The Greens support the Government’s plan to take swift action to rectify the failure to arrange for a start date of a law giving federal courts jurisdiction to settle property and maintenance disputes of de facto couples.
“The Attorney-General must treat this as a matter of urgency. The Government has no choice but to introduce legislation retrospectively so thousands of settlements from March 2009 until early February this year are not in doubt,” Greens spokesperson for Legal Affairs, Senator Penny Wright, said.
Posted on Wednesday, February 22, 2012 - 13:37
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Senator WRIGHT: First of all, I would like to ask some questions about the status of the National Justice CEOs working group on justice reinvestment. I understand that under the umbrella of the National Justice CEOs group, the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department is chairing a cross-jurisdictional working group created specifically to consider justice reinvestment or, in other words, criminal justice approaches which focus on addressing the causes of crime in particular locations. I understand this working group was due to provide a report to the National Justice CEOs in November 2011. Has the report been completed? When will it be released?
Posted on Friday, February 17, 2012 - 14:50
Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
Tuesday 14 February 2012
Senator WRIGHT: Thank you for your time today. I would like to ask you some questions today about surveillance of environmental protest groups. Does the AFP monitor the activities of environmental issues motivated groups and activists that undertake peaceful protests at coal mine sites, power stations, coal export facilities and other related sites?
Posted on Friday, February 17, 2012 - 14:40
The Government needs to listen closely to concerns raised by Australian human rights organisations when it comes to strengthening equality laws, the Australian Greens said.
“Submissions to the Federal Attorney-General’s department regarding its proposed consolidation of anti-discrimination laws closed yesterday, so today is when the work really needs to start,” Greens legal spokesperson, Senator Penny Wright, said.
Posted on Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 10:08
An alarming increase in the number of Indigenous youth in detention should be a wake-up call for the Government to urgently implement policies to address Indigenous overrepresentation in our criminal justice system, the Greens said today.
Numbers in the Productivity Commission’s report on Government services released today show that juvenile detention rates for Indigenous people between 10 and 17 years of age increased by more than 20 per cent in 2009-2010 compared to the previous year, Greens spokesperson for legal affairs, Senator Penny Wright, said.
Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - 11:29
The review of Australia’s Commonwealth-funded legal services announced today by Federal Attorney-General Nicola Roxon must address unmet need and gaps in service delivery in Australia’s legal system, the Australian Greens said.
“There are an increasing number of Australians who don't have access to our legal system because they can't afford legal advice and many Legal Aid Commissions and Community Legal Centres are struggling to meet the demand for their services," Greens spokesperson for legal affairs, Senator Penny Wright, said.
Posted on Monday, January 30, 2012 - 14:34
The tragic death of Aboriginal man Terrance Briscoe who died while in police custody last week shows that it is beyond time the Government finally implemented all 339 recommendations of the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, the Greens said.
Posted on Thursday, January 12, 2012 - 11:57
Australian Greens spokesperson for Legal Affairs Senator Penny Wright today commemorated the important yet disturbing 10-year anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
"Ten years on, Guantanamo remains open despite being a human rights black hole," Senator Wright said today.
"More than 150 inmates are still detained there indefinitely, many of which have not been charged or convicted of an offence.
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 12:01
Senator Penny Wright gives a press conference to speak on the important yet disturbing 10 year anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
Posted on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 - 11:26
This week marks a disturbing 10 year anniversary. It was on 11 January 2002 that the United States’ infamous Guantanamo Bay detention camp opened and David Hicks was one of the first inmates incarcerated there.
On this anniversary we should pause to reflect on the role played by the Australian government when two of our fellow Australian citizens – David Hicks and Mamdouh Habib - were being held by an ostensibly friendly ally, in conditions that were deplorable.
Posted on Monday, January 9, 2012 - 17:14
