more targeted interventions that aim to minimise harms while preserving social media’s benefits for children under the age of 16. A blanket ban will be ineffective and indeed will make matters worse – and expose... |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
November 23, 2024
This Bill should be withdrawn without delay. Politicised attacks on people based on their visa status must end. The harms inflicted are severe, generational, and go to the heart of Australian culture and community. We must all be equal before the law. Refugees and migrants are... |
Parliament of Australia ,
November 4, 2024
Committal hearings have long served as a critically important part of the protections afforded in Victoria to persons accused of serious crimes. The current system holds significant value in ensuring adequate disclosure, promoting the early resolution of cases, minimising the impact on... |
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Parliament of Australia ,
October 1, 2024
Liberty Victoria is grateful for the opportunity to make this submission in relation to the inquiry into the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic). Freedom of information (FOI) is a fundamental human right in itself, and a touchstone for all other rights and freedoms exercised by... |
Parliament of Australia ,
September 30, 2024
In relation to the Criminal Organisations Control Amendment Bill 2024 (Vic) (the Bill), Liberty Victoria opposes the Bill in its current form. We are deeply concerned that this Bill will result in the increasing normalisation of potentially draconian orders being made in circumstances where a... |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
August 7, 2024
On 17 June 2024, we had the honour of giving evidence for the Inquiry into Right Wing Extremist Movements in Australia to the Commonwealth Senate’s Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee (the Committee). When giving evidence we took three questions on notice: (1)... |
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs ,
June 7, 2024
Recent political and media attacks on legal procedures governing visa cancellation are of immense concern. They threaten the rule of law and the integrity of institutions and outcomes. The Tribunal is an expert body established by the Government as a vital check on administrative decision-making... |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
April 22, 2024
Liberty Victoria has been very concerned by the re-emergence of far-right extremism over recent years, and we have made submissions on that issue to: a. The Commonwealth Parliament’s Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security’s (PJCIS) Inquiry into Extremist Movements and Radicalism in... |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee ,
April 12, 2024
Liberty Victoria is appalled by the introduction of a Bill that, among other things, seeks to jail people for at least a year if they fail to assist with their own removal even where they are owed Australia’s non-refoulement obligations. The Bill also undoes protection findings to broaden who... |
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The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
March 27, 2024
Liberty Victoria is committed to the defence and advancement of civil liberties and human rights. We seek to promote compliance with Australia’s obligations under international law as recognised in various State and Federal human rights instruments such as the Charter of Human Rights and... |
The Prime Minister ,
November 16, 2023
Dear Prime Minister, 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... |
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Department of Justice and Community Safety ,
October 25, 2023
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... |
Government ,
October 20, 2023
Whilst we understand the important motivation for the Bill, we oppose it. This is consistent with our position on the previous Victorian legislation, which you can read ... |
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Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department ,
September 6, 2023
As the discussion paper acknowledges, the judiciary represents an important arm of the Australian constitutional system. Amongst other things, it is responsible for upholding the rule of law and dispensing justice. Predominantly, it achieves this by resolving controversies according to law... |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
August 17, 2023
1. At the hearing before the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee on 26 July |
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The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) ,
August 3, 2023
This is a joint submission with NSW Council for Civil Liberties. Liberty Victoria and NSW Council for Civil Liberties acknowledge the importance of protecting the community from acts of terrorism. Terrorism and the threat of terrorism violate the rights to life and security of innocent... |
Committee Secretary Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security ,
July 24, 2023
Liberty Victoria is grateful for the opportunity to make this submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) review of the Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Prohibited Hate Symbols and Other Measures) Bill 2023 (Cth) (the Bill). |
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The Secretariat Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights ,
July 21, 2023
It is often said by those who oppose a federal Human Rights Act that there is no need for one. They argue that the human rights of Australians are more than adequately protected by the common law and statute. Anyone remaining of that view will be hard pressed to retain it should they read the... |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
May 3, 2023
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 PJCIS. We understand that the display of Nazi symbols is highly confronting and offensive, particularly to the Jewish... |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
March 17, 2023
