Civil rights
Media and commentary related to our work protecting and advancing civil rights. This includes police accountability, justice in youth detention, asylum seeker rights, discrimination, access to justice and Raise the Age.
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#RaiseTheAge forum
‘Raising the age of criminal responsibility is not just an Aboriginal issue, it’s about the fundamental human rights of young people in this country. However, like most human rights issues in this country it affects our people the most,’ – Daniel Daylight. Thank you to everyone who attended PIAC’s zoom forum on 21 July, and…
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#RaiseTheAge interview on ABC 702 Breakfast
Interview with Jonathon Hunyor, Daniel Daylight and Dr Jacqueline Small in relation to raising the age of criminal responsibility. Starts at 24:11.
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Test case settlement great news for autistic children
Catherine Blundy’s discrimination test case against The Lakes Christian College has settled, with the school agreeing to measures to better support autistic children. In reaching settlement, Catherine, her mum Hannah, and the College have made the following statement: Hannah Blundy and The Lakes Christian College have agreed to resolve Catherine Blundy’s claim against the College…
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Sexual harassment has no place in the legal profession
The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) condemns sexual harassment and its prevalence in the legal profession. Following the distressing revelations about the conduct of former High Court Judge Dyson Heydon, PIAC supports calls for urgent reform and increased judicial oversight to end sexual harassment in the legal profession. Sexual harassment is a form of unlawful discrimination that impedes…
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Time for action on OPCAT
PIAC welcomes the release of the Australian Human Rights Commission’s recommendations for how Australia should implement the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), published on 29 June. The release of ‘Implementing OPCAT in Australia’ is the final step in the Commission’s consultation process with…
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Ombudsman statement on COVID-19 risks in immigration detention: Department urged to reduce numbers
PIAC welcomes the statement by the Commonwealth Ombudsman following his investigation into the management of COVID-19 risks in immigration detention, released today. Staggeringly, the statement reveals that numbers in our overcrowded detention centres have in fact gone up in recent months, despite the clear and consistent recommendations of public health and infectious diseases experts to…
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Litigation funding and class actions provide crucial access to justice
PIAC has urged the Commonwealth Parliament not to reduce access to justice for individuals through regulation of litigation funding or class actions. In a submission to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Corporations and Financial Services inquiry into litigation funding and class actions, which is considering further regulation of the litigation funding and class action system,…