Keeping kids in watch houses: why the Queensland government could change the law to suit itself https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/25/keeping-kids-in-watch-houses-why-the-queensland-government-could-change-the-law-to-suit-itself #auslaw #auspol #qldpol #humanrights #childrensrights #ruleoflaw

The National Children's Commissioner Anne Hollonds has expressed alarm at the Queensland Government rushing through legislation to allow children to be detained indefinitely in adult detention facilities, in a further contravention of the Queensland Human Rights Act.

Commissioner Hollonds said: “This latest action by the Queensland Government is not based on evidence and will not keep the community safer.

“Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child should only be detained as a last resort, and for the shortest appropriate period of time. They must also be segregated from all detained adults. Queensland’s Human Rights Act specifies that an accused child who is detained, or a child detained without charge, must be segregated from all detained adults.

“Police watch houses are not appropriate for children. The police officers are not trained to care for children, and there is no education or rehabilitation provided. There is no access to fresh air or exercise, and many cells have no window for natural light. Children as young as 10 years of age are being detained for many weeks in these shocking conditions."

https://humanrights.gov.au/about/news/media-releases/national-childrens-commissioner-slams-shocking-new-qld-youth-justice-laws #humanrights #childrensrights #Queensland #detention #qldpol #auslaw

Whistleblowing laws are fundamentally flawed, former judge Tony Fitzgerald says https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/24/whistleblowing-laws-are-fundamentally-flawed-former-judge-tony-fitzgerald-says Anti-corruption champion says ‘essential objective’ of whistleblowing laws to prevent reprisals and injustice is ‘not yet being fully achieved’. #auslaw #auspol #whistleblowing

“We cannot pretend that [the act] is ever likely to achieve its objectives,” lead reviewer Dr Ken Henry said. “Biodiversity is not being conserved.
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/24/nsw-environment-protection-laws-unlikely-to-succeed-without-major-overhaul-damning-review-finds
“The natural environment is now so damaged that we must commit to ‘nature positive’ if we are to have any confidence that future generations will have the opportunity to be as well off as we are.” #nswpol #auslaw #biodiversity #conservation

Good to hear from Former Shadow AG Julian Leeser MP at Griffith University today - “I believe it is only reasonable that the parliament consult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians when we make laws affecting them." https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/leaders/australians-urged-to-vote-on-voice-separate-to-political-parties-by-liberal-mp/news-story/8df334ad97e12e5d1bb747f7425ecc2c

“The No campaign is using what I call the Jackson Pollock strategy of campaigning. Jackson Pollock painted Blue Poles. His approach was to splatter paint on the canvas and let the viewer be overwhelmed by the chaos: splat, splat, splat. None of their arguments are about the wording of the constitutional provision – and that is what we are voting on.”

#auspol #auslaw #IndigenousVoice #Voice

I still find it astounding that the last decade of toxicity in politics was enough to wake the giant, Fitzgerald, from his quiet retirement and drag him back into the public forum.

He was a man only mentioned in textbooks before that.
#QldPol #AusPol #AusLaw

Queensland to allow police watch houses to be used as youth detention centres, overriding Human Rights Act, in proposed law change https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-23/qld-watch-house-youth-crime-human-rights-prison/102767700 via @ABCaustralia #humanrights #auslaw #auspol #Queensland

Vaping found to be the biggest risk factor for teenage tobacco smoking https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/aug/23/vaping-found-to-be-the-biggest-risk-factor-for-teenage-tobacco-smoking #vaping #ecigarettes #smoking #health #auspol #auslaw

Minister Tanya Plibersek, the ‘Drug Dealer’s Defence’ and 1.7 Million atomic ‘Little Boy’ bombs.

The fragile argument that the Albanese government relies on to approve new coal mines and expansions.

#ClimateChange #ClimateCrisis #AusLaw #AusPol #AngrySummer #AusBiz
https://theconversation.com/what-harm-could-one-coal-mine-do-plenty-1-7-million-hiroshima-bombs-of-heat-for-starters-210384

Stephen Gageler to replace Susan Kiefel as High Court chief justice https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-22/stephen-gageler-to-become-high-court-chief-justice/102759056 via @ABCaustralia As solicitor-general, Gageler successfully defended Australia's plain packaging of tobacco products. #auslaw #auspol

Nuix insider lifts the lid on share market float disaster, as ASIC faces hearings into its role https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-21/asix-nuix-senate-inquiry/102749880 via @ABCaustralia #ASIC #auslaw #regulation

Fight brews on AI copyright law, as unions say big tech must pay to train AI, while Google, Microsoft ask for exemptions https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-03/fight-brews-on-ai-copyright-unions-say-big-tech-must-pay/102677032 via @ABCaustralia #copyright #AI #auslaw #auspol

Qantas accused of misleading conduct over advertising flight own sales staff could not find https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/21/qantas-accused-of-misleading-conduct-over-advertising-flight-own-sales-staff-could-not-find #consumerlaw #auslaw #auspol #trave

Qantas faces class action over pandemic travel credits treated as ‘$1bn in interest-free loans’ https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/21/qantas-faces-class-action-over-pandemic-travel-credits-treated-as-1bn-in-interest-free-loans #consumerlaw #Qantas #auslaw #classaction #COVID19 #travel

Australia’s internet providers are ditching email, to the disgust of older customers https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/19/australias-internet-providers-are-ditching-email-to-the-disgust-of-older-customers #email #auspol #auslaw

Woodside faces Indigenous legal challenge to seismic blasting at WA gas site https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/18/woodside-faces-indigenous-legal-challenge-to-seismic-blasting-at-wa-gas-site Traditional owner alleges company failed to adequately consult on effect of Scarborough project blasting on sea country. #auslaw #auspol #IndigenousIP #UNDRIP #gas

Quarter of submissions from vape users to Australian inquiry parrot text from tobacco industry campaign https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/18/quarter-of-submissions-from-vape-users-to-australian-inquiry-parrot-text-from-tobacco-industry-campaign Study finds 26% of individual responses to TGA vaping reforms contained text from template provided as part of ‘astroturfing’ campaign. #auspol #auslaw #vaping #astroturfing

Sentencing for Plutus Payroll fraud case due Tuesday

smh.com.au/national/nsw/adam-cranston-pocketed-6-8-million-from-tax-fraud-court-told-20230815-p5dwls.html
#AusLaw #AusBiz

Australia’s vaping crackdown to be enforced with new laws https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/16/australia-vaping-crackdown-new-laws After announcing most forms of vaping would be banned, the Albanese government will legislate changes and boost agencies’ powers. #vaping #ecigarettes #auslaw #auspol

Sounds like a crash course in ‘What’s the difference between criminal and civil courts’

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-14/bruce-lehrmann-says-he-will-seek-compensation-in-interview/102724890
#AusLaw