Access to justice
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2024 Review of the Dust Diseases Scheme
29th Oct 2024 -
Aviation Industry Ombuds Scheme
29th Oct 2024 -
Reproductive, maternal and paediatric health services in Tasmania, Parliament of Tasmania
10th Oct 2024 -
Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2024 (Cth)
10th Oct 2024 -
Truth and Justice Commission Bill 2024 (Cth)
26th Sep 2024 -
Restricting the use of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) in workplace sexual harassment cases
17th Sep 2024 -
Administrative Review Tribunal Rules 2024 (Cth)
12th Sep 2024 -
Workplace surveillance
20th Aug 2024 -
National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Getting the NDIS Back on Track No. 1) Bill 2024 (Cth)
13th Aug 2024 -
Joint statement: Electronic communications must be available for voluntary assisted dying
6th Aug 2024 -
Veterans' Legislation Reform – Exposure Draft: Veterans’ Entitlements, Treatment and Support (Simplification and Harmonisation) Bill 2024 (Cth)
4th Jul 2024 -
Inquiry into civics education, engagement and participation in Australia (joint ANTAR & ALA submission)
22nd May 2024 -
Inquiry into the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Vic)
27th Feb 2024 -
Achieving greater consistency in laws for financial Enduring Powers of Attorney
4th Dec 2023 -
Statutory Declarations Amendment Bill 2023 (Cth)
28th Sep 2023 -
Digital signing of statutory declarations will make legal processes more accessible
1st Aug 2023Allowing the digital signing of statutory declarations will make it easier for more people to access essential legal processes, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Modernising Document Execution: Consultation on proposed reform to the execution of Commonwealth Statutory Declarations
31st Jul 2023 -
The convergence of tradition and law – cultural fishing and criminal justice
18th May 2023'We must find a timely solution to protect cultural fishing practices and the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, ensure knowledge and customs continue to be shared with younger generations, and ultimately reduce the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in prison,' writes Dion Bull of Stacks Law Firm.
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Consultation: Review into an appropriate cost model for Commonwealth antidiscrimination laws
19th Apr 2023 -
Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Bill 2023 [Provisions]
17th Apr 2023 -
Scoping the Establishment of a Federal Judicial Commission
1st Mar 2023 -
Inquiry into the Public Interest Disclosure Amendment (Review) Bill 2022
31st Jan 2023 -
First Nations justice: a welcome priority in Budget Update 2022 - 2023
26th Oct 2022The commitment to justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples shown in the Federal Budget Update is welcome, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Fighting racism in the healthcare system
8th Apr 2021Despite the common belief that the Australian health system treats everyone equally, George Newhouse and Karina Hawtrey argue that the system operates in a way that disproportionately excludes and harms First Nations people. They discuss the ways in which legal advocates can recognise and assist in fighting racism, including by implementing firm-wide anti-racism policies and taking on cases of medical negligence faced by First Nations clients.
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Rethinking access to racial justice
12th Nov 2020Despite initial expectations, race discrimination laws have not made as strong a contribution as they might have to First Nations peoples, partly due to problems relating to access to justice and, in particular, the under-utilisation of anti-discrimination legal remedies.
Dr Fiona Allison and Jodie Luck discuss potential solutions which include reform of the mainstream legal system informed by First Nations peoples’ needs and perspectives, and support of community-led responses to racism, including those likely to increase awareness of legal rights.
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How NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) facilitates financial abuse
4th Jun 2020In this article, Anna Kerr and Andrea Verteouris explore how the NSW policy of denying the registration of a motor vehicle in joint names can be detrimental to the safety of women and children affected by domestic violence. They call on the NSW government to reinstate the option of registering motor vehicles in joint names or at least enable a second interest in a vehicle to be noted.
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Why must women go unprotected from violent male neighbours?
30th Jan 2020Anna Kerr tells one women's story to illustrate just how our justice system is failing to fulfil its most fundamental purpose of protecting the vulnerable, and is also actively obstructing efforts to bring male perpetrators to account. She calls for greater societal recognition of male violence and better protections for women and children.
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Does ‘Never to be Released’ mean ‘life’?
1st Aug 2019Tom Percy QC explores six questions arising from the sentencing of Anthony Harvey, the first person in WA ordered by a judge never to be eligible for parole.
