In this submission Amnesty International raises concerns that the Referendum Council process on constitutional reform was not fully inclusive of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community views. Amnesty International urged that the remainder of the process be meaningfully consultative and inclusive, so that the right to participate is upheld. Amnesty International recommends that any …
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Submission: Inquiry into the Human Rights Legislation Amendment Bill 2017
On the International Day of the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (and Harmony Day), the Federal Government announced it would push forward with a bill to water down the Racial Discrimination Act (RDA). Our submission outlines why Amnesty International is calling on the Parliament to reject the changes to the Racial Discrimination Act proposed by the Australian Government. …
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Supplementary submission to Senate inquiry into Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill
On 23rd January 2017 Amnesty gave evidence at the Senate Committee inquiry into the government’s draft Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill. If passed by the Parliament this Bill would change the definition of marriage from being a union of a man and a woman, to “a union of 2 people”. This supplementary submission responds to …
Submission: Marriage equality bill inquiry
A Select Committee has been set up to inquire into the government’s draft Marriage Amendment (Same-Sex Marriage) Bill. If passed by the Parliament this Bill would change the definition of marriage from being a union of a man and a woman, to “a union of 2 people”. Amnesty International Australia unequivocally opposes discrimination in civil …
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Submission: Inquiry into Freedom of Speech in Australia
The Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights is conducting this inquiry into Freedom of Speech in Australia. The inquiry focuses on whether Part IIA of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth) unreasonably inhibits free speech. Part IIA includes the much debated section 18C, which is intended to protect people from racist hate speech. Our submission …
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Submission: proposed lifetime visa ban
Amnesty has provided a submission to the Senate inquiry into the Government’s proposed lifetime visa ban (Migration Legislation Amendment (Regional Processing Cohort) Bill 2016) which, if passed, would prevent anyone who attempted to arrive in Australia by boat since 19 July, 2013, from ever setting foot in Australia. The bill would see refugees who have successfully …
Submission: Australia’s “processing” of refugees on Nauru
Amnesty welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee inquiry into the serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers in relation to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre, and any like allegations in relation to the Manus Regional Processing Centre. The Australian Government is choosing to …
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Submission: NT Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children
Amnesty International welcomes the opportunity to provide this submission to the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory. The ill treatment and abuse of children in youth detention facilities in the Northern Territory and other Australian jurisdictions requires a national spotlight and sustained government leadership to address the problem. …
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Submission: Independent Review of Youth Detention in Queensland
Amnesty International welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Independent Review of Youth Detention in Queensland. On 31 August 2016, Amnesty released a report called Heads Held High: Keeping Queensland kids out of detention, strong in culture and community. The report raises serious concerns about potential abuses of human rights of children in …
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Dangers of revoking citizenship
Amnesty Australia’s Government Relations Adviser, Guy Ragen, and Legal Governance Manager, Katie Wood, appeared before the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security to discuss the Australian Citizenship Amendment (Allegiance to Australia) Bill 2015. Amnesty Australia has made a submission on the Australian Citizenship Amendment Bill 2015, recommending the rejection of the Bill in its current …