Senior Solicitor Sophie Leaver is a Senior Solicitor with our Strategic Litigation team, working primarily on issues related to policing, prisons and detention. Before joining the JEC, Sophie worked as a Senior Lawyer at the Australian Human Rights Commission, where she conducted inquiries into human rights breaches in immigration detention. She has also worked as a solicitor at Redfern Legal…

We expressed a range of concerns about the Commonwealth Government’s Exposure Draft Bill, including calling for more groups to be protected against serious vilification and the removal of the religious texts defence to this proposed offence. The Government’s Exposure Draft Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026 proposed a range of different responses to the incitement of hatred, including the…

We argued the Commonwealth Parliament should raise the age of criminal responsibility and use the external affairs power to protect children from harm by state and territory criminal legal systems.

We argue that existing criminal offences already cover public slogans that incite hatred, and that a cautious approach is warranted given the meaning of slogans can be deeply contested. In response to a NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into legal options to address slogans that incite hatred, we highlighted the 2025 introduction of s93ZAA of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), which prohibits…

Our case in the NSW Supreme Court is challenging the use of solitary on young people, as solicitor Petra Franks explained.

Since 2004, HPLS has helped people experiencing or at risk of homelessness with practical legal help.

The Exposure Draft includes some positive changes, but significant gaps remain requiring urgent attention.

Australia could be leaning too heavily on households to improve demand flexibility, says Craig Memery.

Policy and Communications Officer, Energy and Water Justice Dannielle joined the JEC in November 2025 as a Policy and Communications Officer in the Energy and Water Justice team. In this role, Dannielle clearly communicates complex issues and policy positions with decision-makers, stakeholders and our community of supporters. She acts as the reader’s advocate and builds support for equity in the…