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Justice reinvestment: Key to reducing Indigenous incarceration
6th Jun 2019Professor Tom Calma AO makes the case for justice reinvestment: a community-led, data-driven and place-based alternative to incarceration.
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Regional justice under threat
16th May 2019With the South Australian justice system facing further funding cuts in the upcoming June budget, Amy Nikolovski explains why regional court services must be protected.
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ALA condemns government failure to act on ATSI justice report
1st Apr 2019The ALA has joined with other professional legal bodies to condemn the government’s failure to act on the ‘Pathways to Justice’ report
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TAS police charging fees for evidence is outrageous and unfair, say lawyers
2nd Nov 2018Tasmanians are being billed by police to view the evidence of their criminal and traffic offence charges which is both unfair and out of line with the rest of Australia, says the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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Current legal struggles for people seeking asylum in Australia
25th Oct 2018Dr Carolyn Graydon, Principal Solicitor and Manager of the Human Rights Law Program, Asylum Seeker Resource Centre presented this paper at the ALA National Conference on 19 October.
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Lawyers call for inquiry into mental health insurance discrimination
15th Jun 2018The ALA is urging the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry to investigate discrimination by insurers on the basis of mental health.
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Limited access to National Redress Scheme is just not fair, says Australian Lawyers Alliance
30th May 2018People with past criminal convictions or abused in immigration detention should not be denied access to redress payments under the National Redress Scheme for Institutional Child Sex Abuse, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Proposed anti-bikie laws infringe on basic rights
26th Apr 2018Tasmanian Police have today released a consultation paper flagging so-called anti-bikie laws, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Alleged assault by police on disability pensioner extremely concerning
4th Apr 2018Footage showing an alleged brutal assault by a number of Victoria police officers on a vulnerable, unarmed disability pensioner is extremely disturbing, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Many NSW, VIC survivors of institutional child abuse blocked from just
9th Mar 2018Unnecessarily strict eligibility requirements mean that many of the most vulnerable survivors of institutional child abuse in New South Wales and Victoria will miss out on accessing the Commonwealth’s Redress Scheme, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Lawyers back Senate call for protections for whistleblowers, journali
7th Feb 2018Legislative protection for journalists, free speech and whistleblowers is a crucial step in ensuring that public interest journalism can survive and even thrive, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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SSM laws a momentous moment for equality in Australia
8th Dec 2017The new law legalising same-sex marriage in Australia marks a watershed moment for individual rights and freedom before the law, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Threatening journalists with jail does not serve the public interest
23rd Nov 2017Laws that prohibit reporting on the actions of governments to ensure that they operate within the law undermine democracy, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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‘Yes’ vote on SSM survey supports equal access to rights for all
15th Nov 2017The decisive ‘Yes’ result in Australia’s recent same-sex marriage survey is a vindication of the importance of equal access to rights for all, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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UN body recommends urgent action to remedy Australia’s human rights
10th Nov 2017The UN Human Rights Committee has today slammed Australia’s human rights record, recommending the implementation of ‘comprehensive federal legislation’ to guarantee human rights, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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The use of secret evidence in criminal and civil proceedings
5th Oct 2017Court procedures aim to ensure fairness between parties. In criminal matters, the intention is to ensure that the party with the most to lose, the defendant, is assured a fair trial, to avoid punishing innocent people for crimes they have not committed. This requires setting out the case against an accused clearly enough that they can refute it. In civil matters, these procedures seek to ensure fairness between the parties, including ensuring that both sides have access to relevant evidence.
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Life as a regional plaintiff lawyer
21st Sep 2017The benefits and challenges of life as a regional plaintiff lawyer.
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Minister seeks to evade the law by criticising refugee advocates
30th Aug 2017By criticising lawyers seeking to assist refugees and asylum seekers, Minister Dutton is seeking to evade the government’s responsibilities, undermining accountability and the rule of law, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Relaxation of dangerous secrecy laws in Border Force Act is welcome
14th Aug 2017The Commonwealth’s move to amend the Border Force Act by removing outrageous secrecy provisions for detention camp employees is a welcome but overdue move, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Psychometric testing of malingering
10th Aug 2017Professor Ian R Coyle discusses the accuracy of Symptom Validity Assessment Tests (SVTs) in assessing the psychological status of litigants and identifying malingering
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Human rights protections must be part of national security review
21st Jul 2017Federal government proposals to combine Australian security agencies into a single ‘national security super-agency’ must also include strengthened human rights protections for all people in Australia, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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The language of the law
20th Jul 2017Lawyers are very analytical and very specific in their use of terminology. They choose their terms carefully and interpret them precisely. While such precision may seem to be a curious and even humorous idiosyncrasy to the lay-person, it can have a devastating effect on those seeking access to justice.
