The Guardian: Serco must be punished for ‘oppressive’ treatment of prisoners at Australia’s largest jail, legal experts say
Legal experts are calling for sanctions against private prison operator Serco after the company punished nearly 200 inmates at Clarence correctional centre in New South Wales in an “unreasonable and oppressive” manner. The incident followed the assault of a guard by a single inmate on 21 September 2023. Serco responded by locking down 175 prisoners in one section of the jail for five days, despite most having no involvement in the incident.
The NSW ombudsman deemed Serco's actions unlawful and disproportionate.
In addition to the lockdown, Serco charged 34 inmates with offences related to the assault, although the ombudsman found insufficient evidence to justify these charges. Three inmates were placed in segregation for allegedly inciting a riot, despite CCTV footage showing no such activity. Additionally, 33 inmates were placed on restrictive "behaviour management contracts," confining them to their cells for up to 22 hours a day for as long as eight weeks. The ombudsman noted that Serco failed to provide adequate support for one inmate with a cognitive impairment during its investigations.
Read moreThe Saturday Paper: ‘All my dreams shattered’: asylum seekers barred from Australian universities
Abishek Selvakumar only discovered he couldn’t attend university when he reached Year 12.
While his peers discussed potential courses and future offers, Selvakumar learned that his the Coalition government's 'fast-track' process had meant he and his mother have been on temporary visas for over a decade, barring him from higher education.
Selvakumar, who dreams of studying construction management, had said he feels excluded, "I honestly gave up on my exams because I didn’t see the point. I was really looking forward to it. I was excited about that and getting to learn the subject I was passionate about, but I couldn’t do it.".
This situation affects many others in Australia, where children of refugees on bridging visas either face exorbitant international student fees or are prohibited from studying altogether.
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Media Statement: City of Sydney Accused of Unjust Removal of ‘We Vote for Palestine’ Election Posters
The NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) has written to the City of Sydney to express our concern over the reported removal of election materials authorised by the "We Vote for Palestine" group across the City of Sydney in the lead-up to the local government election scheduled for 14 September 2024.
It has come to our attention that City of Sydney staff and contractors have been actively removing posters and election materials associated with the “We Vote for Palestine” campaign. The materials in question have been confirmed as appropriately authorised under NSW electoral laws, with the organisers having obtained confirmation from the NSW Electoral Commission regarding the lawful authorisation of their materials.
Read moreMedia Statement: NSWCCL supports the establishment of a Truth and Justice Commission
The New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) wholeheartedly supports the establishment of a Truth and Justice Commission to address injustices suffered by First Nations Peoples in Australia. The proposed Bill, currently before a Parliamentary Inquiry, represents a crucial step towards implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart—a document NSWCCL endorses in full.
The Truth and Justice Commission, as outlined in the Bill, will have investigative powers to examine historic and ongoing injustices experienced by First Nations Peoples. Its primary aim is to provide recommendations to Parliament based on truth-telling about Australia's colonial history, paving the way for national reconciliation.
Read moreMedia Release: Refugee children are facing insurmountable barriers to access higher education
Refugee children who have successfully completed their Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and those who are currently preparing to sit their exams are facing insurmountable barriers in accessing higher education. These students, many of whom have no memory of living anywhere other than Australia, are being denied the opportunity to attend university on equal terms with their peers. Instead, those allowed to enrol are often categorised as foreign students, subject to exorbitant fees and additional restrictions.
This heartbreaking situation stems from the fact that these young people, despite calling Australia home for much of their lives, continue to live without permanent visas. For over 12 years—some even longer—they have been trapped in a bureaucratic limbo that strips them of basic liberties and opportunities.
Families impacted by the injustices of the devastating ‘fast track’ process or as part of the so-called ‘legacy caseload’ have children who simply want to attend university just like their peers. This temporary status affects every part of their lives, including their ability to get work or study, their access to services, and their ability to recover from their trauma.
Read moreSubmission: The National Housing and Homelessness Plan Bill 2024
The right to adequate housing as a fundamental human right is recognised under Australia’s international human rights obligations. All Australians should have access to adequate housing in fulfilment of their human rights. The human right to housing is also pivotal in ensuring the realisation of many other human rights.
NSWCCL supports the aims of the Bill which enshrines a human rights-based approach to housing in legislation. In Australia, the lack of a meaningful and well-informed national housing plan has undoubtedly contributed to the current housing crisis, placing millions of people under significant social and economic pressure. Home ownership affordability, an increasingly competitive rental market and stagnant public housing availability and poor housing accessibility for people living with disability are all by-products of this crisis.
Read moreThe Conversation: Can a 10-year-old be responsible for a crime?
The age a child can be arrested, charged and jailed in Australia is back in the spotlight.
Last year, the Northern Territory became the first jurisdiction to raise the age of criminal responsibility from ten to 12. Now its new, tough-on-crime government has pledged to return it to ten. It comes after Victoria walked back its earlier commitment to raise the age to 14, settling instead on 12.
But the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child says 14 should be the absolute minimum. It raised this age from its earlier recommendation (in 2007) of 12, citing a decade of new research into child and adolescent development.
So what does the science say? What happens to the brain between ten and 14? And how much can those under 14 understand the consequences of their actions?
Read the article here. Authors Susan M. Sawyer & Nandi Vijayakumar.
We are hiring! NSWCCL Executive Officer
NSWCCL is seeking a passionate and self motivated Executive Officer to provide operational leadership and enhance our advocacy capabilities. The Executive Officer plays a crucial role in mobilising our members, leading campaigns, and ensuring the effective day-to-day operations of the organisation.
Guided by a management committee and supported by volunteers, the role is responsible for developing and implementing communication strategies, including engaging with and managing the media, organising and managing events and fundraising appeals to grow our membership and support from the wider community.
Read moreAnnouncing our Inagural President's Award Winner, Antointette Lattouf
Read moreI am humbled to accept the inaugural NSW Council for Civil Liberties President's Award.
It’s an honour to be acknowledged for my battle to uphold journalism without fear or favour, it’s been a very difficult year given the bullying and silencing of journalists in Australia.
I dedicate this award to the journalists who have been murdered doing their jobs. Journalism is not a crime. Systematically killing journalists is.
Gaza is the deadliest place to be a journalist. The past 10 months have been the deadliest period to be a journalist. This award is for the Palestinian journalists who no longer have breath, let alone a voice.
Crikey: Is Labor treating the CFMEU as it did Qantas or PwC?
Some might argue that calling for corporations to face the same scrutiny as the CFMEU is mere “whataboutism,” defending alleged union corruption. This topic arises follows claims of corruption and intimidation, as reported by Nine journalists. The union has been placed under administration for three years, and many officials have been dismissed due to legislation passed with Coalition support, though legal challenges may follow.
Some argue that this situation highlights a double standard. For example, why didn't the government threaten similar action against PwC when it was revealed that they leaked confidential tax information for profit?
RMIT Professor Anthony Forsyth acknowledges this double standard in the treatment of corporations versus unions but insists that the legislation was necessary due to the CFMEU's likely resistance to a court-appointed administrator. Meanwhile, Lydia Shelly from the NSW Council for Civil Liberties criticises the inconsistency in addressing corporate wrongdoing.
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