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keyboard_arrow_upHigh Court determines Commonwealth’s liability to native title compensation
In a landmark ruling, the High Court has set an important precedent that the Commonwealth is liable to pay compensation to First Nations Peoples if their native title rights have been compromised by certain historical government decisions. In this case, this included government decisions to grant mining leases.
Read morePolitical Opinions in the Workplace: the Federal Court finds the ABC unlawfully terminated a journalist’s employment for holding a political opinion on the Gaza conflict
In Lattouf v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (No 2) [2025] FCA 669, the Federal Court of Australia found that the ABC unlawfully terminated Antoinette Lattouf’s employment for reasons including her political opinion in contravention of s 772(1) of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) and breached the ABC Enterprise Agreement 2022 – 2025 by denying her procedural fairness. The Court awarded Ms Lattouf $70,000 in compensation, with any pecuniary penalties to be determined separately.
Read moreChildren should be protected by the law, not harmed by it: The Magistrates Court sets aside subpoenas issued to children
In the case of Police v Matthew Jones (a pseudonym) [2025] ACTMC 10 (8 May 2025), Chief Magistrate Walker exercised the Court’s implied power to control its own proceedings by setting aside subpoenas issued to child witnesses. The case establishes that Courts may take the extraordinary step of intervening in prosecutorial discretion to protect children from a special risk of psychological harm.
Read moreUK government official whistleblower wins unfair dismissal case against UK government
Ms C Stewart v Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: 2204590/2022. A senior UK government official turned whistleblower succeeded in a claim for unfair dismissal against her employer.
Read moreHawthorn Football Club settles Racial Discrimination Proceeding brought by First Nations former players
A high-profile legal dispute involving allegations of racial discrimination and mistreatment at Hawthorn Football Club (the Club) has concluded through private settlement. The Proceeding was initiated in the Federal Court of Australia by former First Nations players, their families and intimate partners.
Read moreMontana Supreme Court rules constitutional right to a stable climate was violated by law blocking review of greenhouse gas impacts
On 13 March 2020, 16 young people sued the State of Montana, the Governor, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, and the Montana Department of Transportation. Held v Montana shows how powerful a right to a healthy environment can be in combatting environmental damage from climate change.
Read moreFederal Court rules against injunction to prevent animal cruelty in Victorian abattoir
The Game Meats Company of Australia attempted to stop Farm Transparency International Ltd from publishing a 14-minute video depicting alleged "extreme animal cruelty" obtained by a hidden camera.
Read moreLandmark decision ordering Shell to cut CO2 emissions from its global operations by 45% overturned by Hague Court of Appeal
On 12 November 2024, the Court of Appeal of the Hague overturned the landmark 2021 decision of the District Court of The Hague (District Court) in Milieudefensie et al v Royal Dutch Shell, which had ordered Shell to cut CO2 emissions from its global operations by 45% by the end of 2030.
Read moreYoung campaigners landmark victory for children’s rights as new coal-fired power generation deemed unconstitutional in South Africa
The High Court of South Africa ruled that the government’s plans to add 1,500 megawatts of new coal-fired power stations were “unlawful and invalid”. In a youth-driven petition brought by three civil society organisations, the Court found that the plans failed to adequately consider the impacts of coal-fired power on children’s rights, particularly their constitutional right to a healthy environment.
Read moreTribunal found Southern Restaurants imposed unreasonable conditions on a young breast-feeding mother leading to a finding of discrimination
A young breastfeeding mother was found to have been discriminated against by her employer and awarded $90,000 in compensation.
Read moreVictorian Coroner finds that trans and gender-diverse people face discrimination in healthcare
On 29 August 2024, the Coroner handed down her findings in the inquest into the death of AS.
Read moreThe right to a fair and public trial: considering a private meeting between a judge, complainant, and counsels for the prosecution and defence without the accused present
The High Court on 11 September 2024 overturned a decision made by the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria regarding issues of criminal procedure. The issue of criminal procedure concerned a meeting between the complainant, the judge, and counsel for both the prosecution and the accused (the accused being the respondent to this appeal) on the day before the judge presided over a special hearing to take the evidence of the complainant.
Read moreACNC: 31 117 719 267 | Connect with the Human Rights Law Centre
Acknowledgement of Country
The Human Rights Law Centre acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia, including the lands of the Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Gadigal, Ngunnawal, Cammeraygal, Darug, Wadawurrung, Turrbal and Jagera people where we work from.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
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