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UN migrants expert calls for Australian human rights act
17th May 2017The call by a United Nations (UN) expert for an Australian human rights act reminds us that fundamental human rights in Australia are not protected by a Bill of Rights, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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QLD lawyers welcome Walter Sofronoff QC as new President of the Court
31st Mar 2017The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has today welcomed the appointment of Walter Sofronoff QC as Queensland’s new President of the Court of Appeal.
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Racial discrimination laws no threat to free speech
28th Feb 2017A review into Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act has shown that the country’s racial discrimination laws are working well and that there is no reason to alter the current legislation, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Torture treaty ratification could open offshore detention to internati
10th Feb 2017Ratification of the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT) has the potential to radically improve conditions in detention in Australia and offshore, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Proposed criminal trial evidence reforms could jail the innocent: lawy
19th Dec 2016Proposals by the Royal Commission into child abuse to weaken the evidence rules and reduce the protections for the accused could irreparably undermine the rule of law in Australia, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Lawyers call for resignation of Attorney-General George Brandis
26th Oct 2016The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has today called for the immediate resignation of Federal Attorney-General George Brandis, in light of this week's resignation of Solicitor-General Justin Gleeson SC.
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Queensland class action regime welcome
5th Aug 2016The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has today welcomed the State Government’s announcement that it will introduce a class actions regime, with the measure an important step in improving access to justice and legal rights in Queensland.
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Criminal offences may have been committed by DIPB in offshore detentio
27th Jun 2016Criminal offences may have been committed by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIPB) or its contractors against people being held in immigration detention, according to a recent report released by the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
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High Court terrorism ruling points to need for Constitutional reform
15th Jun 2016The High Court today ruled that a defendant charged with Commonwealth terrorism offences cannot opt for a trial by judge alone in the New South Wales Supreme Court.
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Failure to provide abortion to rape victim a new low in detainee care
19th Oct 2015The Commonwealth appears to have failed in its duty of care to a 23-year-old detainee rape victim, by neglecting to provide appropriate medical counselling and advice before denying her an abortion, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Proposed ‘crime levy’ just a tax on the poor
25th Sep 2015The Tasmanian government’s proposed ‘crime levy’ is an unfair tax that will reduce access to justice and fall unfairly on low income earners, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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NSW Bill removing time limits for child abuse litigation is welcome
18th Sep 2015Amendments introduced into the NSW Parliament by NSW MP David Shoebridge would remove a significant barrier obstructing access to justice for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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DIBP leaves regulator in dark on appalling Nauru detainee conditions
28th Aug 2015Numerous incidents over the past two years, including allegations of sexual misconduct, harassment and assaults of people held on Nauru, do not appear to have been reported to Comcare by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (‘DIBP’), the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Montara oil spill: Australia’s six years of failure
21st Aug 2015The Australian Government has failed in its responsibility to investigate the effects of the country’s worst-ever oil spill from an oil rig, from which devastated fishing villages and communities across Indonesia still feel the impact today, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Lawyers call for cool heads over Adani ruling
19th Aug 2015Restricting the standing provisions of Australia’s national Environmental Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act would be to the detriment of the rights of ordinary citizens, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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‘Blind reporting’ of child sex allegations won't protect victims
23rd Jun 2015Blind reporting of child sex allegations by the Catholic Church may be protecting abusers and those who knew and failed to act, as well as placing the NSW police service in breach of its obligations to the public and potentially of the criminal law, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Vatican response to bishop failure on sexual misconduct is inadequate
12th Jun 2015The imposition by the Vatican of a system for dealing with misconduct by bishops, including the failure to deal appropriately with abusive priests, is simply inadequate, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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‘Paperless’ death in custody shows lack of police accountability
28th May 2015The tragic death in police custody of a man arrested under controversial Northern Territory ‘paperless arrest’ legislation highlights the need for authorities to be held accountable for people held in detention, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Commonwealth is failing victims of institutional child abuse
25th Mar 2015The federal government is abdicating its responsibility to victims of institutional child abuse by failing to support a national redress scheme, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Victims of crime compensation changes do not go far enough
20th Mar 2015The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) has welcomed the NSW Government’s partial backdown over unfair legislation which slashed compensation for victims of crime, but has said that recent and future victims will also be treated unfairly unless further changes are made to the compensation scheme.
