Expanding the franchise in Australia
Kate Mallinson
The second Electoral Reform Green Paper was released for comment on September 23. Since 1918 the Commonwealth Electoral Act has only been rewritten once, in 1984, and consequently much of language contained in the Electoral Act is outdated, complex and in need of reform.
Is the e-Health Initiative healthy?
Tim Warner
Should you visit a Medicare health practitioner in the second half of 2010, you will be asked to identify yourself from a list of persons who have similar names and birth dates. This will be the start of a new medical records system called the e-Health Initiative, designed to allow the smooth electronic referral of patients, patient records and the orderly transfer of pathology results.
An end to law-and-order auctions in NSW?
Michael Pearce SC
In a surprise but welcome move, a senior NSW politician has called for an end to the law-and-order auctions which have prevailed in NSW politics since the 1980s. And this was not just any politician but the NSW Shadow Attorney-General Greg Smith SC MLA.
What rights? Police powers and the Charter
Dr Alice de Jonge
When the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act was enacted in 2006 it appeared that a new era had arrived in the relationship between government and citizens in Victoria. The Act was described by Professor George Williams as marking ‘a decisive departure, at least in Victoria, from the long-held notion that the best protection for human rights is the good sense of our parliamentary representatives’.
Revealing the gay agenda: equality
Anne O'Rourke
Since the last newsletter Liberty Victoria has been busy writing submissions to a number of state and federal inquiries on issues such as politicians register of interests, privacy, anti-terror laws and marriage equality.
The last inquiry was established as a result of Senator Sarah Hanson-Young’s Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009, which seeks to remove discrimination against same-sex couples from the Marriage Act 1961.
Refugee law reforms don't go far enough
Jessie Taylor
There have recently been some wonderful changes to the laws affecting asylum seekers in Australia. Through the passage of the Migration Amendment (Abolishing Detention Debt) Bill, the abhorrent practice of charging asylum seekers for the daily cost of their own detention was finally brought to an end.
Anti-terror law reforms: fear wins
Aggy Kapitaniak
Liberty is disappointed with the proposed reforms of the terror laws as outlined in the Attorney-General’s 500-page discussion paper. Liberty’s anti-terror law sub-committee wrote a submission expressing disappointment in relation to the proposed changes that we say don’t go far enough. You can access the full submission on our website, but here is a flavour.
The verdict: write in human rights
Alexandra Krummel
The report of the National Human Rights Consultation committee was released on October 8 to a full house at the Victorian Parliament. The report is very substantial with almost 500 pages and 31 recommendations.
The churches' objection to human rights
Michael Pearce SC
One of the most troubling developments in human rights in recent times has been the antagonistic stance adopted by many within the Christian churches. The Australian Christian Lobby was the leading organisation opposed to a national charter of rights during the recent national Human Rights Consultation.
Liberty beyond Voltaire: president's report
Michael Pearce SC
There are three major developments at Liberty to report on since my last column. The first is the completion of the National Consultation on Human Rights which occurred on 15 June 2009. Liberty made a major submission which was coordinated by Vice-President Prof. Spencer Zifcak, with the assistance of a working group of the Liberty Committee.
