Jason was working 60 hours a week and not coping well with the adjustment to having a newborn baby, taking out his frustration using violence in the home he shared with his partner and young daughter. Police applied for a domestic violence protection order requiring him to move out. Jason did not contest statements in the police application that on several occasions he … Continue reading Jason accesses help through integrated services
People on remand and serving custodial sentences in Queensland are being held in solitary confinement and denied access to lawyers and adequate medical care, in an array of human rights breaches prompted by Queensland’s Covid-19 Declaration of Emergency. Staff at Caxton Legal Centre and Prisoners Legal Service have identified that solitary confinement is being used … Continue reading Prisoners held in solitary confinement, denied access to lawyers in Covid-19 response
In the recent case of Priddy and Ors v M and T Entriken Pty Ltd and Anor [2020] QCAT 107 a group of home owners in a manufactured home park successfully challenged a market rent review increase. It may be of interest to owners of other manufactured homes considering challenging market rent review increases. A blanket increased rent of $219.45 per week represented a significant increase of $18/$25 per … Continue reading Case clarifies factors QCAT will consider when manufactured home owners challenge market rent review site rent increases
Many government services and national, industrial-scale charities working with millions of Australians increasingly assume that digital access and literacy is universal, but it is still far from reality. The closure of Centrelink service centres and increased demand for Centrelink telephone services has made it difficult for Jeff to access Centrelink throughout the pandemic. Like many clients, Jeff has very basic computer literacy and relies upon free computers … Continue reading Challenges for Jeff in accessing Centrelink online
MEDIA RELEASE The Queensland Coronial Legal Service (QCLS) has received a five-year funding boost to increase its capacity to assist families throughout Queensland who are involved in any aspect of the coronial process. Bereaved families may have many questions about the circumstances of the death of their loved one. In addition to the shock, grief and loss they are experiencing, a family member may feel … Continue reading Queensland Coronial Legal Service – reaching more families
Samantha Wood’s father-in-law, Stephen Viner, died in 2017 after he received an electrical shock when performing maintenance work in the basement of a commercial property. An initial coronial and Workplace Health and Safety investigation was unable to determine Mr Viner’s cause of death. An inquest was held to determine the cause and circumstances of Mr Viner’s death, and for the Coroner to consider whether there were any recommendations that could … Continue reading Queensland Coronial Legal Service makes coronial inquest a bit more bearable
The recent positive Covid-19 cases in the Brisbane Youth Detention Centre signals the growing threat of the virus to the lives of detained people in Queensland. People in ‘closed environments’ such as prisons, detention facilities, mental health wards and aged care facilities are at greater risk of infection due to limitations on their ability … Continue reading Call for the safe release of vulnerable people in prisons and youth detention centres
Bonnie, a quietly-spoken 86-year-old, was being financially and emotionally abused by her grandson Joshua. Years earlier, Joshua had convinced Bonnie to transfer ownership of her home to him, stating “I’ll get it when you die anyway”. Unbeknownst to Bonnie, Joshua had a large debt with the Child Support Agency and her home was at risk of being sold. Recently, Bonnie had invited Joshua to move into the house with her when … Continue reading Bonnie’s steps to protect herself from domestic violence
What is ‘racial vilification’? Vilification is, by a public act, the incitement of hatred towards, serious contempt for or severe ridicule of a person or group of persons on the ground of race. Vilification on the basis of race and other attributes is unlawful under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld). What is a public act? A public … Continue reading Quick Q&A on offensive racist behaviour and racial vilification
In 2021 Australia will have its human rights record assessed at the United Nations Human Rights Council in a process known as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR). The UPR provides an opportunity for other nations to identify human rights problems in Australia and make recommendations about possible solutions. To inform this process, leading Australian human … Continue reading Australia’s Human Rights Scorecard: Australia’s 2020 United Nations UPR NGO Coalition Report