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Moss Review shows Nauru asylum seekers are our responsibility
20th Mar 2015The Federal Government’s own review of asylum seekers held in offshore detention centres on Nauru shows that it does have a non-delegable duty of care to people detained and may leave the Commonwealth liable for a swathe of future compensation claims, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Govt treatment of Manus detainees could be found negligent
12th Dec 2014The Manus Island Report shows clearly that the Australian Government may have breached its duty of care to deceased detainee Reza Berati and could be found negligent for its treatment of asylum seekers detained on Manus Island, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Data retention Bill is a recipe for privacy abuse
30th Oct 2014Australians will have no protection against security agencies misusing their personal or private information under proposed legislation governing a mandatory data retention scheme, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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John Ellis named ALA 2014 National Civil Justice Award Winner
24th Oct 2014A man who has led the fight to make the Catholic Church and other institutions accountable for the actions of its clergy and staff has been declared the winner of the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) National Civil Justice Award.
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Anti-terror laws threaten separation of powers
13th Oct 2014Key clauses in the Commonwealth’s proposed new Foreign Fighters anti-terror legislation could be unconstitutional as they undermine the separation of powers, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Indonesia asks for help with toxic Montara oil spill consequences
30th Sep 2014The Australian Government should commit to negotiate for an independent investigation into the effects of the Montara oil spill following a direct request for assistance from the Indonesia Government, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Foreign Fighters Bill will lead to innocent people being detained
25th Sep 2014The Counter-Terrorism Legislation Amendment (Foreign Fighters) Bill lowers the threshold for the arrest of individuals on alleged terrorism offences and will lead to innocent people being arrested and detained, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Govt’s anti-terror law promises will not stop abuse of power
24th Sep 2014Promises by the Federal Government not to abuse proposed anti-terror legislation are not enough to protect the rights of Australians, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Terror threat to Australia’s legal system
24th Sep 2014Australia is already losing the ‘war on terror’ if it starts abandoning principles as fundamentally important as the rule of law and the presumption of innocence, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said today.
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Good result for Horvath but more needed to secure justice
23rd Sep 2014An apology and ex-gratia payment to police assault victim Corinna Horvath is a welcome development but much more needs to be done by the Victorian Government to prevent similar situations happening again, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Suspects deserve presumption of innocence following terror raids
18th Sep 2014Media coverage of the terror raids carried out by Federal Police in Sydney and Brisbane is undermining the presumption of innocence for those individuals questioned or arrested during the proceedings, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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ALA welcomes Royal Commission extension
3rd Sep 2014The Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) welcomes the government’s commitment to the extension of the Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
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Catholic Church puts asset protection ahead of abuse victims
12th Aug 2014The Roman Catholic Church has demonstrated once again that it puts asset protection ahead of the interests of child sexual abuse victims, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Millions spent on ‘voluntary return’ of asylum seekers
5th Aug 2014The Commonwealth has spent nearly $3 million on the ‘voluntary return’ of almost 1100 asylum seekers to their country of origin in less than a year, according to information obtained under freedom of information laws by the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) today.
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Asylum seeker cover-up allegations constitute abuse in care
31st Jul 2014Allegations that the Department of Immigration tried to cover up mental health problems amongst child-aged asylum seekers constitutes abuse in care and may leave the Commonwealth liable for a swathe of future compensation claims, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said today.
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Media coverage, July 2014
1st Jul 2014Just some of the media coverage generated by the Australian Lawyers Alliance or its members during the month of July 2014.
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Australian Lawyers Alliance supports the stand taken today by QLD Bar
13th Jun 2014The Australian Lawyers Alliance supports the stand taken today by QLD Bar Association President, Peter Davis QC, who has resigned in protest of the government's appointment of Judge Tim Carmody as Chief Justice of Queensland.
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ALA appears at Productivity Commission Access to Justice Inquiry
4th Jun 2014This week, the Australian Lawyers Alliance was invited to appear before the Productivity Commission in its inquiry into Access to Justice.
