Australia

Australian High Court Declares Regional Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act As Of No Effect

London, 18 December 2013

On 12 December 2013, the High Court of Australia issued its judgment in The Commonwealth v Australian Capital Territory, a case relating to the status of the Marriage Equality (Same Sex) Act 2013, a regional law enacted in October 2013 which permitted same-sex marriage in the Australian Capital Territories (ACT). As was expected, the High Court found that the Act was inconsistent with federal law on marriage, which defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman. 

Australia Regional Resettlement Policy letter

This is ERT's letter to Australian Prime Minister Hon Kevin Rudd MP, with regard to the announcement of the ?Regional Settlement Arrangement? under which Australia signed agreements with Papua New Guinea (PNG) on 19 July and Nauru on 3 August. In the letter, ERT condemns the retrogressive and inhumane policy of forcibly removing asylum seekers to third countries without determining their status and in breach of the principle of non-refoulement and other obligations under international law.

Australian Senate Committee Adopts Key ERT Recommendation on Religious Exceptions

London, 27 February 2013 
 
On 21 February 2013, the Australian Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs (the Committee) published its report on the Draft Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Bill 2012 (the Draft Bill), marking an important step in Australia’s progress towards enacting comprehensive anti-discrimination law. The Equal Rights Trust (ERT) welcomes this step, and the Committee’s decision to adopt a key ERT recommendation on reducing the scope of religious exemptions.

ERT Submission to Australian Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on the Draft Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Bill

ERT's response to the consultation by the Australian Senate Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs on the Draft Anti-Discrimination and Human Rights Bill welcomes the Bill, but makes a number of recommendations on how it could be strengthened to ensure full compliance with international law and best practice on equality, including the Declaration of Principles on Equality.

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