Here are some of the top Australian human rights news stories for the week:
- Several Victorian police may face criminal charges over the ‘deeply disturbing’ treatment and subsequent death of a man after he was released from Dandenong police station this year: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/police-face-criminal-charges-over-death-20100801-111gq.html
- Mentally ill Aboriginal man dies ‘in police custody’, handcuffed in hospital: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/hospital-death-was-in-queensland-police-custody/story-e6frg6nf-1225901345514
- The traditional image of a homeless person is of an elderly man, but a new report says a rising number of older women are losing their homes because of poverty: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/03/2971860.htm
- The next Australian Government must commit to tackling homelessness: http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/policy-on-national-obscenity-of-homelessness-a-rare-triumph-20100803-115df.html
- ACOSS: whoever wins the election should set up a fund to help ease the crisis in affordable housing: http://www.theage.com.au/federal-election/call-for-housing-assistance-fund-20100803-115hr.html
- There is a growing backlash against the mass eviction of itinerant people from their camps around the town of Broome: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/30/2968797.htm
- The High Court of Australia will determine whether legislation allowing courts to suppress the identity of sex offenders is valid under the constitution: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/30/2968800.htm
- Mental health expert and Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry is leading calls for the Federal Government to commit more money to the country’s mental health system: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/07/30/2968671.htm
- $37 million sexual harassment claim against David Jones: http://www.smh.com.au/business/djs-case-will-be-a-watershed-20100803-115ju.html
- Liberal leader Tony Abbott and WA Premier Colin Barnett have attacked a Muslim woman’s request to testify in a court case wearing a full head covering: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/liberals-quick-to-back-burqa-ban-20100804-11dak.html. However, Federal Nationals Leader Warren Truss says Australians are getting used to the burka and women should be allowed to wear them: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/04/2973389.htm
- HRLRC and GetUp! challenge early close of the electoral roll as a violation of the right to vote: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/08/04/2972691.htm
- Grattan: This election has been devoid of content and discussion of foreign affairs and policy: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/foreign-soils-forgotten-in-homegrown-argybargy-20100804-115pt.html
- The Australian government will provide $5 million in aid to Pakistan after the country was devastated by the worst flash floods in more than eight decades: http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/australia-to-give-5m-in-aid-to-pakistan-20100802-112mn.html
