Submission on the Communications Legislation Amendment (Combatting Misinformation and Disinformation) Bill 2023
In a submission to the Federal government Department, the Human Rights Law Centre recommended that in place of the proposal for the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) to be a “backstop” option for regulation, ACMA should instead be given sufficient powers to regulate social media platforms effective immediately.
Co-regulation models are highly unlikely to work given the consistent failures of social media networks like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) to live up to public expectations in addressing harmful speech online. It also made recommendations to strengthen the Bill, including:
-
ensuring that experts and civil society organisations were able to access digital platforms’ data on how they amplify the spread of disinformation, to ensure greater accountability; and
-
requiring misinformation standards created by the industry and ACMA to be consistent with human rights.
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.