ACT Human Rights Act Research Project

The ACT Human Rights Act Research Project is a joint project of the ANU and the ACT Government, supported by a grant from the Australian Research Council.

The project will document the impact of Australia’s first Bill of Rights - the ACT Human Rights Act 2004 - over its first five years. Our research will test the predictions of supporters and critics of bills of rights against the ACT experience. The results of the research will assist in the five year review of the ACT Human Rights Act and will make an important contribution to the national debate about a bill of rights.

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Please follow this link if you would like to subscribe to our email list for updates on cases and developments under the ACT Human Rights Act, and news on bills of rights issues throughout Australia. New subscriptions are subject to moderator approval, and this may take a couple of days, so we appreciate your patience.

What can I find on this website?

This site has information about the progress of the ACT Human Rights Act, including up to date summaries of cases, news, and publications of the research project. It also has links to other useful resources.

Contact the Project
phone:(+ 61 2) 6125 7103
fax: (+ 61 2) 6125 1507
email: acthra@anu.edu.au

What's New on the Site?

Most Recent Cases added to our Database

• Tahi Temoannui v Brett Jason Eric Ford [2009] ACTSC 69 (29 June 2009)

• In the Matter of an Application for Bail by Rebecca Massey [No. 2] [2009] ACTSC 70 (26 June 2009)

• Gregory Mazzone v Neville Tomkins [2009] (Residential Tenancies) [2009] ACAT 13 (1 June 2009)

• R v Monaghan [2009] ACTSC 61 (27 May 2009)

• Re An Application for Bail by Chris Merritt [2009] ACTSC 56 (18 May 2009)

• ACT Human Rights Commission v Raytheon Australia Pty Ltd, Aerospace Technical Services Pty Ltd, Australian Maritime Surveillance Pty Ltd, Aeronautical Consulting Training and Engineering [2009] ACTSC 55 (15 May 2009)

• In the matter of an application under s 73 of the Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002 (ACT) [2009] ACTSC 53 (15 May 2009)

• Imran Hakimi v Legal Aid Commission (ACT); The Australian Capital Territory (Intervener) [2009] ACTSC 48 (12 May 2009)

• R v SH [2009] ACTSC 50 (8 May 2009)

• In the Matter of an Application by Shankar Ramalingam [2009] ACTSC 58 (7 May 2009)

• Peter Lucas-Smith & Ors v Coroner’s Court of the Australian Capital Territory & OrS [2009] actsc 40 (8 April 2009)

• R v David John Welch [2009] ACTSC 35 (6 April 2009)

• Sabah Obari v Mohamed Obari, Mustafa Omari and Guardianship and Management of Property Tribunal [2009] ACTSC 28 (27 March 2009)

• R v PM [2009] ACTSC 24 (16 March 2009)

• R v David Arthur Fearnside [2009] ACTCA 3 (24 February 2009)

• William Kevin Stone v Les Brien & Itshak Yosef [2009] ACTSC 6 (18 February 2009)

• Andrew Casey v Richard Luke Alcock [2009] ACTCA 1 (23 January 2009)

Latest media reports in our News section

June 2009

• Arsonist worked for fire authority, Manager fails to disclose past, quits [pdf], Herald-Sun, 20 June 2009 [word]
• Opposition slams human rights law bid [pdf], The Canberra Times, 20 June 2009 [word]
• Even dark pagans shine a light on rights [pdf], Australian Financial Review, 19 June 2009 [word]
• No case to answer [pdf], The Australian, 19 June 2009 [word]
• Charter ruled out, gap filler sought [pdf], The Australian, 19 June 2009 [word]
• Human rights act - letters to the editor [pdf], The Australian, 19 June 2009 [word]
• Charter would only harm the judiciary [pdf], The Australian, 18 June 2009 [word]
• Everyone needs a safety net at some point in their lives [pdf], The Age, 17 June 2009 [word]
Victims demand rights at home [pdf], The Australian, 16 June 2009 [word]
• Dangerous charter [pdf], The Australian, 16 June 2009 [word]
• Human rights laws 'too weak' [pdf], The Age, 16 June 2009 [word]
• Weekend detainees failing to show up [pdf], The Canberra Times, 15 June 2009 [word]
• Bloggers to have greater say in legislative debate [pdf], The Australian, 15 June 2009 [word]
• Naked eye [pdf], The Sun-Herald, 14 June 2009 [word]
• Don't leave us with the bill: the case against an Australian bill of rights [listen/download audio] ABC Radio National "Big Ideas", 14 June 2009
• Bill that adds up [pdf], The Australian, 13 June 2009 [word]
• Our charter would not politicise the courts [pdf], The Australian, 12 June 2009 [word]
• Bar claims Hulls being stingy with funds for a rights watchdog [pdf], The Australian, 12 June 2009 [word]
• Turmoil hit's drive for a bill of right's [pdf], The Australian, 12 June 2009 [word]
• Hoodwinker's handbook - bill of rights discussion involves much evasion [pdf], The Australian, 12 June 2009 [word]
• Let justice rule without bias [pdf], The Canberra Times, 10 June 2009 [word]
• Bill of rights would restrain power, not Parliament [pdf], The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 June 2009 [word]
• A national charter of rights will protect the disadvantaged [pdf], The Age, 8 June 2009 [word]
• Letters to the editor - a human rights act [pdf], The Age, 8 June 2009 [word]
• Suleyman claims harsh treatment over Brimbank [pdf], The Age, 6 June 2009 [word]
• The unutterable r-word [pdf], The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 June 2009 [word]
• Charter of rights for kids in care [pdf], The Mercury, 6 June 2009 [word]
• Rights charter like a dead parrot [pdf], The Sydney Morning Herald, 5 June 2009 [word]
• Charter of rights divides profession [pdf], The Australian, 5 June 2009 [word]
• So, whose rights reign supreme? [pdf], The Age, 5 June 2009 [word]
• Prejudice [pdf], The Australian, 5 June 2009 [word]
• Letters to the editor - there's a red herring in dead parrot case [pdf], The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 June 2009 [word]
• A question of judgement [pdf], The Australian, 3 June 2009 [word]
• Hearing stalled by wait for evidence [pdf], The Canberra Times, 2 June 2009 [word]
• Wisdom of politicians is frail shield for our rights [pdf], The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 June 2009 [word]

