Federal government must pursue ambitious reforms to secure a healthier democracy: 2022 election review
The Human Rights Law Centre appeared before the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters (Committee), to advocate for reforms that will make elections fairer and our democracy stronger.
The Committee was holding its first day of hearings from civil society organisations into the review of the 2022 federal election. The Committee’s terms make specific reference to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are able to easily enrol and vote, introducing election spending caps, increasing the transparency of political donations, and introducing truth in political advertising laws.
The Human Rights Law Centre made 25 recommendations, covering:
-
reforms to reduce the influence of harmful industries in Australian politics, including making political donations more transparent and capping election spending;
-
prohibiting inaccurate or misleading electoral matter; and
-
removing barriers to voting for different communities, including for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living on homelands, people with disability, people in prison, people aged 16 and 17, and permanent residents and New Zealand citizens residing long term in Australia.
Read the submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters’ here.
Submission to 2025-26 Federal Budget consultation
The Human Rights Law Centre has put forward recommendations to the 2025-26 federal budget submissions across a range of issues, including campaigning for an Australian Human Rights Act, migration justice, prisoners’ rights, whistleblower protection and modern slavery.
Read more
Submission to Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Act 2021 review
The Human Rights Law Centre is calling for stronger safeguards for the right to privacy and warned that these powers enable the AFP and ACIC to undertake significant invasions of privacy, encroach on the right to privacy, and threaten to have a chilling effect on the work of journalists and their sources.
Read more
Submission to Inquiry into antisemitism at Australian universities
In a submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights’ inquiry into antisemitism on Australian university campuses, the Human Rights Law Centre has called for reforms that uphold Australia's commitment to international human rights standards, fostering a society that respects equality, freedom, and justice for all.
Read more
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, Darug and Wadawurrung 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.
WARNING: This site contains images or names of people who have passed away.