Counter-Terrorism

Torture and Ill-Treatment: UN Committee against Torture review of Australia (12 Nov 2011)

Australia is scheduled to be reviewed by the UN Committee against Torture for its compliance with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment in 2012-13. This page contains a summary of the HRLC’s key activities and developments in relation to this review.   HRLC outlines further issues for Australia [...]

Reform of Australia’s counter-terrorism laws necessary to ensure they are effective and compatible with human rights (27 Oct 2011)

A Human Rights Law Centre submission to the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor has called for comprehensive reform of Australia’s counter-terrorism laws and measures to enhance their effectiveness and to better respect and protect fundamental human rights. The Monitor was appointed under the Independent National Security Legislation Monitor Act 2010 (Cth) and is empowered to [...]

Australia has Legal Obligation to Implement Key Human Rights Reforms (1 April 2011)

The Australian Government has a legal obligation to implement key human rights reforms, according to a new submission from the Human Rights Law Centre [submission and annexure]. The submission to the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department considers each of 145 recommendations made to Australia by the international community during Australia’s Universal Periodic Review before the UN Human [...]

Torture and Ill-Treatment: UN Committee Presents “Please Explain” List to Australia (21 Dec 2010)

In December 2010, the UN Committee against Torture issued a ‘List of Issues Prior to Reporting’ for Australia.  The purpose of this List is to outline those issues which the Committee would like Australia to address and respond to in its next periodic report to the Committee, due in 2012.  The issues on which the [...]

Race Discrimination: UN Committee Releases Report and Recommendations on Australia (28 August 2010)

A high-level UN committee has found that Australia needs to take urgent measures to address racism and racial discrimination, disadvantage and inequality. On 27 August 2010, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination released its Concluding Observations following a review of Australia’s compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of [...]

Race Discrimination: Fact Sheets for UN CERD Review of Australia (27 August 2010)

In August 2010, the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination reviewed Australia’s compliance with its international legal obligations to respect, protect and promote the human right to equality and freedom from racial discrimination. An NGO coalition, comprising the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, the National Association of Community Legal Centres and the Foundation [...]

Torture and Ill-Treatment: Submission to UN Committee against Torture on Australia (24 August 2010)

On 24 August 2010, the Centre provided a Submission to the UN Committee against Torture setting out a number of issues which we consider the Committee should include in its List of Issues for Australia Prior to Reporting in respect of Australia’s compliance with the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or [...]

Universal Periodic Review: Joint NGO Report on Australia (12 July 2010)

Australia is to be reviewed by the UN Human Rights Council through the Universal Periodic Review process in January 2011. A coalition of 68 NGOs - coordinated by the Human Rights Law Resource Centre, Kingsford Legal Centre and the National Association of Community Legal Centres - has submitted a 5 page Report to the UN Human Rights Council [...]

ICCPR: Update on Australia to Human Rights Committee (7 July 2010)

On 2 April 2009, the UN Human Rights Committee adopted Concluding Observations in respect of Australia’s compliance with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. On 6 July 2010, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre made a Follow-Up Submission on Implementation of the Human Rights Committee’s Concluding Observations on Australia.  The submission [...]

Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism: Submission to Senate Committee on National Security Legislation Reforms (3 May 2010)

The Australian Government has introduced proposed legislation to amend aspects of the counter terror legal regime.  On 30 April 2010, the HRLRC and Amnesty International made a joint submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs‘ inquiry into the two bills, namely the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill 2010 (the NSL Bill) [...]

Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights: Submission to National Security Legislation Review (Oct 2009)

The Human Rights Law Resource Centre and Amnesty have made a Joint Submission to the Federal Attorney-General’s National Security Legislation Discussion Paper, which sets out the measures that the Government proposes to take to respond to a number of recent reviews of counter-terror laws. Amnesty and the HRLRC acknowledge that governments have a duty to [...]