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Justice and compassion come second best
25th Mar 2014In evidence at the Royal Commission yesterday, Cardinal Pell conceded that justice required that a legal entity be created for victims of clergy abuse to sue.
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Election winner must have heart when dealing with asylum seekers - ALA
3rd Sep 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance is calling on the winner of this weekend’s federal election to adopt compassionate asylum seeker policies and in doing so both improve access to justice for some of the world’s most vulnerable and give Australia’s international reputation a boost at the same time.
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ALA joins pressure on governments to lift Vic legal aid funding
14th Aug 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance is backing the Law Institute of Victoria and the Victorian Bar Association’s call for the Victorian and federal governments to immediately review funding for legal aid saying more than a decade of inadequate funding has taken a significant toll on Victorians’ ability to access justice.
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ALA applauds criminal appeals review process
21st Mar 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance today commended the South Australian Government for its initiative and vision in bringing about a new review process for criminal convictions with fresh and compelling evidence upon which to base further enquiry.
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NDIS Bill inadequate in protecting rights of those with disabilities
19th Feb 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance today told an Adelaide public hearing on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) that the Bill, in its present form, would not adequately protect the rights of those with disabilities.
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ALA expresses concern over new anti-doping body powers
11th Feb 2013The Australian Lawyers Alliance today expressed concern over the federal government’s plan to remove privilege against self-incrimination and to compel witnesses in Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) investigations.
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ALA hosts Chinese judges to educate about Australian judicial process
27th Nov 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance met with 20 judges from in and around the Fujian Province in Sydney, today, as part of an educational exchange to examine court case management in Australia.
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ALA forms pro bono committee
19th Nov 2012A new pro bono collaborative committee, to help everyday Australians better access justice, is being formed between the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) and the National Pro Bono Resource Centre based at the University of NSW Law Faculty.
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Australian Gov failing in its duty to asylum seekers
19th Nov 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance has labelled as ‘abysmal’ the Australian government’s failure to ensure 14 asylum seekers, facing rioting charges in a Nauru court, are given proper legal representation.
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Royal Commission into child sex abuse is first stage of justice
13th Nov 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is calling on the federal government to draw knowledge from Ireland’s victim restitution methods of 2009 when it comes time to consider how best to help compensate Australian institutional abuse victims as part of the Federal Royal Commission just announced.
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Royal Commission powers needed for NSW Inquiry into child sex abuse
12th Nov 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance says a full, wide-ranging NSW Royal Commission into child sexual abuse in religious institutions is the only way of ensuring true justice is served for hundreds abused as children while in the care of religious institutions in the state.
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ALA renews calls for NSW Royal Commission into child sex abuse
9th Nov 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance has renewed its call for a NSW Royal Commission into child sex abuse in religious institutions following further evidence by a senior police officer on the extent of abuse and alleged cover up practices in the Newcastle Hunter region.
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Pendulum swinging back to rights for injured to seek redress
26th Oct 2012For the first time since the media announced a “public liability crisis” in 2002, the pendulum is starting to swing back towards the rights of the injured to redress within our courts, lawyer Travis Schultz told the Australian Lawyers Alliance National Conference in Glenelg today.
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A second rate legal review service adds insult to injury - ALA
26th Sep 2012Injured workers should remain unexcited by the NSW Government’s announcement today of a new 'free legal review service' for some work injury disputes.
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Proposed abolition of right to silence in NSW will allow police abuse
19th Sep 2012The right of individuals to remain silent when being interrogated by police is a fundamental human right reflected in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and in Canadian and US human rights laws and for New South Wales Attorney-General Greg Smith to give the community only 10 days to comment on his proposal to dismantle that right is appalling, said the Australian Lawyers Alliance today.
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Vocal national non-profit legal organisation in ACT for conference
18th Sep 2012A national non-profit legal organisation that has been calling for a National Inquiry into abuses in religious institutions as well as vocalising concerns about treatment of asylum seekers, children, mandatory sentencing and excessive police powers, will hold its annual ACT conference in Canberra on Friday.
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Lawyers emphasise right to choose in national insurance schemes
24th Aug 2012The National Disability Insurance and National Injury Insurance Schemes, being advanced by the Federal Government, are being discussed in Perth today (Friday 24 August) by lawyers at the coalface of personal injury law.
