Castan Centre for Human Rights Law

Category: Auslaw

  • Why Tim Wilson is wrong about “n______”

    By Patrick Emerton A little over a week ago, Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson stated that he objects to current laws governing racially offensive behaviour because they allow members of particular communities to refer to one another using words that outsiders may not: Asked whether he was referring to the word “n–––“, Mr Wilson said: “I…

  • Freedom: the government’s inconsistent approach

    By Sarah Joseph Our federal government is committed to promoting greater “freedom”. It has appointed a “Freedom Commissioner”, Tim Wilson, and has asked the Australian Law Reform Commission to conduct a freedom audit of statutory laws. Writing in January, Attorney-General George Brandis described “freedom” as the “most fundamental of all human rights”.  But what does…

  • Should the west be held accountable for gay persecution?

    By Paula Gerber Media coverage of gays and lesbians in 2014 has followed a very different trend to previous years. Rather than good news stories about love and weddings, the majority of reports relate to violence, persecution and discrimination of LGBTI people. What is behind this apparent increase in hostilities towards gays and lesbians? The…

  • Why refugees need legal aid

    By Azadeh Dastyari Immigration Minister Scott Morrison added yet another burden to asylum seekers this week when he announced that they would no longer be eligible for “taxpayer funded immigration advice and assistance”. That is, asylum seekers arriving without a valid visa, by boat or plane, will no longer be eligible to obtain independent and professional immigration…

  • Rights to bigotry and green lights to hate

    By Sarah Joseph, Monash University AAP/Stefan Postles Poor George Brandis. Our Attorney-General seems to have wedged himself on the issue of racial vilification. Soon after the election of the Abbott government, Senator Brandis defiantly declared that repeal of Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act would be his first task as Australia’s first law officer.…

  • The Biennale Boycott Blues

    by Sarah Joseph The Sydney Biennale starts today after weeks of controversy over the severing of its relationship with Transfield, the company that runs the detention centre in Nauru and which will take over the one at Manus island. To recap, several artists withdrew from the Biennale in protest over its sponsorship arrangement with Transfield…