This submission addresses the importance of reducing the prevalence of sexual violence, and the challenges and limitations of the criminal justice system in achieving that end. It sets out the extensive changes that have been made in the Victorian criminal justice system to prosecute sexual... |
Victorian Law Reform Commission ,
March 7, 2023
Liberty Victoria has had the opportunity to consider the detailed submission of the Criminal Bar Association of Victoria (CBA), and we respectfully endorse it and its recommendations. In particular, we agree that (1) The common law test for recklessness of probability, applied without... |
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Department of Home Affairs ,
January 10, 2023
We are a coalition of lawyers, trade unionists, service providers and advocacy groups with a shared commitment to addressing the effects of precarious and ‘permanently temporary’ visa status. We welcome this opportunity to contribute to the comprehensive review of Australia’s migration system.... |
Yoorrook Justice Commission ,
December 7, 2022
This submission responds to the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s Issues Paper 1: Systemic Injustice in the Criminal Justice System. The following submission focusses on: (a) The need to raise the minimum age of criminal responsibility; (b) Victoria’s harsh bail laws; (c... |
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Public ,
September 19, 2022
Comment on the Major Crime and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 |
Public ,
September 5, 2022
The Victorian Parliament's Legal and Social Issues Committee has published its report on the Inquiry into Extremism in Victoria. It's available here: https://lnkd.in/gKxym4Ub... |
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Public ,
August 16, 2022
Comment on the Reason Party’s Health Legislation (Conscientious Objection) Bill 2022 (Vic) 1. Liberty Victoria welcomes the Reason Party’s Health Legislation (Conscientious Objection) Bill 2022 (Vic) (the Bill) and congratulates Fiona Patten MLC on its introduction. It... |
Public ,
August 15, 2022
Liberty Victoria supports some aspects of the Bill. However, in our view many other aspects of the Bill are unnecessary and add complexity to an already difficult area of the law. As we said in our submission to the VLRC, the focus of the Government should be on introducing a restorative justice... |
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Public ,
August 2, 2022
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... |
Attorney General Hon Mark Dreyfus ,
June 16, 2022
The Hon Mark Dreyfus QC MP Dear Attorney-General, Congratulations on Behalf of the Civil Liberties Community in Australia We... |
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Victorian Legal and Social Issues Committee ,
June 15, 2022
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... |
Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee ,
June 7, 2022
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... |
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Victorian Legislative Council, Legal and Social Issues Committee ,
May 31, 2022
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... |
Reform of Australia’s electronic surveillance framework discussion paper ,
February 8, 2022
The Australian Privacy Foundation, Queensland Council of Civil Liberties and Liberty Victoria have made a detailed submission to... |
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Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights ,
February 1, 2022
Liberty Victoria is opposed to discrimination on the basis of the attributes of religious belief and religious activity, just as on the basis of the other attributes protected under our laws, including the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic) (EOA). The Commonwealth Parliament would do well to... |
Expert Panel Cultural Review of the Adult Custodial Corrections System ,
December 21, 2021
This submission focuses on stream 2 relating to people in custody as outlined in the terms of reference published in October 2021 . It makes recommendations in relation to limiting the expansion of prisoner numbers, rehabilitation in prison, reintegration programs, controlled access to... |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
December 21, 2021
Liberty Victoria strongly opposes the Bill and calls for an inquiry into the character |
Department of Health and the Expert Reference Group ,
November 3, 2021
This documents comments on the Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 and includes consideration of aspects of the Bill that are positive, as well as areas where the Bill can be improved |
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Public ,
October 26, 2021
While the objectives of the Bill in seeking to increase engagement in the community and to enhance community safety are laudable, the manner in which they are sought to be achieved is inapt and the proposals go well beyond what is required to meet those objectives. We hold concerns that... |
Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee ,
October 21, 2021
Complainants and victims of crime are entitled to be part of a society that respects and protects their human rights. As we have previously submitted, Liberty Victoria strongly supports the view that complainants and victims of crime should be treated with courtesy, respect and dignity... |
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Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security ,
September 8, 2021
At the outset broadly and generally speaking, the Bill introduces powers for State-authorised hacking (also known as: lawful hacking, government hacking, computer network operations, network exploitative techniques). It is our position that Australia does not have an adequate federal human... |
Victorian Law Reform Commission ,
September 7, 2021
Liberty Victoria supports the introduction of additional protections for complainants in |
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Senate Select Committee on Job Security ,
September 7, 2021
Liberty Victoria is concerned that businesses sourcing labour from the on-demand workforce may be doing so in order to obfuscate the reality of their relationships with workers, and to exploit the uncertainty the current common law test creates Liberty Victoria is concerned that the... |
Department of Health ,
