Justice for everyone

Founded in 1963, the NSW Council for Civil Liberties is one of Australia's leading human rights and civil liberties organisations.

We monitor and fight against infringement of our rights and liberties and the abuse of power by government, its agencies and others. We also work to influence public debate and secure amendments to laws or changes in policy to strengthen our democratic rights and liberties.

We prepare submissions to government, engage regularly in public debates, produce content, hold events and conduct many other activities.

NSWCCL is non-sectarian and non-party political. 

We are a Non-Government Organisation in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, by resolution 2006/221 (21 July 2006).

For individual help, see your personal civil liberties and our COVID resources page.

Latest news

LSJ: Drawing the line on hate: Are Australia’s new laws the answer, or an overreach?

Recently the NSW Government has proposed a new set of laws which include:  Up to 2 years in jail for intentionally inciting racial hatred. Increased penalties for nazi symbols near...

GreenLeft: Albanese encourages states to enact new anti-protest laws over alleged antisemitism

NSW Premier Chris Minns has come under criticism as he has continued to call for the limiting of protest rights in NSW. Recently Amnesty International Australia have criticised his calls...

NIT: Queensland’s "disturbing record" on deaths in custody will only get worse under LNP’s agenda, advocates warn

Within the last financial year Queensland has had the highest number of deaths in custody in the past two decades, 19, as revealed by the Australian Institute of Criminology's latest Deaths...

Submission: Criminal Code Amendment (Hate Crimes) Bill 2024 [Provisions]

In our submission NSWCCL raised concerns that criminal offences should remain a last resort given their impact on freedom of expression and the risk that police will use them to...

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