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Media releases

 
29/05/2026

Aviation consumer ombuds scheme is an improvement but must not exclude regional Australians

Legislation to establish an aviation consumer ombudsperson to enforce the rights of airline passengers is welcome, but a passenger bill of rights is still missing, and there is a risk that regional Australians could be excluded from its protections.
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22/05/2026

Protestor and class action lead plaintiff wins Victorian Civil Justice Award

A Victorian man who successfully sued police over their use of OC (capsicum) spray at a protest in Melbourne in 2019 is the recipient of this year’s ALA 2026 Victorian Civil Justice Award.
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14/05/2026

Cannabis caution legislation would improve fairness and reduce wasting resources

Lawyers in Victoria have welcomed a motion by Rachel Payne MP calling on the Victorian Government to enshrine Victoria Police’s Cannabis Cautioning Scheme in legislation.
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5/05/2026

Cutting compensation rights of injured Australians is not the solution to rising premiums

A Federal Government inquiry will this week start hearings into the pricing of insurance products for small businesses, not-for-profit and community organisations.
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16/04/2026

NSW Court of Appeal decision welcome

We welcome the decision of the NSW Court of Appeal to strike down a NSW government law which restricted the right to protest.
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19/03/2026

Step towards human rights act in NSW is welcome

The NSW Parliament’s decision to refer the Greens bill for a NSW Human Rights Act to an inquiry for public consultation and report is a welcome step in the right direction.
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18/03/2026

High Court ruling on former immigration detainee restrictions is a welcome and important decision

The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has welcomed today’s High Court ruling that restrictions such as curfews and electronic monitoring bracelets imposed on people released from indefinite immigration detention are unconstitutional.
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27/02/2026

Blanket ban on use of character references in court is too broad

A blanket ban on the use of character references in sentencing as being proposed by the Victorian Government is too broad and is not fair.
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24/02/2026

Proposed anti-protest laws may put rights at risk

The WA Government's proposed laws to control protests and political gatherings, to be introduced this week, potentially undermine important aspects of open democracy.
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20/02/2026

Parliament urged to focus on best outcome for abuse survivors in civil liability bill debate

WA Parliament must focus on achieving the best outcome for victim survivors of abuse as it debates the Civil Liability Amendment (Child Sexual Abuse Actions) Bill 2025 next week.
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18/02/2026

Legislation to correct injustice for abuse victim survivors welcomed

The passing of the Justice Legislation Amendment (Vicarious Liability for Child Abuse) Bill 2025 in the Victorian Parliament yesterday marks a significant and united step forward for victim survivors.
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13/02/2026

Brisbane barrister wins award for contribution to justice in Queensland

Brisbane based barrister, Richard Douglas KC was today presented with the ALA's Queensland Civil Justice Award recognising his lifelong commitment to protecting and promoting civil justice in Queensland.
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16/01/2026

Injured Canberrans' rights at risk in insurance review

Lawyers who represent injured Canberrans are concerned about the Government response released this week to the report from the ACT’s Standing Committee on Economics, Industry and Recreation into Insurance Costs in the ACT.
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13/01/2026

Antisemitism Bill: risks of rushed reform

The Combating Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill is important legislative reform that should not be rushed through Parliament in haste.
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17/12/2025

Govt urged to implement full package of recommendations from Comcare review

The ALA welcomes the recommendations made following the independent review of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988.
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9/12/2025

Govt focus on integrity of WorkCover welcome but must ensure employer non-compliance is addressed

The announcement today that the Queensland Government will introduce a range of reforms designed to minimise fraud in the WorkCover scheme is welcome.
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21/11/2025

Unlawful listening devices in Vic prisons could lead to legal challenges

The discovery that listening devices were installed in Victorian prisons without appropriate warrants is concerning and could lead to legal challenges.
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14/11/2025

Abuse legislation: a step forward towards justice for survivors in WA

The introduction of the Civil Liability Amendment (Child Sexual Abuse Actions) Bill 2025 in WA Parliament on Wednesday 12 November 2025 is an important step forward for victim survivors of childhood institutional sexual abuse to obtain justice.
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12/11/2025

More jail time for children will not make Victoria safer

The Victorian Government’s ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ proposal will not work to reduce crime in the state.
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30/10/2025

ACT introduces nation leading legislation offering justice for abuse victim survivors

The Civil Law (Wrongs) (Organisational Child Abuse Liability) Amendment Bill 2025 passed the ACT Legislative Assembly today paving the way for victim survivors of childhood sexual abuse to obtain justice.
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29/10/2025

Bill to curb use of NDAs in workplace sexual harassment welcome

A bill being introduced into Victorian Parliament today to ban NDAs in workplace sexual harassment cases unless expressly requested by the employee is welcome.
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28/10/2025

Plans for legislation to correct injustice for abuse victim survivors welcomed

A significant legal barrier faced by victims of institutional child sexual abuse is one step closer to being removed with the announcement today from the Victorian Attorney-General that legislation will be introduced into Parliament this year.
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23/10/2025

Tasmanian forced adoption scheme welcome but must reflect the gravity of the abuse

A redress scheme in Tasmania to support those affected by historical forced adoption practices is welcome, but it is important that the compensation offered reflects the gravity of the abuse suffered.
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22/10/2025

NSW solicitor wins national ALA Member of the Year

A NSW solicitor who was a founding member of the ALA (then known as the Australian Plaintiff Lawyers Association) and cares deeply about protecting the rights of injured people, Ms Roshana May, has received our member of the year award.
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22/10/2025