August 3, 2021
Read Liberty Victoria's submission to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act Engagement Paper. |
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The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security (PJCIS) ,
July 20, 2021
We accept that extremist movements and actors pose a significant threat to the Australian Community. However, over the past two decades there has been a focus on the danger of Islamist extremism at the expense of proper attention being given to the resurgence of farright extremism. As... |
Submission to the Legal and Social Issues Committee of the Legislative Council (Victoria) ,
June 22, 2021
On 13 May 2021, Liberty Victoria’s Senior Vice-President, Sam Norton gave evidence at the Inquiry into the Management of Child Sex Offender Information. His evidence can be read ... |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee ,
April 30, 2021
The legal and policy frameworks governing family reunification unjustly |
Victorian Law Reform Commission ,
April 1, 2021
Liberty Victoria opposes changes to the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) (Crimes Act) to deal specifically with ‘Grab and Drag’ offences. As noted in Issues Paper I, there are many indictable offences in the Crimes Act that cover the criminal conduct sought to be targeted by these proposed laws. A... |
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Legal and Social Issues Committee - Parliament of Victoria ,
February 18, 2021
In our view the best way to protect the health of those adults who use cannabis, to protect public health and safety, and to prevent criminal activity relating to the illegal cannabis trade in Victoria, is to have a controlled legalisation of cannabis possession, use, and limited cultivation as... |
Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters ,
February 12, 2021
The ability of charity groups and non-government advocacy bodies to freely speak on political issues is therefore a key component of a healthy democracy. In this submission, Liberty Victoria discourages proposed changes to electoral laws to reduce the threshold for political campaigners from the... |
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Victorian Law Reform Commission ,
February 3, 2021
Read our submission to the @VLRC inquiry into Improving the Response of the Justice System to Sexual Offences. Liberty Victoria calls for careful rights-based reform and the introduction of a restorative justice model for suitable matters. “A restorative justice model has the potential to have a... |
Public Accounts and Estimates Committee Parliament of Victoria ,
August 7, 2020
Respecting and protecting human rights have become more important than ever during the COVID-19 pandemic. Liberty Victoria recognises that the scale and severity of the crisis has required a response that necessarily limits the human rights and liberties of all Victorians. Sensibly, the focus of... |
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The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
June 18, 2020
No compelling case has been put forward by the Government to justify the proposed amendments and they are entirely unnecessary and disproportionate; The amendments would provide the Minister with an unjustifiably broad personal power to prohibit anything he or she personally wished to... |
Australian Human Rights Commission ,
March 11, 2020
This Human Rights and Technology Discussion Paper submission is made jointly by the Australian Privacy Foundation, the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties, Liberty Victoria, Electronic Frontiers Australia... |
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Attorney General's Department ,
January 31, 2020
Although this proposed Bill may have started as a stock-standard anti-discrimination bill for the attribute of religious belief or activity (as has long been a part of the Victorian Equal Opportunity Act, for example) it has developed a number of cancerous excrescences which made it... |
Legislative Assembly Legal and Social Issues Committee Inquiry into anti-vilification protections ,
January 17, 2020
This submission will focus upon the impact of vilification on people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, |
Attorney-General’s Department ,
October 21, 2019
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Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security ,
October 17, 2019
For the following reasons, Liberty Victoria recommends the Bill not be passed, and the current automatic citizenship loss provisions be repealed. a. Citizenship loss provisions, both discretionary and automatic, are not an effective response to the threat of terrorism and also risk undermining... |
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The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety ,
October 1, 2019
Liberty Victoria is profoundly concerned that some aged care providers may conflate the notion of medical incapacity with legal capacity and this denies many vulnerable residents their right to participate in, and determine, his or her own legal affairs. In some circumstances this denial can... |
Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs ,
August 27, 2019
The robodebt scheme is arguably a ‘retrogressive measure’ in breach of Australia’s international human rights obligations as they pertain to the right to social security. The Government’s attempts to ‘modernise’ the delivery of social security to Australians, while seemingly legitimate on its... |
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Victorian Law Reform Commission ,
August 27, 2019
Liberty Victoria recognizes the significant value of committal proceedings and the role they play in ensuring adequate disclosure, promoting the early resolution of cases before the courts, minimizing impact on vulnerable witnesses and ultimately easing pressures on the criminal justice system.... |
The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee ,
August 16, 2019
The Bill seeks to amend the Migration Act 1958 (the Act) by introducing a twelfth set of circumstances in which a person will necessarily fail the character test enunciated at s.501(6) of the Act: where they have committed a ‘designated offence’. Liberty... |