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Asylum seeker policies and NDIS concerns discussed at WA conference
21st Aug 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance annual WA Conference in Perth on Friday promises a diverse and cutting edge program with presentations from the Western Australian Governor, high profile judges and specialist barristers and lawyers.
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Unjust mandatory sentencing laws jailing vulnerable and marginalised
17th Aug 2012“The jailing of an impoverished Indonesian fisherman in South Australia last Thursday, in what the trial judge labelled as the 'lowest level of involvement' for a people smuggling crime, is highlighting unjust Australian laws that discriminatorily incarcerate people,” Australian Lawyers Alliance National President, Tony Kerin, said today.
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'Right to silence' crucial for democracy in NSW - ALA
15th Aug 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is expressing disbelief that the O’Farrell Government would strike at the heart of democratic principles with an attack on every NSW citizen’s right to silence by amending such a law.
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Trial by media has no place in upholding justice in Hey Dad case - ALA
10th Aug 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is today urging restraint on the part of the media and the alleged victims of former Hey Dad star Robert Hughes, following prejudicial comments in the media that could impinge on Mr Hughes right to a fair trial.
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Failure to report may go straight to the top
10th Jul 2012The allegations of failure to disclose serious sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Australia may now go right to the top.
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DPP should be briefed by police: Failure to report child sexual abuse
6th Jul 2012The ALA calls for a brief to be prepared by the police for the DPP in respect of the conduct of all three senior priests involved in the meeting at St Mary’s Cathedral on 3 September 1992, following the radio interview with Father Usher on ABC AM this morning.
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ALA renews calls for national inquiry into child sex abuse in church
5th Jul 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance renews its calls for a national inquiry into the abuse of children within the Roman Catholic Church. It is unacceptable for the Church to investigate its own failure to investigate child sexual abuse.
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Call for Royal Commission into abuse of children in care of church
4th Jul 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is calling for a National Royal Commission into abuse of children in the care of the Catholic Church, following an ABC Four Corners program on Monday night that assisted in publicly ventilating the issue.
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Limiting expert witness use in Vic civil trials may hinder justice
22nd Jun 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance expressed concern today at news the Victorian Government is introducing new laws to limit and streamline the use of expert evidence in civil trials, fearing it will hinder access to justice in the courts.
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ALA critical at second attempt to erode rights by SA government
18th Jun 2012“The attempt by the South Australian Labour Government to again erode the right to be awarded costs in claims in prosecutions, which fail in summary hearings, shows disregard for the parliamentary process,” Australian Lawyers Alliance South Australian President, Tony Kerin, said.
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Assange anti-extradition rally
30th May 2012Details released of the Julian Assange anti-extradition rally on Thursday 31 May 2012.
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More govt funds needed for drug prevention and treatment
24th May 2012“Today’s Institute of Criminology Report, released by the Justice Minister Jason Clare, linking drug use levels to crime, shows the only way to stop such criminal behaviour is by diverting funds from prison construction to drug prevention and treatment,” Australian Lawyers Alliance National President Greg Barns said.
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ALA welcomes NDIS initiative
10th May 2012“The ALA today welcomes the Federal Government’s initial commitment to start funding the NDIS, but remains concerned regarding the long term financial sustainability of the scheme.”
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ALA calls for inquiry into South Australia's CTP Scheme
4th May 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance is calling for a Parliamentary Inquiry into the South Australian Government’s planned CTP Scheme changes amid fears that an existing, fully-functional, fault-based scheme, currently delivering to the state’s road injured, is being sacrificed to force-fit the state into a national injury, no-fault insurance scheme, which may not deliver.
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ALA calls for National Inquiry into sexual abuse of children
19th Apr 2012The Australian Lawyers Alliance today called for a National Inquiry into sexual abuse perpetrated in religious institutions.
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Harming a pregnant woman less serious than a policeman - ACT law
5th Apr 2012Under proposed ACT law it will be considered far more serious to harm a policeman than a pregnant woman, The Australian Lawyers Alliance is warning.
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ALA Civil Justice Award recipient recognised for flood assistance
17th Feb 2012A man who went beyond the call of duty to assist Queensland’s flood-ravaged and destitute communities, in December 2010, has been recognised with The Australian Lawyers Alliance Civil Justice Award.