Social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday stated that it intends to challenge an order from the Australian eSafety Commissioner demanding the company remove certain posts on the platform regarding the recent attack against a Christian bishop in Sydney. According to X’s statement, the company received an order from the Australian eSafety Commissioner to [...]
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Australia indigenous advocates call for youth prison reform amid allegations of abuse
A group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocates and NGOS expressed deep concerns Friday about the mistreatment of children in youth prisons in an open letter to the Victorian government. The advocates called out the Victorian Government’s failure to meet Australia’s obligations to implement safeguards expressed in the UN’s the Optional Protocol to the [...]
Australia court dismisses environmentalist challenge to native logging operations
The Federal Court of Australia dismissed Wednesday a challenge seeking to extend an intergovernmental forestry agreement. As a result, logging operations in native forests are set to continue along the New South Wales (NSW) coastline. The North East NSW Regional Forest Agreement (North East RFA) is an agreement between the federal government and NSW state [...]
Unpacking the Fallout From the Failure of Australia's First Nations 'Voice' Referendum
This comment was written on Ngiyampaa Wangaibon Country. I pay my respects to the custodians that have cared for this Country for time immemorial. I acknowledge when First Nations Peoples thrive, all of Australia benefits. A recent Australian referendum that aimed to strengthen the presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples within the country’s [...]
How a National Human Rights Act Could Change Rights Protection in Australia
Australia is the only Western democracy not to have a Human Rights Act in its legal system or constitution. Instead, Australia has a patchwork of rights, leaning on individual legislation, such as the Anti-Discrimination Act of 1977, implied rights, common law, and state-by-state legislation. As noted by the Australian Human Rights Commission, “There are five [...]
Australia government approves youth crime bill despite opposition from right groups
The government of Queensland, Australia Thursday passed a series of youth-focused crime laws, contained in the Strengthening Community Safety Bill 2023, despite three days of debate on the matter and strong opposition by human rights advocates. The bill—which will be applicable to youths aged 10 to 17 years of age—includes a myriad of new offenses [...]
The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) Monday canceled its visit to Australia after it was denied access to detention centers and mental health facilities. In October 2022, SPT visited Australia for 12 days, but was forced to suspend the visit after they were prevented from visiting multiple facilities. Specifically, SPT cited issues with [...]
Making Peace with Native Title in Australia: How a Treaty Can Unlock Change
Australian First Nations group the Gomeroi people are preparing to file their native title appeal against the Santos Narrabri Gas Project, a multi-billion-dollar project aiming to build up to 850 gas wells in the state of New South Wales. The National Native Title Tribunal ruled in December that the public benefit of the project outweighed [...]
Australia environment minister blocks coal mine 10 kilometres from Great Barrier Reef
Australian Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek Wednesday refused an application from mining magnate Clive Palmer to build an open cut coal mine ten kilometres from the world heritage-listed Great Barrier Reef. The refusal marks the first time that Australian authorities have blocked a coal mine under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act. About 9,000 public submissions [...]
The Government of Western Australia (WA) Wednesday announced plans to introduce legislation banning the “display and possession” of Nazi symbols like the Hakenkrauz, also known as the Nazi swastika, in the state. WA joined Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania in its move. A statement from WA authorities acknowledged the continued existence of anti-semitism in [...]