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The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee ,
August 16, 2019
These amendments seek to impose a lifetime ban on obtaining a visa (for people who arrived by boat after July 2013) to travel to or remain in Australia, subject to a personal non-compellable non-delegable exemption power of the Minister. We recommend the Bill not be passed. Our... |
Public ,
August 15, 2019
Liberty Victoria, in conjunction with Ashlea Johnson - a transgender Melbourne woman - fully support amendments to the law to allow transgender, gender diverse and intersex Victorians to record their preferred gender on their birth certificates. |
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Victorian Law Reform Commission ,
July 22, 2019
We have had the opportunity to consider the detailed submission of the Criminal Bar Association of Victoria, and we respectfully endorse it and its recommendations. In particular, we endorse the submission that there should be fault elements that must be proved to establish breaches of... |
Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security , July 8, 2019 |
| Submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security , July 8, 2019 |
Independent National Security Legislation Monitor ,
July 8, 2019
Liberty Victoria continues to oppose the of the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Bill 2015, in light of their subsequent operation. While limited public information is available about the application of the provisions, we understand that a number of individuals have... |
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Public ,
February 15, 2019
If enacted the Justice Legislation Amendment (Police and Other Matters) Bill 2019 (“the Bill”) would, amongst other things: a. Create new powers in the Crimes Act 1958 (“the Crimes Act”) for police to take a DNA sample from certain suspects and offenders without a court order, including... |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
January 24, 2019
Sex Discrimination Amendment (Removing Discrimination Against Students) Bill 2018 (Senator Wong’s Bill) Liberty notes that the so-called religious exemptions amount to a preference or benefit for some religious groupings over others (including the growing numbers of the... |
Intelligence Services Amendment Enhanced parliamentary Oversight of Intelligence Agencies) Bill 2018Liberty Victoria is essentially supportive of the reforms contained in the Bill. We note that there has been a significant expansion in the powers and activities of Australia’s national security and intelligence organisations over the past two decades, without a corresponding increase in review... |
Public ,
September 3, 2018
Liberty Victoria is strongly opposed to the amendments to the Corrections Act 1986 (Vic) (the Act) made by the Corrections Amendment (Parole) Act 2018 (Vic) (the amendments). The effective imposition of imprisonment for life without parole constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading... |
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Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee ,
August 22, 2018
In summary, the Bill introduces an important change to the way in which family law proceedings are conducted, so that there is no undue stress and trauma caused to victims of family violence. However, the Bill does not adequately ensure that legal representation will be guaranteed and in its... |
Public ,
August 21, 2018
Liberty Victoria strongly opposes the abolition of de novo appeals. These significant reforms have been introduced without evidence-based support. The last investigation in 2006 by the Law Reform Committee of the Parliament of Victoria recommended that de novo appeals should be retained. Since... |
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Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition ,
June 18, 2018
Liberty Victoria fully supports constitutional recognition of Australia's First Peoples, in the form set out in the Uluru Statement from the Heart: a constitutionally enshrined, First Nations Voice to the Parliament, and a Makarrata Commission, which will supervise a process of agreement-making... |
Public ,
May 26, 2018
This Bill proposes to expand the detention and supervision order regime under the Serious Sex Offenders (Detention and Supervision) Act 2009 (Vic) to non-sexual violence offences. Under the scheme, offenders can be detained or subject to onerous supervision orders at the conclusion of their... |
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Public ,
April 24, 2018
The Guardianship and Administration Bill 2018 is a necessary reform to update and bring Victoria’s personal guardianship and administration laws into line with modern expectations and human rights. Guardianship and administration orders provide important protections for people with... |
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security ,
March 21, 2018
Joint Councils of Civil Liberties submission on the Identity-matching Services Bill 2018 and the Australian Passports Amendment (Identity-matching Services) Bill 2018 which will authorise the Department of Home Affairs to collect, use and disclose identification information in order to operate... |
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Public ,
March 7, 2018
The portal that has been created does meet many privacy standards. The entry point stores minimal information – once the identity (ID) has been established only a token certifying that level of ID is kept on the website. The department or instrumentality being accessed is told that the ID is... |
Public ,
March 6, 2018
In principle Liberty supports the Children Legislation Amendment (Information Sharing) Bill 2017. However, Liberty Victoria’s view is that the proposed regime goes too far and needs to be amended to ensure that the range of information that can be stored is clearly defined, that children have... |
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Public ,
February 19, 2018
As previously stated in our submission to the Bail Review and commentary in respect of the Bail Amendment (Stage One) Bill 2017,... |
The Expert Panel on Religious Freedom ,
February 14, 2018
