Celebrating our 2023 Life Members
The NSW Council for Civil Liberties (NSWCCL) recently bestowed Honourary Life Memberships upon four exceptional individuals who have dedicated many decades to the relentless pursuit of civil liberties and human rights for all. This prestigious accolade serves as a testament to their unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions to the cause.
Read more60 Years Strong - 2023 Annual Dinner and Excellence in Civil Liberties Journalism Awards
We again thank Councillor Yvonne Weldon for taking the time to attend our dinner to Welcome us on behalf of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. It was an honour to have Cl Weldon join us on Gadigal Country and share her time so generously with us on our 60th birthday party!
We also thank the Hon Dr Meredith Burgmann for hosting our dinner. Meredith is a long time member of the Council and a constant defender of human rights and civil liberties.
Craig Foster, activist, human rights campaigner and Co-Chair of the Australian Republican Movement delivered a call to action in his keynote address to take on the big miners - “We cannot open any more coal and gas projects if we want to save our planet,” Foster said. “We need a just transition and we need it now. Our governments are not listening to us, so we need mass civil disobedience to stop them. Who will take part in this?”
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Stand up, Fight Back: Protecting the right to protest in NSW
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Our event at Sydney University Law School brought together a stellar group of activists, students, academics, lawyers and civil society. We know that activism changes history and the right to stand together and peacefully protest must be protected and defended for every citizen not pared back. Peaceful protestors should never face incarceration. Our panel spoke from the perspectives of their lived experiences and generously shared their passion for maintaining our democratic rights to speak freely in society and to hold government and corporations to account through protest action. We thank Jeff, Amal, Kavita Luc and Simon for their time and extraordinary expertise (bio's below)! If you missed this event you can catch up here. |
PALM SUNDAY - Standing together for Refugee's and Peace
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NSWCCL lauded the government's decision in February to grant permanent residency visas to 19,000 asylum seekers on temporary protection visas, but there are still thousands of people stuck in limbo both in Australia and at off-shore processing centres. This is just not good enough from a Labor government promising compassion.
2022 End of year drinks!
Thanks very much to the ArtHouse Hotel for hosting our end of year drinks this week. It was lovely to catch up and reflect on the year and celebrate the beginning of our 60th year anniversary in 2023.
We look forward to a productive, active and fun-filled series of events next year, the highlight of which will be our annual dinner in October 2023! More details to follow......
Read more2022 Annual Dinner and Excellence in Civil Liberties Journalism Awards
We thank Councillor Yvonne Weldon for taking the time to attend our dinner to Welcome us on behalf of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. It was an honour to have Cl Weldon join us on Gadigal Country and invite us to work with the local Aboriginal community in the important work that is do be done to bring about positive change through truth telling and a First Nations Voice to Parliament.
We also thank Senator The Hon. Jenny McAllister for attending our dinner and introducing Mr Mayo. Senator McAllister has been a long time friend of NSWCCL and constant defender of human rights and civil liberties.
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This year our committee decided that the Council should use our Annual Dinner as a platform to publicly endorse both the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a YES vote in the upcoming referendum enshrining a First Nations voice to the Parliament. What better way to do this than invite Thomas Mayo, Torres Strait Islander man born in Garramilla (Darwin) and a passionate advocate for the Uluru Statement to deliver our keynote. Mr Mayo said “I know I’m among friends here tonight. I invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.” Forged from more than two centuries of hardship and struggle, the Uluru Statement gives hope to a nation born from many nations, that we may find our collective heart. |
Challenges in establishing a federal integrity commission - Melbourne University
Our president Pauline Wright spoke to the 'Administrative Challenges in Practice' class at Melbourne University on the 30th of March 2022 discussing the challenges in establishing a federal integrity commission.
Read moreThe case for a Federal ICAC - National Press Club of Australia
Our President Pauline Wright spoke to the National Press Club of Australia in Canberra on the 1st of December 2021 arguing for a federal Independent Commission Against Corruption.
Read more2021 Annual fundraiser & awards
And the winners were:
- Excellence in civil liberties journalism - open:
Paul Gregoire - Excellence in civil liberties journalism - young journalist:
Kate Allman - The Kafka award for the most egregious public statements or acts offensive to civil liberties and human rights:
Clubs NSW for demanding via their lawyers that an ex-employee whistleblower facing financial ruin over court costs stop crowd funding to finance his court case and return donations already received - or face further court action.
Rule of Law webathon
Black Lives Matter - an Australian perspective
NSWCCL hosted Australia's contribition to the International Rule Of Law Webathon on Weds 5 May 2021. You can view our session with others from around the world on YouTube here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmsQriH1wcIYhwON5ncdUuQ
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