Castan Centre for Human Rights Law

Author: Adam Fletcher

  • Do we need better privacy protection in Australia?

    By Adam Fletcher Protection of privacy in Australia was brought into stark relief last week with the ABC’s coverage of the Federal Government’s current compulsory Australian Health Survey being conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The ABC reports that  some participants have found the survey “deeply intrusive and a stressful violation of their privacy” because…

  • In Praise of Independent Oversight

    By Adam Fletcher Anyone who watched the ABC’s 7.30 Report story this week on the death of a 52 year-old father who had been convicted of traffic offences in Grafton prison would have been horrified. For those who did not see it, this man was dying of a brain haemorrhage for hours while guards treated…

  • Undermining the Migration Act’s Protections

    By Adam Fletcher Later today the Australian Government plans to put the Migration Legislation Amendment (Offshore Processing and Other Measures) Bill 2011 to a vote in the House of Representatives. So, what does this controversial Bill actually say? The Bill undermines several protections built into the Migration Act 1958, which, with Australia’s unique policies of…

  • The Migration Legislation Amendment (Offshore Processing and Other Measures) Bill 2011

    Last Friday (16 September), the Government released an exposure draft of the Migration Legislation Amendment (Offshore Processing and Other Measures) Bill 2011 to “give effect to its commitment to restore power to the executive enabling the removal of irregular maritime arrivals for third country processing.” The ‘purposes’ section of the Migration Act 1958, which this…

  • A Right to Privacy in Australia

    On 21 July this year, the Minister for Privacy,[1] Brendan O’Connor, announced that the Federal Government would seek the public’s views on introducing a right to privacy in Australia. A background paper is to be issued, “canvassing the prospect of introducing a statutory cause of action for serious invasions of privacy.” For now, the closest…

  • Malaysian Arrangement Dead in the Water – Time to End of Offshore Processing

    On Wednesday the High Court of Australia followed up its injunction (see below) with a 6-1 judgment against the Gillard Government’s arrangement with Malaysia to swap asylum seekers for processed refugees. The Court reminded the Government (and anyone else who cared to pay attention) that the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) actually implements the 1951 Convention…