UN Prison Inspection Body to Visit Australia, as Nation Stumbles on OPCAT
The UN Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT) recently announced that it’s visiting our nation later this year. The trip will mark the first time the team of human rights experts will be inspecting Australian places of detention, with the...
“Changing the National Debate”: Senator David Shoebridge on the Greens Agenda
The 47th Australian parliament sat for the first time on Tuesday. This saw the Albanese government taking the reins in the two chambers, the composition of which has dramatically changed since the country took to the polling booths in late...
Albanese’s Backdoor Diplomacy Could Spell Assange’s Death Knell
Following UK home secretary Priti Patel providing her government’s approval to the extradition of Julian Assange to the US on 17 June, the authorities at London’s Belmarsh prison stripped the Australian journalist naked and stuck him in isolation to prevent any...
Whistleblower Richard Boyle’s Public Interest Defence Hearing Set
Richard Boyle’s public interest disclosure (PID) defence hearing will take place at Adelaide District Court on Tuesday 26 July. The former ATO officer will be arguing that his having blown the whistle on dodgy tax collection practices was protected under federal...
Overhaul of Stacked AAT Slated, in Attempt to End Canberra Cronyism
The Grattan Institute released a report on Sunday, outlining that cronyism, or appointing mates to favoured positions, is alive and well in Canberra, with 21 percent of “well-paid, powerful and/or prestigious” federal government board positions currently being occupied by political appointees....
NSW Police Force Vows to Bring Down Western Sydney Rappers
The NSW Police Force announced last week that it will now be acting in the capacity of censor when it comes to drill music being produced by rap artists in western Sydney, if the law enforcement agency considers particular songs...
Collaery Prosecution Dropped, But Politicians Remain Unaccountable for Bugging Timor Cabinet
In December 2013, ACT barrister Bernard Collaery was at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague set to represent Timor-Leste against Australia, when ASIO raided his Canberra home, along with that of former spy Witness K, who was about to...
“Racism Writ Large”: An Interview with Close Don Dale Now’s John B Lawrence SC
Right now, Don Dale Youth Detention Centre continues to operate. Despite a Royal Commission recommending its immediate closure five years ago, the notorious prison for children is crowded, incarcerating kids as young as 10, applies the use of isolation and self-harm...
Bail and Remand Are Being Weaponised to Stamp Out Climate Activism
“Police are weaponising the legal system to disable climate activists” is the charge Blockade Australia levelled against NSW law enforcement in an online post last month, following a recent blitz on its activities. “Peaceful protesters are receiving bail conditions more punitive than those...
Chomsky Issues Dire Warning that Time is Running Out
“We are at a unique moment in human history,” Professor Noam Chomsky told the American Solar Energy Society 2022 conference on 21 June. “Decisions that must be made right now will determine the course of future history, if there is to...
