Law Council: Disturbing images from Qld underscore the need to review youth detention Australia-wide
Reports and images of alleged mistreatment in Townsville’s Cleveland Youth Detention Centre and Brisbane Youth Detention Centre emphasise the pressing need for all jurisdictions to conduct independent, arms-length reviews of their juvenile detention systems. The disturbing images were aired on ABC and taken from internal government reports by the Queensland Government’s Youth Detention Inspectorate. The…
Law Council: Caution and safeguards necessary in any move by Australia’s AGs toward nationally consistent post-sentence preventative detention scheme
The Law Council of Australia has welcomed the emphasis on maintaining safeguards in any nationally consistent post-sentence preventative detention scheme, as Australia’s Attorneys-General meet today. Ahead of talks, Federal Attorney-General the Hon George Brandis QC has indicated this morning that: “any post-sentence preventative detention regime contain a range of safeguards, including that only a court…
Law Council welcomes Mick Gooda and Margaret White as Royal Commissioners, credits decision by Brian Martin
The Law Council of Australia has congratulated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda and The Hon Margaret White AO on their appointment to the vital roles of joint Royal Commissioners to inquire into the Northern Territory’s child protection and youth detention systems. Law Council of Australia President, Stuart Clark AM, said…
Law Council offers support for Royal Commission into abuse of children in detention
Law Council offers support for Royal Commission into abuse of children in detention in the NT, calls for: The Royal Commission to focus a culture that tolerates the abuse of minors and the over-incarceration of youths, 98 per cent of whom are Indigenous. Immediate closure of Don Dale Youth Detention Centre. Swift action to be…
Rule of law principles must be protected in any move to hold jailed terrorists past their terms
The Law Council of Australia is urging the Australian Parliament to proceed cautiously with proposals to introduce new legislation that would allow jailed terrorists who still pose a risk when their prison terms expire to be held for an extended period of time. Law Council President, Stuart Clark AM, said while the Government’s commitment to…
Law Council: Grave concerns for Turkey following mass removal of judges and calls for retrospective death penalty
The Law Council of Australia has expressed its grave concern over the removal from duty — without proper process — of some 2,750 judges in Turkey, following a failed coup by a section of the military. The judges, along with unknown numbers of lawyers and other legal professionals, have been detained by the Turkish Government…
Law Society welcomes Attorney General’s comments on mandatory sentencing
The Law Society of Western Australia welcomes comments made by the Attorney General, the Hon Michael Mischin MLC, stating his reluctance to further extend mandatory sentencing. The Attorney General is quoted in a news article as having no plans to expand the current mandatory sentencing regime to cover assaults against security officers or school teachers….
Law Council backs Malaysian Bar Council over attacks on independence
The Law Council of Australia has thrown its support behind the Malaysian Bar Council, whose independence is currently under threat due to amendments proposed by the Malaysian Government. Law Council of Australia President, Stuart Clark AM, has today written an open letter to Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Najib Razak, to voice the Australian legal profession’s serious…
Law Council congratulates Attorney-General and Justice Minister on their reappointments
The Law Council of Australia has warmly congratulated Senator the Hon George Brandis QC and the Hon Michael Keenan MP on their reappointments as Australia’s Attorney-General and Justice Minister respectively. Senator Brandis and Mr Keenan were today named by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull into the key Government portfolios. Law Council of Australia President, Stuart Clark…
Law Council of Australia urges DFAT to redouble efforts with Chinese Government to release detained lawyers
The Law Council of Australia is urging the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to redouble its efforts with the Chinese Government, with the goal of: securing the release of the 23 lawyers and activists still in detention, ending torture and ill-treatment of those detained, removing travel bans against 39, and stopping the harassment…
Law Library at the David Malcolm Justice Centre
From 1 July 2016, the Law Library at the Supreme Court will close its doors and the Department of the Attorney General will provide library services to legal practitioners at the Law Library at the David Malcolm Justice Centre. Legal practitioners (and other persons doing research on behalf of legal practitioners) can access the Law…
Law Society welcomes new judicial appointments
The Law Society of Western Australia congratulates the Hon Justice Michael Buss, the Hon Justice Robert Mitchell, Raelene Johnston and Adam Hills-Wright on their judicial appointments announced today. The Hon Justice Buss will become President of the Court of Appeal, having been a Judge of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal since 2006. The…