Freedom of religion is properly understood to mean the freedom for an individual to have, or not have, a religious belief, to join a religion and take part in its rites and rituals, or change religion, or leave a religion, and not to be discriminated against because of their having or not having... |
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Public ,
February 13, 2018
Last week, the Victorian Parliament passed the Firearms Amendment Bill 2017 which contained a series of significant amendments to the Firearms Act 1986. The aspect of the Bill of most concern to civil liberties and human rights is the introduction of Firearm Prohibition Orders. Did... |
Inquiry into the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017A submission was made to this inquiry by the councils for civil liberties across Australia (New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties, Liberty Victoria, Queensland Council for Civil Liberties, South Australia Council for Civil Liberties and the Australian Council for Civil Liberties). ... |
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Sentencing Advisory Council ,
January 22, 2018
As noted in the Sentencing Advisory Council (SAC) issues paper, the Victorian Government announced in May 2017 that it would introduce legislation in 2018 to establish a sentencing guidelines council in Victoria. In July 2017, the Attorney-General requested the SAC to advise him on the most... |
Department of Health ,
November 16, 2017
Liberty Victoria had the opportunity to consider the detailed submission by Future Wise and respectfully endorsed it and its recommendations. |
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Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security ,
October 31, 2017
This was a combined submission of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, Liberty Victoria, Queensland Council for Civil Liberties, South Australian Council for Civil Liberties and the Australian Council for Civil Liberties. |
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security ,
October 30, 2017
This was a combined submission of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, Liberty Victoria, Queensland Council for Civil Liberties, South Australian Council for Civil Libertiesand the Australian Council for Civil Liberties. |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
October 20, 2017
The Bill amends the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) to empower the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection to ban mobile phones and other items in immigration detention centres. It also expands immigration officers’ warrantless search and seizure powers, and authorises them to use dogs... |
Public ,
October 5, 2017
The Federal Government and States have entered into an Inter-Government Agreement to set up a national database to hold driver's licence photographs and identity information. The database may be used to conduct surveillance using facial recognition technology at public places such as airports or... |
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Public ,
August 10, 2017
Liberty Victoria made a comprehensive submission in June 2017 on why the Sentencing Amendment (Sentencing Standards) Bill 2017 (Vic) is unnecessary and threatens to undermine... |
Public ,
August 10, 2017
Liberty Victoria is opposed to the Crimes Amendment (Ramming of Police Vehicles) Bill 2017 (“the Bill”). We note that the Bill has been introduced by the Coalition Opposition. There is simply no need for the Bill. It forms part of the law and order auction leading up to... |
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Australian Human Rights Commission ,
August 7, 2017
We support the Commonwealth Government’s commitment to ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT). The Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 (Vic) (the Charter) imposes... |
Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade ,
August 7, 2017
Time did not permit Liberty Victoria to address in full all aspects of the Terms of Reference for this Inquiry. Our concerns therefore centred on “3 — The relationship between the freedom of religion or belief and other human rights, and the implications of constraints on the freedom of... |
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Department of Justice and Regulation (Vic) ,
June 14, 2017
Liberty Victoria supports the Supreme Court’s objective of minimising delay in the criminal justice system, particularly in the period between charge and the listing of trial. However, Liberty’s view is that the Supreme Court’s current proposal will not be effective in reducing delays and... |
Public ,
June 5, 2017
Liberty Victoria is opposed to the proposed expansion of the powers of Protection Services Officers (PSOs) through the measures set out in the Justice Legislation Amendment (Protective Services Officers and Other Matters) Bill 2017. PSOs are sworn officers of Victoria Police who have... |
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Public ,
June 5, 2017
Updated comment - 9 August 2017: Liberty Victoria made a comprehensive submission in June 2017 (see below) on why the Sentencing Amendment (Sentencing Standards) Bill 2017 (Vic) is unnecessary and threatens to undermine the separation of powers. Unfortunately it appears... |
Public ,
May 31, 2017
In relation to the Sex Offenders Registration Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2017, we repeat our previous criticisms of the sex offenders registration regime made in our submission on the Sex... |
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public ,
May 30, 2017
As made clear in our submission to the Bail Review, Liberty Victoria is opposed to the State Government’s proposal to reverse the presumption of bail in a wide number of... |
Open Courts Act Review ,
May 30, 2017
Liberty Victoria had the opportunity to consider the detailed submission by Victoria Legal Aid (‘VLA’) and we respectfully endorse it and its recommendations. We also make the following brief observations on overarching principles that can be applied to all Acts that contain provisions... |
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Law Reform, Road and Community Safety Committee, Victorian Parliament ,
May 24, 2017