Counter-Terrorism: Submission on Anti-Terrorism Laws Reform Bill (Sept 2009)

On 11 September 2009, eight years after the events of the events of 11 September 2001, the HRLRC made a Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee regarding the Anti-Terrorism Laws Reform Bill 2009 (Cth). The submission notes that, in those eight years, the Australian Government has introduced 44 pieces of ‘anti terrorism’ legislation. [...]

Counter-Terrorism and Human Rights: Submission on National Security Legislation Monitor Bill (July 2009)

On 27 July 2009, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre and the Public Interest Law Clearing House made a Joint Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration in relation to the National Security Legislation Monitor Bill 2009.  The Bill establishes the National Security Legislation Monitor to review the operation, effectiveness and [...]

CAT: Implementation of Recommendations of UN Committee against Torture on Australia (Sept 2008)

On 16 May 2008, the Committee against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment issued its Concluding Observations on Australia.  The Concluding Observations included 27 recommendations concerning Australia’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment. The Australian Government has called for [...]

Counter-Terrorism: Submission to Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill (Sep 2008)

The Centre has made a Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee in support of the Independent Reviewer of Terrorism Laws Bill 2008. The Centre considers that the operation, effectiveness and implications of terrorism laws should be subject to independent review to ensure that there is transparency in the manner in which those laws [...]

The Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC – ‘Human Rights, Lawyers and the War on Terror’, Speech to Human Rights Law resource Centre (August 2008)

The Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser AC, former Prime Minister of Australia, Speech to HRLRC on Torture Team: Human Rights, Lawyers and the War on Terror (Aug 2008).

Counter-Terrorism: David Hicks – Relevance of Human Rights to Control Order Conditions (Feb 2008)

In conjunction with Brian Walters SC, Neil McAteer of Counsel and Allens Arthur Robinson, the Centre prepared a Note on the Relevance of International Human Rights to Control Order Conditions in the case of David Hicks. The Note was used by Counsel for Mr Hicks in submissions to the Federal Magistrates’ Court on 18 February [...]

Counter-Terrorism: UN Special Rapporteur report on Australia (March 2007)

The Australian Government should urgently reconsider key aspects of its counter-terrorism laws to bring them into conformity with international human rights standards, a UN report on human rights and counter-terrorism in Australia which was tabled before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 26 March 2007 has found. The Centre has prepared a Summary [...]

Counter-Terrorism: David Hicks – Opinion on Legality of Trial before Guantanamo Military Commission (Nov 2006)

Urging or Supporting Unfair Trial of David Hicks may Constitute a War Crime In November 2006, a group of eminent Australian lawyers prepared an Opinion about the continued detention of David Hicks in Guantanamo Bay and his proposed trial by a Military Commission.  The Opinion has potentially alarming implications for the Federal Government and its Ministers. [...]

Counter-Terrorism: Request for Urgent Action from UN re Conditions of Unconvicted Remand Prisoners (Aug 2006)

On 3 August 2006, the Human Rights Law Resource Centre wrote to various UN Special Rapporteurs in relation to the situation of Mr Amer Haddara, Mr Shane Kent, Mr Izzydeen Attik, Mr Fadal Sayadi, Mr Abdullah Merhi, Mr Ahmed Raad, Mr Ezzit Raad, Mr Hany Taha, Mr Aimen Joud, Mr Shoue Hammoud, Mr Majed Raad, [...]

Legal Memorandum: Right to Freedom from Arbitrary Detention (July 2006)

This memorandum examines: the nature of the right to be free from arbitrary detention under article 9(1) of the ICCPR; and the extent to which freedom from arbitrary detention is a right protected by customary international law.

Counter-Terrorism: Joseph Thomas v The Queen – Amicus Application (July 2006)

On 3 July 2006, the HRLRC filed an affidavit and submissions in support of an application for leave to appear as amicus curiae in the Victorian Court of Appeal in case of Joseph Thomas v The Queen. Attached are the following documents: Affidavit of Philip Lynch; Summary Outline of Proposed Substantive Submissions; Outline of Proposed Submissions [...]