Alternative Law Journal

DUAO - 2013 - Vol 38(3)

DownUnderAllOver Cartoon

Developments around the country

DownUnderAllOver is a round-up of legal news from both State and federal jurisdictions, and contains topical articles and short pieces from Alternative Law Journal committees around the country.

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Improved protections for LGBTI people welcomed

Anna Brown

Human Rights

The passage of the Sex Discrimination Amendment (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Act 2013 (‘the Act’) brings long overdue legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (‘LGBTI’) people. The law delivers legal protection from discrimination at a national level, filling important gaps in protection and setting a new national standard for the protection of transgender, intersex and gender diverse people.

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(2013) 38(3) AltLJ 190

Category: DUAO - 2013 - Vol 38(3)

Asylum seeker policies fail to safeguard basic human rights

Daniel Webb

Human Rights

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has concluded that Australia’s offshore processing laws do not comply with fundamental human rights principles. The Committee conducted an inquiry into various aspects of the current offshore processing regime following requests from a number of human rights and refugee advocates. In its report, the Committee found that the government failed to demonstrate Australia’s current asylum seeker policies uphold fundamental human protections in key human rights treaties.

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(2013) 38(3) AltLJ 190

Category: DUAO - 2013 - Vol 38(3)

Criminal laws applying only to Aboriginal communities considered beneficial

Ben Schokman

Human Rights

The High Court of Australia has dismissed an appeal by a resident of Palm Island, Ms Joan Maloney, against her conviction for possession of alcohol in a restricted area contrary to provisions of the Liquor Act 1992 (Qld). Ms Maloney claimed that the legislative regime breached the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) (‘RDA’) because it could not properly be regarding as being a ‘special measure’ for the benefit of Aboriginal peoples.

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(2013) 38(3) AltLJ 190

Category: DUAO - 2013 - Vol 38(3)

Justice reinvestment and growing  imprisonment rates

Ben Schokman

Human Rights

The Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee has released a report on the value of a justice reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia. The concept of ‘justice reinvestment’ involves redirecting government money spent on prisons towards initiatives aimed at addressing the underlying social and economic determinants of crime.

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(2013) 38(3) AltLJ 191

Category: DUAO - 2013 - Vol 38(3)

Stronger Futures legislation of concern

Ben Schokman

Human Rights

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights has expressed concern about whether the Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012 (Cth) package of legislation complies with Australia’s human rights obligations. The Stronger Futures legislation expanded and extended the operation of the Northern Territory Emergency Response Act for a further period of ten years. Particular measures, such as income management, were expanded beyond the Northern Territory into prescribed areas around the country.

Cite as

(2013) 38(3) AltLJ 191

Category: DUAO - 2013 - Vol 38(3)