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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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.
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SMH: Why police can’t prove children like Harry committed serious crimes
Our CEO Jonathon Hunyor explained to the SMH why the NSW review into doli incapax is a distraction from the real issues.
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NITV: ACT chooses ‘care over cruelty’ by raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14
JEC CEO Jonathon Hunyor explained why the ACT Government have made the right decision for kids and communities.
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NIT: Aboriginal children routinely over-policed under NSW bail checks, legal group says
New research suggests ‘discriminatory patterns’ in how often NSW Police check on Aboriginal young people while they’re on bail.
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ABC News: Indigenous family takes NSW Police to Human Rights Commission, claiming racial discrimination
The JEC is representing an Aboriginal family at the Australian Human Rights Commission after more than 150 ‘bail checks’ in less than two years.
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Data reveals police bail checks are targeting Aboriginal children, racial discrimination complaints filed
The JEC is representing two Aboriginal brothers in a racial discrimination complaint after they were subjected to more than 150 checks at their home over 20 months.
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B&T: “That Night Nearly Destroyed Me, But It Also Lit A Fire Inside”: What UnLTD’s Adland Bail Out Taught Me About Justice, Hope & Shame
UnLtd’s Bail Out event gave advertising execs an experience being locked up and raised over $100,000 for the NSW Raise the Age campaign.