Liberty Victoria welcomes the opportunity to contribute to this timely inquiry. Clear evidence from other jurisdictions, the medical profession and respected human rights organisations demonstrates that drug reform is a health... |
public ,
May 19, 2017
The introduction of laws to govern how convictions are removed from a criminal record is a simple and straightforward reform. All other jurisdictions in Australia have laws that provide for the removal of certain less serious convictions from the records of past offenders who have not gone on to... |
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Acting Independent National Security Legislation Monitor ,
April 28, 2017
Liberty Victoria has made a submission to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor’s (INSLM) Statutory Deadline Review of:
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public ,
April 13, 2017
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Legal and social issues committee, Parliament of Victoria ,
April 8, 2017
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. In its submission to the Inquiry into Yourth Justice Centres in Victoria, Liberty noted that both major... |
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Sentencing Advisory Council ,
April 3, 2017
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,... |
Melbourne City Council ,
March 21, 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... |
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Engage Victoria for Victorian Department of the Premier and Cabinet ,
March 17, 2017
Liberty Victoria's submission to the Bail Review focuses on five topics related to the Bail Act 1977 (Vic):
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Open ,
March 14, 2017
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... |
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Parliamentary Joint Committee on Corporations and Financial Services ,
March 9, 2017
A lot of what we know about the harm being caused by our immigration policies comes from whistleblowers. However, many stay silent, deterred from speaking out. Their silence is harmful. It is harmful to those in our care and to our democracy. Here is the submission YLLR made to the Senate... |
Department of Communications and the Arts / Attorney General's Department , February 20, 2017 |
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Select Committee on the Exposure Draft of the Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill ,
January 20, 2017
Liberty Victoria welcomes the government's exposure draft marriage equality bill, but calls for religious exemptions to be removed, not expanded. Announced along with the failed plebiscite legislation, it is now subject of a Senate Inquiry. Liberty is pleased the bill would replace the... |
Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights ,
January 13, 2017
On 8 November 2016, the Attorney-General referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights for inquiry and report, whether the operation of Part IIA of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (including sections 18C and 18D) impose unreasonable restrictions on freedom of speech; and... |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
November 7, 2016
Liberty Victoria previously made a submission to the Inquiry into the Conditions and Treatment of Asylum Seekers and Refugees at the Regional Processing Centres in the Republic of Nauru and Papua New Guinea (former Inquiry). This submission into the serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and... |
Public ,
November 4, 2016
This Bill seeks to amend the Working with Children Act 2005 (Vic) (“the Act”). We recognise that the amendments in this Bill arise in part out of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, and that the protection of children is paramount in consideration of the... |
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Public ,
October 31, 2016
Liberty Victoria strongly opposes the Sentencing (Community Correction Order) and Other Acts Amendment Bill 2016 (Vic) (‘The Bill’). It is an unnecessary reform to the Community Correction Order (‘CCO’) regime that further entrenches mandatory sentencing in Victoria. This Bill... |
Public ,
October 12, 2016
Liberty Victoria is very concerned about the Victorian Government’s announcement on proposed reforms to the Community Correction Order (‘CCO’) regime. The reforms should be strongly opposed. The announcement reflects a fundamental misconception that by sentencing more persons to... |
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United Nations ,
September 23, 2016
Joint Submission for the United Kingdom’s Universal Periodic Review in 2017 submitted by a coalition of the following international human rights, fair trial and jurist organisations:
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Public ,
September 14, 2016
Liberty Victoria is deeply concerned about the gradual erosion of judicial discretion in sentencing and the move towards mandatory and/or more prescriptive models of sentencing. Part of that concern stems from the need for the legislature to carefully protect the separation of powers so that a... |
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Public ,
August 17, 2016
The Victorian Police Minister has foreshadowed laws to ban masks at protests. There have been reports that such laws may be of two kinds:
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Independent National Security Legislation Monitor ,
August 17, 2016
The Councils for Civil Liberties (“CCLs”)[1] have made a joint submission to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor’s (INSLM) inquiry into certain questioning and detention powers (CQDPs) in relation to terrorism.... |
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Public ,
August 5, 2016
Liberty Victoria has in recent days been contacted by a number of persons concerned about the 2016 Census and the privacy implications for them. Liberty acknowledges that the collection of statistical data is a necessary and useful means for governments to plan for the... |
Public ,
June 10, 2016
'What we don't know, can hurt us’ Liberty Victoria's Young Liberty for Law Reform (YLLR) has released a report shining a light on a dark corner of our democracy. The report recommends fundamental and urgent changes to the laws that apply to whistleblowers in our immigration system, and... |
