Human Rights Law Centre

Countries including UK, Norway, NZ and South Africa called on Australia to implement an Australian Human Rights Act last night. They heard 150+ Australian orgs calling for human rights at the heart of our laws so everyone can enjoy their rights.

Support a Human Rights Act: humanrightsact.org.au

Australia’s support for Israel’s ongoing illegal occupation and blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza must end.

Read our full statement with @theacij.bsky.social: hrlc.org.au/news/statement-blockade-of-humanitarian-aid-gaza

Whistleblowers should be protected, not punished, but too often people who bravely speak up face prosecution and punishment.

The Albanese Government promised truth and transparency. Today we've joined with partners to call on the Albanese Government to deliver.

'Get cracking': David Pocock's call to action post-election - ABC listen As the full picture of the Senate begins to take shape,  what will Labor's gains mean for the crossbench?  After being re-elected with a staggering swing towards him, Independent Senator for the ACT ...

"We treat housing as an investment, in Australia, not as a human right, something that needs to be accessible and affordable for communities to be able to flourish" - @davidpocock.bsky.social

We need an Australian Human Rights Act, to protect our right to housing.

www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...

We will continue working with communities affected by Rio Tinto's mines to ensure they can live on their land safely again, and that Rio Tinto takes responsibility for its legacy.

Rio Tinto executives lashed by traditional owners at AGM A delegation of Pilbara traditional owners has accused Rio Tinto of not giving investors the full story about the environmental and social impacts of its WA mines.

Pilbara Traditional Owners also confronted Rio Tinto over what they described as "decades of hurt" and called for real accountability for damage to their land and culture.

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05...

Rio Tinto to face scrutiny at AGM for response to Panguna mine disaster - Human Rights Law Centre

At Rio Tinto's AGM yesterday, questions were asked about why the company has failed to act on the serious, life-threatening risks at its former Panguna mine in Bougainville - risks that communities have been living with for years.

www.hrlc.org.au/news/rio-tin...

Rio Tinto has come under renewed pressure from Traditional Owners and communities about the serious health, human rights, and environmental impacts caused by its mines.

Media Release: Malinauskas Government must take historic opportunity and adopt Human Rights Act after inquiry recommendation

We are proud to support the overwhelming call across South Australian civil society calling for a Human Rights Act

Read more: www.hrlc.org.au/media-releas...

We've written to the University of Melbourne with Amnesty and @humanrightswatch.bsky.social calling for the university to drop harsh policies that restrict the right to protest and allow the monitoring of students and staff on their wifi network.

Find out more 👉 www.hrlc.org.au/news/2025/4/...

UN urged to rule on Australia's 'racist' youth crime laws Human rights lawyers and Aboriginal leaders lodge a complaint urging the United Nations to address Australia's "discriminatory" and "punitive" youth justice policies.

UN urged to rule on Australia's 'racist' youth crime laws: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-01/un-urged-to-rule-on-australias-youth-crime-laws/105116196

Expanded protections for marginalised groups welcomed in Allan Government's anti-vilification laws | Human Rights Law Centre Victoria’s anti-vilification laws will now provide stronger protections for everyone and signal that the Victorian community stands against all forms of vilification.

Media Release: The Human Rights Law Centre welcomes expanded protections for marginalised groups in the Allan Government's anti-vilification laws.

Victoria’s anti-vilification laws will now provide stronger protections for everyone.

Read more: www.hrlc.org.au/news/2025/4/...

Media Release: Urgent complaint made to the UN about Aboriginal children's incarceration

Australia’s punitive laws are fuelling a mass incarceration crisis and violating the human rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.

Read more: www.hrlc.org.au/reports-news...

Crisafulli Government urged to implement Queensland Human Rights Act review recommendations  | Human Rights Law Centre The Human Rights Law Centre urges the Crisafulli Government to improve the lives of every person in Queensland by strengthening human rights protections, following an independent review of Queensland’...

Media Release: Crisafulli Government urged to implement Queensland Human Rights Act review recommendations

The Crisafulli Government's rejection of 70 recommendations to strengthen human rights is deeply disappointing.

