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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Prime Minister has the power to ensure children are safe and protected. It’s time for action.
Advice obtained from Senior Counsel by the JEC makes clear that the Commonwealth has the Constitutional power to act on youth justice reform.
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Bill Crews on 2GB: Jonathon Hunyor on why locking kids up does not work
CEO Jonathon Hunyor explained how ripping kids out of their communities and locking them up harms children and doesn’t prevent crime.
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2SER: Crime stats show more kids are being locked up
JEC Solicitor Kate Sinclair joined 2SER to explain why locking up kids isn’t working.
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ABC NSW Drive: Jonathon Hunyor on failures of imprisoning children
Our CEO told ABC NSW Drive the NSW Government must stop locking up children and invest in communities instead.
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NIT: Aboriginal Legal Service calls NSW youth detention surge a ‘wake-up call’
We joined ALS in calling out the failure of the NSW Government’s law and order approach to community safety.
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New youth detention stats show failure of law and order response
BOCSAR data for the June 2025 quarter shows the NSW Government’s law and order response is failing.
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The Guardian: Does a NSW police anti-firearm scheme go too far?
Principal Solicitor Jonathan Hall Spence expressed concerns over the high numbers of Aboriginal people being subject to a little known police search power.
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NIT: Legal and community experts warn NSW Opposition bill to put more children in prison will increase crime
We joined an alliance of legal and community experts saying a Coalition bill calling for tougher child bail laws will backfire and increase crime.
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Online forum: LGBTQ discrimination in religious schools and organisations
Join Anglican Minister and academic Rev Dr Angus McLeay in conversation with discrimination law expert and LGBTQ+ advocate Alastair Lawrie to explore the intersection between ‘religious freedom’ and anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in Australian religious schools and organisations. WHEN: 1-2pm, Tuesday 19 August 2025RSVP: [email protected] —————————————————————————— In many parts of Australia, the law permits religious schools and social…
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SBS / NITV: Advocates claim human rights protections in Australia are going in the wrong direction
We co-authored a report highlighting Australia’s human rights failures and urging the Australian Government to act ahead of the 2026 UN human rights review.