States must take cognisance of international treaties ratified by Australia, and no law does the nation a service when it tramples on centuries-old conventions against self-incrimination. CLA’s analysis for the NSW Parliament’s ICAC committee cautions ag…
SCAG – the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General – is allowing bikies to hijack its work program, CLA believes. SCAG is debating semi-fascist bike club laws from SA and NSW instead of dealing with a priority item on its work program, the massive over-r…
The UN’s Human Rights Committee has delivered severe rebukes over Australia’s recent liberties and rights performance, particularly concerning abandoning some rights, excessive terrorist legislation, indigenous issues across the board – and even the use…
Society is sliding downhill, with growing disengagement between people and police. Officers are as much victims of this process as people, James Fairbairn writes. There’s a need to re-engage the democractic gears of governance to ensure checks and balanc…
Police powers continue expanding: soon ordinary constables in NSW will be able to search your home secretly while you’re out. Oh, and they’ll be able to search your neighour’s house, too. Lawyer Mark Polden explains how it’s the new way police do busines…
Liberties can be lost ‘off the radar’ when governments amend legislation that doesn’t impact on the majority. The federal Proceeds of Crime Act is being reviewed, and there are fundamental liberties and rights issues in the new draft that need public air…