Qld solicitor wins national Civil Justice Award

A Queensland solicitor who is responsible for a landmark ruling in the High Court of Australia this year has won a national award for justice from the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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15/10/2025

Victorian Govt urged to reform laws to protect injured police officers

Law reform is needed to ensure police officers injured at work in Victoria can sue for compensation if they need it.
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7/10/2025

Proposed FOI amendments shift balance too far towards secrecy

Changes proposed to freedom of information laws will reduce legitimate access to information and this will undermine our social democracy, impair good decision making and reduce trust in government.
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26/09/2025

ACT Govt asked to consider reducing injured workers' rights

Lawyers who represent injured workers are concerned about some of the recommendations arising from the report released yesterday following the inquiry into insurance costs in the ACT.
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22/09/2025

New restrictions on abortion would be a backwards step

A renewed push to place new restrictions on abortion access in South Australia is a backwards step and the ALA urges politicians to reject the proposed amendment.
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22/09/2025

Claims of 'soft sentencing' in WA are simply not correct

Claims that there is a problem with 'soft sentencing' by WA District Court judges are simply wrong, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
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16/09/2025

Lawyers welcome recommendation to allow justice for survivors of institutional abuse

A significant legal barrier faced by victims of institutional child sexual abuse is one step closer to being removed in the ACT.
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4/09/2025

Qld CTP: lowest premiums in Australia highlights strength of scheme

The Queensland Government’s announcement on Monday confirming that Queenslanders will continue to have access to the cheapest compulsory third party (CTP) insurance in the country highlights the strength of the state’s CTP scheme.
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18/08/2025

ACT lawyer wins civil justice award for inspirational work for women in sport

A local lawyer who was instrumental in bringing the Afghan women’s cricket team to Australia so that they could continue to play sport has received the inaugural ACT ALA Civil Justice Award.
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8/08/2025

Workers compensation reforms: NSW Govt must respect parliamentary process

Lawyers who represent injured workers are seriously concerned about the introduction of a second workers compensation bill into NSW Parliament.
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9/07/2025

Calls for a youth court in Tasmania to address justice delays & prevent crime

The Australian Lawyers Alliance strongly condemns the Liberal Party's call in this election campaign for bail law changes that would result in more young people being detained pending trial.
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1/07/2025

Newcastle lawyer named new Australian Lawyers Alliance national president

A lawyer who has recently moved from Perth, WA to Newcastle, NSW is the new national president of the Australian Lawyers Alliance.
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26/06/2025

ACT Govt urged to adopt reforms to help abuse victim survivors

We urge the ACT Parliament to support the Bill introduced by ACT Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury to amend the Civil Law Wrongs Act.
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26/06/2025

Lattouf case highlights need for national human rights act

The legal action taken by journalist Antoinette Lattouf highlights the need for a national human rights act in Australia to protect free speech and provide a clear legal basis for challenging restrictions on speech.
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20/06/2025

Lawyers welcome VIC AG’s commitment to justice for abuse survivors but urge Govt to act swiftl

The Victorian Government’s commitment to review options to make the state’s vicarious liability laws fairer has been welcomed by lawyers who advocate for victim survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
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3/06/2025

Alice Springs death in custody - independent investigation needed

The circumstances surrounding the death of Warlpiri man Kumanjayi White in Mparntwe / Alice Springs must be independently investigated.
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30/05/2025

Qld’s workers’ compensation scheme is strong, stable, and fair – no need to follow NSW’s lead

Queensland’s workers’ compensation scheme remains one of the strongest, most stable and best-performing in the country – providing fair outcomes for injured workers and employers alike without the need for legislative change.
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29/05/2025

NSW workers comp reform - compensation for psychological injuries will be almost impossible

The ALA remains seriously concerned about the proposed changes to how psychological injuries are compensated within the NSW workers compensation scheme, despite some alterations being made.
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23/05/2025

Dandenong’s Wellsprings for Women wins Victorian Civil Justice Award

A local Victorian neighbourhood centre that helps connect migrant women and empowers them with education, support and resources has received the our 2025 Victorian Civil Justice Award.
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13/05/2025

Victorian Govt urged to progress reforms to help abuse victim survivors

Law reform is urgently needed to ensure justice for all victim survivors of institutional abuse, following last year’s High Court decision in Bird v DP (a pseudonym) [2024] HCA 41.
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9/05/2025

Proposed NSW workers compensation reforms will strip rights from all injured workers

Removing the rights of injured workers is not the answer to concerns about the NSW workers compensation system that is allegedly ‘failing workers and failing businesses’.
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23/04/2025

Lawyers call for federal election candidates to commit to justice and human rights

The ALA is calling on the parties and candidates in the upcoming federal election to commit to improving government processes and structures to support people fairly and with humanity, and to building a society where everyone's rights are respected.
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16/04/2025

ACT insurance inquiry must put support for injured workers before insurer & business profits

Stripping support from injured workers should not be the solution to business concerns about workers compensation insurance affordability in the ACT.
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10/04/2025

Lawyers for injured workers welcome Qld Govt support for WorkCover scheme

The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) welcomes the Deputy Premier and the Crisafulli Government’s strong endorsement of the Queensland’s workers’ compensation scheme and decision to freeze WorkCover premiums.
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1/04/2025

Proposed Tasmanian knife search powers go too far

A new law the Tasmanian government intends to introduce into the parliament this week will allow Tasmanian police officers to search anyone for knives in almost any public location and at any time.
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12/03/2025

Youth bail law reforms: a backwards step that will not make the community safer

Treating children like adults when making decisions on bail will lead to more children being entrenched in the criminal justice system with an increased likelihood of reoffending.
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