May 2009

• Ah, freedoms of Joyce are just states of mind over matters of power [pdf], The Canberra Times, 30 May 2009 [word]
• Only bills of rights those from lawyers [pdf], The Goal Coast Bulletin, 30 May 2009 [word]
• Commission seeks court role [pdf], The Australian, 29 May 2009 [word]
• Chief Justice opposed to bill of rights [pdf], The Australian, 29 May 2009 [word]
• Bill of rights - letters to the editor [pdf], The Australian, 29 May 2009 [word]
• A case of legislative overkill [pdf], The Canberra Times, 28 May 2009 [word]
• Good move - letters to the editor [pdf], The Canberra Times, 28 May 2009 [word]
• Rights bill won't pay[pdf], The Australian, 27 May 2009 [word]
• Judges not fit to rule on a bill of rights [pdf], The Courier-Mail, 27 May 2009 [word]
• An enshrined bill of rights may protect the vulnerable [pdf], The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 May 2009 [word]
• Rights bill may corrup judiciary, says ex-judge [pdf], The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 May 2009 [word]
• Bill of rights surprise, it could wind back legal protection for victims [pdf], The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 May 2009 [word]
• Rights charter opens police to 'Legal Risks'[pdf], The Australian, 22 May 2009 [word]
• German law points way in our own rights debate[pdf], The Canberra Times, 22 May 2009 [word]
• Journalism judgement is out of touch with media's mass appeal [pdf], The Canberra Times, 16 May 2009 [word]
• No role for judges in charter[pdf], The Australian, 15 May 2009[word]
• Rights scheme looms as a wrong[pdf], The Australian, 15 May 2009 [word]
• The Final Puzzle Piece Ready To Fit [page 1 pdf] [page 2 pdf], Lawyers Weekly, 15 May 2009
• US rights bill is irrelevant: letter to the editor in response to 'Bill of Rights is the Wrong Call' [pdf], The Australian, 13 May 2009 [word]
• Leap into lead on rights path [pdf], The Canberra Times, 13 May 2009 [word]
• Defend to the last their right to say it [pdf], The Australian 12 May 2009 [word]
• Bill of rights is the wrong call [pdf], The Australian, 9 May 2009 [word]
• Human rights charter gains support [pdf], The Financial Review, 8 May 2009 [word]
• Stand on your rights, or see them trampled [pdf], The West Australian, 8 May 2009 [word]
• Rights charter will not lead to vilification law [pdf], The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 May 2009 [word]
• The gaping holes in our laws on torture [pdf], The Sydney Morning Herald, 6 May 2009 [word]
• Until death us do part, by choice [pdf], The Australian, 4 May 2009 [word]
• Only lawyers would rub hands over a bill of rights [pdf], The Advertiser, 2 May 2009 [word]
• Calma calls for body to lead reconciliation [pdf], The Australian, 1 May 2009 [word]
• Push to protect aboriginal rights [pdf], The Age, 1 May 2009 [word]

April 2009

• Two more asylum boats intercepted [pdf], The Age, 30 April 2009 [word]
• Fight for our rights [pdf], The Herald Sun, 28 April 2009 [word]
• In the name of human rights [pdf], The Canberra Times, 27 April 2009 [word]
• Bill of rights is ours to decide [pdf], The Australian, 24 April 2009 [word]
• Mentally ill man's human rights breached: tribunal [pdf], The Age, 24 April 2009 [word]
• Carr's bill warning [pdf], The Daily Telegraph, 21 April 2009 [word]
• Rights law 'puts bikie curbs at risk' [pdf], The West Australian, 18 April 2009 [word]
• Opposing bill of right's is not crazy [pdf], The Australian, 17 April 2009 [word]
• Rights debate branded simplistic [pdf], The Australian, 15 April 2009 [word]
• Anti-bikie laws will make it harder to deal with gang crime [pdf], The Canberra Times, 13 April 2009 [word]
• Australia has a chance to regain its 'AAA' human rights rating [pdf], The Age, 13 April 2009 [word]
• Crusaders for rights charter rely on lies [pdf], The Australian, 8 April 2009[word]
• Charter a course for improved rights [pdf], The Mercury, 6 April 2009 [word]
• Human rights are there for bikies, too [pdf], The Age, 6 April 2009 [word]
• Entertaining first draft of a charter operative [pdf], The Australian, 4 April 2009 [word]
• Sessions on a new charter can become silly [pdf], The Australian, 4 April 2009 [word]
• Rights devil is in the detail [pdf], The Australian, 4 April 2009 [word]
• Beware cheap alternatives: we need a rights charter [pdf], Sydney Morning Herald, 3 April 2009 [word]
• Briefing for a human rights charter [pdf], The Australian, 3 April 2009 [word]
• Off the charter [pdf], The Australian, 1 April 2009 [word]