Read more: www.hrlc.org.au/news/2025/3/27/queensland-human-rights-review

Allan Government rams through dangerous and discriminatory bail laws, repeating mistakes of the past | Human Rights Law Centre Bail saves lives, but the Allan Government has rammed through dangerous and discriminatory bail laws which will deeply harm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and breach human rights.&n...

Media Release: Bail saves lives, but the Allan Government has rammed through dangerous and discriminatory bail laws, repeating mistakes of the past

The laws will deeply harm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and breach human rights.

Read more: www.hrlc.org.au/news/allan-g...

Allan Government hands police excessive stop and search powers | Human Rights Law Centre People could be stopped and searched at any time and for no reason for up to six months in designated areas of Victoria under expanded police search powers passed by the Allan Government today, says t...

Media Release: Allan Government hands police excessive stop and search powers

In the same week as pushing through discriminatory bail laws, the Allan Government has handed Victoria Police almost unlimited stop and search powers.

Read more: www.hrlc.org.au/news/allan-g...

In a win for ACT communities having a right to clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment, the right to a healthy environment is now in effect after laws passed last year by ACT Legislative Assembly.

An Australian Human Rights Act can spread right across Australia: www.humanrightsact.org.au

Bail saves lives, but the Allan Government is introducing dangerous and discriminatory bail laws.

We stand with VALS and 93 Aboriginal, human rights, community and legal organisations in calling on the Allan Government to instead implement #PoccumsLaw.

www.vals.org.au/granting-bai...

Media Release: Bail save lives, but the Allan Government has announced some of the most dangerous and discriminatory bail laws in the country.

The Allan Government must implement Poccum’s Law in full to make Victoria’s bail laws safer and fairer for everyone.

www.hrlc.org.au/news/bail-sa...

Media Release: Bougainville community leaders demand seat at the table in remediation discussions with Rio Tinto

It is deeply concerning that communities have no direct voice in roundtable talks being held this week.

Read more: www.hrlc.org.au/news/bougain...

Media Release: David McBride's appeal begins today.

David was the first person jailed in relation to Australia’s war crimes in Afghanistan – not a war criminal, but the whistleblower.

The Albanese Government refused to drop the prosecution.

www.hrlc.org.au/news/2025/2/...

Everyone has the right to live in homes that are safe and healthy - but too many renters are sweltering during summer or shivering during winter.

We've joined the call for governments to ensure everyone has a healthy home and affordable energy bills 👇

www.healthyhomes.org.au/news/advocat...

Major party impasse threatens to unravel proposed hate speech laws Islamic Council of Victoria spokesman Adel Salman said the political defence should never have been dropped from the government’s anti-vilification legislation.

Victoria’s hate crime laws should protect communities while upholding our right to freedom of expression. Senior lawyer Arif Hussein explains why a public interest defence is key to striking that balance to The Age. www.theage.com.au/politics/vic...

Grow your impact with a monthly donation Change takes time. A regular tax-deductible donation to the Human Rights Law Centre is a powerful way to fuel progress on long-term issues you care about. Every month, your gift will help people and c...

Every person deserves to live in safety and dignity. Our rights are the same, no matter our visa status.

We will continue to stand up against the Albanese Government’s anti-migrant attacks.

Donate to support our work 👇
support.hrlc.org.au/regular-giving

People previously sent to Nauru by the Australian Government have suffered extreme harm, enduring inhumane living conditions, inadequate medical care, and been subject to violent attacks, sexual assault and discrimination.

He was one of three people who had been scheduled to face deportation to Nauru on Monday, and is represented by the Human Rights Law Centre.

Within hours of the case being filed, the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs promised the Court that the man would not be removed from Australia while the case continues.

BREAKING: The Albanese Government has agreed to delay the deportation of a man to Nauru after he commenced legal proceedings yesterday.

Read more: www.hrlc.org.au/news/2025/02...

Every person deserves to live in safety and dignity. Our rights are the same, no matter our visa status.

We all need to stand up against anti-migrant attacks.

Nauru is the first country agree to receive people deported by Australia.

People previously sent to Nauru by the government have suffered extreme harm, inhumane living conditions, inadequate medical care, and been subject to violent attacks, sexual assault and discrimination.