| Public , June 9, 2016 |
The Victorian Law Reform Commission ,
April 26, 2016
Liberty Victoria welcomed the opportunity to make this submission in relation to the Victorian Law Reform Commission’s (Commission) review of the Role of the Victims of Crime in the Criminal Trial Process (Review). Central to the Commission’s review is the question: what should the role... |
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Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs ,
April 22, 2016
The legal apparatus that provides for a person with a cognitive disability to be detained, without review and on an indefinite basis, is concerning. The right to liberty, and the associated right to humane treatment while being deprived of liberty, are core tenets of Liberty Victoria... |
Public ,
April 18, 2016
Liberty Victoria opposes the enactment of the Serious Sex Offenders (Detention and Supervision) Amendment (Community Safety) Bill 2016 (Vic) (“the Bill”). The principal issue is whether the measures proposed to be introduced by the Bill are reasonably adapted for the purpose of making the... |
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Public ,
April 18, 2016
Liberty Victoria does not support the Infant Viability Bill 2015. We believe that the regulation of abortion has been dealt with appropriately under the Victorian Law Reform Act 2008. The Act already provides for abortion post-24 weeks which, in any case, are extremely rare and only undertaken... |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
April 8, 2016
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Public ,
April 6, 2016
After working with Julian Burnside QC in his fight against unfair Myki fines, Young Liberty for Law reform created www.mykifines.org.au to help people understand their options when they are confronted by an Authorised... |
Public ,
March 29, 2016
Liberty Victoria is opposed to the Bill which:
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Public ,
March 17, 2016
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Public ,
March 8, 2016
Liberty Victoria opposes the Bill which proposes an amendment to the Corrections Act 1986 (Vic) (the Act) by insertion of a new provision that would, in effect, render a prisoner serving a prison sentence for murder, or conspiracy to commit murder, ineligible for parole... |
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Attorney-General's Department ,
March 8, 2016
The draft Privacy Amendment (Notification of Serious Data Breaches) Bill proposes to make amendments to the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) to introduce mandatory data breach notification provisions for regulated agencies, organisations and other entities (entities). Liberty... |
Public ,
March 4, 2016
Liberty Victoria is strongly opposed to the Bill and has submitted a comment to the Legislative Council of Parliament of Victoria. |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
March 4, 2016
Liberty Victoria would have preferred the opportunity to provide a more detailed submission but the time frame allowed for their provision was impossibly short. We hope that in future more time is allowed to make submissions on such important issues. In general terms, Liberty Victoria... |
Public ,
March 1, 2016
What happens to people when they are released from prison? This video explores some of the many issues facing people leaving the prison system. |
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Victorian Legislative Assembly ,
February 16, 2016
Liberty Victoria is opposed to the mandatory minimum sentence provisions in the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic), and accordingly is also opposed to the expansion of those provisions to alleged offences against custodial officers through the Crimes Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 ("the Bill"). ... |
Sentencing Advisory Council ,
February 8, 2016
As an organisation Liberty Victoria is deeply concerned about the gradual erosion of judicial discretion in sentencing and the move towards mandatory and/or more prescriptive models of sentencing. Part of that concern stems from the need for the legislature to carefully protect the separation of... |
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Australian Parliament ,
November 23, 2015
The Presidents of the NSW, Victorian, Queensland and South Australian Councils for Civil Liberties and the Australian Council for Civil Liberties have put together a statement calling on the Australian Parliament to abandon the radical and misguided Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance... |
Open ,
November 16, 2015
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Australian Law Reform Commission ,
October 18, 2015
The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) received Terms of Reference on 19 May 2014. The ALRC released an Issues Paper and called for submissions on 10 December 2014. Submissions closed on 27... |
Open ,
September 14, 2015
‘Age determination’ is the process by which a person’s age is assessed. In the immigration context, it refers to the processes used by the country receiving asylum seekers to determine whether a person is a minor or an adult. In Australia, the role of assessing the age of children is performed... |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee ,
September 4, 2015
Liberty submits that neither a referendum nor a plebiscite is an appropriate method to address matters of equality and human rights. Liberty urges the committee to reject the proposal, but to recommend instead that a Bill to amend the Marriage Act 1961 - to provide for equality in access to its... |
Victorian Government Legal and Social Issues Committee ,
August 5, 2015
Liberty Victoria supports a terminally ill person’s right to die with dignity. As early as 1998 Liberty Victoria produced a booklet titled The Final Choice – Considerations on Choosing to Die, and has in the past supported voluntary euthanasia Bills. Liberty Victoria has had... |
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Victorian Law Reform Commission ,
August 3, 2015
