Submission to the Review of Secrecy Offences
The Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) is currently undertaking a review of secrecy offences in Part 5.6 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
Current secrecy laws criminalise whistleblowers and journalists and undermine transparency and accountability in our democracy, ultimately harming national security.
The Human Rights Law Centre in its submission provided 13 recommendations, including:
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Repealing lower-level secrecy offences, with administrative sanctions used instead for minor breaches
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Penalties to be reduced to levels which are necessary and proportionate
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Narrowing and in some cases repealing entirely secrecy offences that apply to third-party, non-Commonwealth officers
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Establishing pathways for the national intelligence whistleblowers to disclose information in the public interest
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.