Discrimination
Media and commentary related to our work to strengthen and modernise anti-discrimination laws, to protect human rights and ensure fair access to services, education, work and culture.
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High Court declares government’s same-sex marriage vote lawful
The High Court of Australia has confirmed that the government’s decision to hold and fund the postal vote on same-sex marriage is lawful. PIAC represented Andrew Wilkie, Member for Denison, PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and Felicity Marlowe, a mother in a same-sex relationship with three young children in a High Court…
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Government confident of winning High Court challenge against marriage survey
‘The Government is publicly exuding confidence about its chances of winning the High Court challenge against its same-sex marriage postal vote. But in the backrooms of Parliament House, Coalition MPs are quietly plotting their next move should the court shoot down the survey…’
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Postal survey on same-sex marriage ‘unique and offensive’, high court told
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has no authority to hold the Coalition’s “unique and offensive” postal vote on same-sex marriage, lawyers have told the high court on the first day of a landmark legal challenge. Barristers for critics of the vote, who are seeking to have it ruled illegal, argued their case before a packed…
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‘Costly and divisive’: Same-sex marriage postal vote faces legal showdown
‘The Turnbull government’s same-sex marriage postal vote hangs in the balance, with the High Court told that the government does not have the authority to spend $122 million of taxpayer funds on the survey. ‘In a move that could stop ballots from being issued next week – and reignite pressure on the Prime Minister to grant a parliamentary conscience vote on…
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High court hears challenges to same-sex marriage postal survey – live
The high court will sit in Melbourne today to determine whether the Turnbull government erred in law by authorising a $122m payment to the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the purpose of conducting a voluntary postal survey on marriage equality.
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Same-sex marriage survey funded by ‘executive fiat’ is illegal
Public Interest Advocacy Centre CEO Jonathon Hunyor doesn’t usually like a media circus, but he can make an exception for the one surrounding the not-for-profit group’s challenge to the postal vote on same-sex marriage: it has got people talking about the Constitution and the nature of government power. ‘On Tuesday, a full bench of seven…
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Same-sex marriage survey: imminent High Court defeat may be for best
‘If the weight of academic opinion is correct, the government’s strategy for dealing with same-sex marriage is about to suffer catastrophic defeat at the hands of the High Court. ‘And that could be a good thing…’
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Third time’s the charm: Liberal MPs eye another try at failed plebiscite if postal vote rejected by High Court
‘Another bitter debate about same-sex marriage, a third attempt at the failed plebiscite, or even a backbench revolt could await the Turnbull government if the High Court kills off its plan for a postal survey this week. ‘With two days of hearings to begin in Melbourne on Tuesday, Coalition MPs were bracing for yet another round…
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High Court hearing in same-sex marriage postal vote challenge begins today
The High Court of Australia, sitting in Melbourne, will today begin hearing challenges to the government’s postal vote on same-sex marriage. The hearing is expected to take two days. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the Human Rights Law Centre are both seeking to stop the government proceeding with the postal vote on same-sex marriage.…
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Hearing tomorrow in High Court case to stop same-sex marriage postal vote
The High Court in Melbourne will tomorrow begin hearing cases brought by PIAC and the Human Rights Law Centre to stop the same-sex marriage postal vote. The hearing is expected to take two days. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the Human Rights Law Centre are both seeking to stop the government proceeding with the…