The novelists who kicked the hornets’ nests

Two novels, two realities. Brian Toohey looks at what fiction can tell us about governments and human rights

03 Nov 09 | Comments (1)

Frank Brennan’s explosive recommendations

The size and scope of the human rights consultation adds to the momentum for reform, but the government will need to move shrewdly, writes Edward Santow

15 Oct 09 | Comments (0)

Chartered waters

Victoria’s human rights charter has yielded a stunning victory for criminal suspects – and a blow for would-be Jack Bauers, reports Jeremy Gans.

11 Sep 09 | Comments (0)

The devil in the detail

The release of the government’s security law proposals reveals that the Coalition’s approach still casts a long shadow, writes Andrew Lynch

19 Aug 09 | Comments (0)

Rights versus compassion

Government policy should confer rights rather than privileges, writes Klaus Neumann

03 Jun 09 | Comments (0)

This Charter applies too

The first successful Victorian human rights claim has implications for the debate about a federal rights charter, argues Jeremy Gans

21 May 09 | Comments (4)

Learning from Haneef

Lost in the Christmas rush was the release of John Clarke’s report on the Haneef affair. Andrew Lynch looks at what the inquiry did – and didn’t – uncover

05 Feb 09 | Comments (0)

Complementary protection: Labor’s point of departure

Unlike the European Union, Canada and the United States, Australia has no guaranteed protection for people at risk of serious harm in their home country. But that looks set to change, writes Jane McAdam

03 Dec 08 | Comments (0)

Charter of frights

Has fear of upsetting the public caused Victoria’s new human rights charter to lose its way? It’s a question with national implications, writes Jeremy Gans

10 Nov 08 | Comments (1)