Policing and detention
Media and commentary related to our work to provide critical oversight of NSW Police, prisons and youth detention centres, to protect human rights and ensure fair and lawful treatment.
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Freedom of information win exposes need for reform
We supported a client to get access to information held by the government, using freedom of information processes.
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Joint letter to Queensland Government regarding suspension of Human Rights Act
PIAC joined Change The Record and more than 180 human rights and legal experts, social justice organisations and First Nations community groups in signing an open letter condemning the Queensland government for overriding the state’s Human Rights Act in order to detain children in state police watch houses indefinitely. Dear Premier Palaszczuk and Minister Ryan,…
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Jailbaby urges justice reform
PIAC was thrilled to host a special performance of Jailbaby and conversation with award-winning playwright Suzie Miller at Griffin Theatre Company recently. Jailbaby tells the story of two young Australian men, Seth and AJ, treated unequally by the institutions they come up against because of their different backgrounds . The play details how class and…
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AHRC highlights serious health concerns for people in hotel detention
A recent Australian Human Rights Commission (‘the Commission’) report highlights ongoing concerns about the use of hotels as Alternative Places of Detention (‘APODs’) within Australia’s immigration detention system. The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (‘PIAC’) welcomes the report, which aligns with recommendations we have made since launching our Asylum Seeker Health Rights Project in 2016. The…
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2SER: Calling for investigation of heavy handed Covid fines
PIAC and Redfern Legal Centre have filed a complaint against the former NSW police commissioner Mick Fuller and NSW Police, over what they say was a heavy-handed approach to handing out fines during the Covid pandemic. The complaint was lodged with the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission and asked it to investigate directives given by the…
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Aboriginal elders support investigation into policing of COVID-19 fines in Walgett
… The Redfern Legal Centre and Public Interest Advocacy Centre has lodged a formal complaint with the police watchdog, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, to investigate the actions of police and whether they constituted serious maladministration or misconduct. Dharriwaa Elders Group secretary Virginia Robinson supported an investigation into what she said could have long-term consequences for her…
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Calls for an investigation into NSW Police issuing excessive COVID fines
Former NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller and the NSW Police are facing a formal complaint over their “heavy-handed approach” in issuing more than 60,000 COVID-19 fines between March 2020 and September 2022. Redfern Legal Centre (RLC) and the Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) have urged the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) to investigate potential misconduct stemming…
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NSW unlikely to withdraw further Covid fines despite court ruling many were unlawful
The New South Wales government is signalling it will not withdraw any additional Covid fines despite a supreme court decision finding a huge volume of pandemic-related infringements were unlawful. The state government was last year forced to withdraw more than 33,000 Covid fines after a NSW supreme court test case, lodged by Redfern Legal Centre…
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NSW legal services call for investigation after reports police were directed to take ‘strong approach’ to enforcing Covid fines
Two community legal services have lodged a formal complaint against NSW police over its “heavy-handed” enforcement of Covid fines during the pandemic. The Redfern Legal Centre and Public Interest Advocacy Centre said on Monday they had asked the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission to investigate the way police enforced Covid fines, following an internal video published…
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Police challenged on COVID fines
Two legal groups have complained to the law enforcement watchdog about the actions of NSW Police during the COVID-19 pandemic, including the issuing of almost 50,000 fines in three months after then-commissioner Mick Fuller told officers they would not be punished if they incorrectly penalised people. In a complaint last week to the Law Enforcement…