In October 2014 the Victorian Law Reform Commission (the Commission) was asked to examine and report on how the law can better prevent organised crime and criminal organisations from infiltrating occupations and industries. Regulatory regimes include licensing, registration requirements... |
Liberty Victoria / YLLR Report ,
July 31, 2015
Religious groups are allowed to provide dogmatic religious instruction to primary students in government schools. Is this acceptable in secular Australia? A sustained campaign against this practice from parents, educators and academics has long argued it is not. A new report from Liberty... |
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Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security ,
July 22, 2015
The councils for civil liberties across Australia (Liberty Victoria, New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties, Queensland Council for Civil Liberties, South Australia Council for Civil Liberties and the Australian Council for Civil Liberties) collaborated around this submission because the... |
Attorney-General, Department of Justice and Regulation Victoria , June 27, 2015 |
| Senate Finance and Public Administration Committee , June 4, 2015 |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
May 7, 2015
Liberty Victoria is deeply concerned about the following aspects of the Bill:
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The Acting Independent National Security Legislation Monitor ,
April 22, 2015
Liberty Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australian and Australian Councils for Civil Liberties made a joint submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security on the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM). The inquiry sought public... |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
April 21, 2015
Liberty Victoria has had an opportunity to consider the recommendations of the Law Institute of Victoria and we fully endorse them. Liberty Victoria would have preferred the opportunity to provide more detailed submissions but the time frame allowed for their provision was impossibly... |
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Minister for Equality (Victoria) ,
April 1, 2015
The Review: The Victorian Government commissioned a review to consider the legislative amendments required to permit adoption of children by same-sex couples under Victorian law. The review is being conducted by Eamonn Moran PSM QC, former Chief Parliamentary Counsel and a current... |
March 21, 2015
Legal funding for asylum seekers was drastically cut on 31 March 2014. Asylum seekers need lawyers. The refugee determination process in Australia is highly complex.... |
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Senate Standing Committees on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport ,
March 19, 2015
This bill seeks to prevent unnecessary delays in the reporting of animal cruelty and what are described as ‘illegal interferences in the lawful operation of animal enterprises.’ Whilst Liberty Victoria is broadly supportive of measures aimed at protecting animals against acts of malicious... |
Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples ,
February 10, 2015
The Joint Select Committee on Constitutional Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples has been accepting submissions as part of its duties to inquire into steps required for a successful referendum on constitutional recognition of Australia’s indigenous population. The... |
| Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security , January 20, 2015 | Victorian Ombudsman , January 12, 2015 |
| Criminal Law Review Department of Justice State Govt Victoria , December 16, 2014 |
Victorian Department of Justice ,
December 9, 2014
Overview 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... |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
November 6, 2014
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... |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
October 28, 2014
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... |
| Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security , October 3, 2014 |
Open ,
September 15, 2014
Liberty Victoria is strongly opposed to the Sentencing Amendment (Coward's Punch Manslaughter and Other Matters) Bill 2014. The Bill seeks to enact mandatory sentencing (a 10 year mandatory minimum non-parole period for manslaughter in circumstances of a "coward’s punch/ strike" and/or... |
| Open , September 5, 2014 | Open , September 5, 2014 |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
September 5, 2014
Liberty Victoria is pleased to make the following comments on the Medical Services (Dying with Dignity) Exposure Draft Bill. Our organisation is fully supportive of the Bill, while wishing to suggest some minor amendments to its terms. Liberty Victoria has a long and proud... |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee , August 22, 2014 |
| Parliamentary Joint Committee On Intelligence and Security , August 16, 2014 | Attorney-General's Dept, Human Rights Policy Branch , May 8, 2014 |
| Department of Justice, Victoria , April 24, 2014 | Victoria Legal Aid , March 7, 2014 |
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Victorian Department of Justice ,
January 24, 2014
Submitted to the Victorian Department of Justice |
Victorian Law Reform Commission ,
January 24, 2014
Submitted to the Victorian Law Reform Commission |
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Victoria Police Community Consulation ,
September 1, 2013
Submitted to Victoria Police Community Consultation - Cultural Training and 'Field Contact' Policies and Processes. |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
July 1, 2013
To the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
June 1, 2013
Submitted to Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs |
Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
April 1, 2013
Submitted to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee |
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Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee ,
February 1, 2013
Submitted to Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee |
The Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee , November 23, 2005 |
