On 27 March 2024, the Australian government hastily introduced the Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024 (the Bill) to Parliament. The Bill raises significant human rights concerns, particularly regarding Australia’s obligations under the Refugee Convention and its protocols. The Bill primarily targets non-citizens, including holders of Bridging (Removal Pending) visas, Bridging (General) visas and potentially other non-citizens as specified in the Bill Regulations. Failure to comply with a removal direction could result in mandatory imprisonment between 1 and 5 years, significant fines or both, without consideration given to the risk of persecution or other serious potential harm associated with removal from Australia. The Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education strongly opposes the Bill and in the submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee, recommends it does not proceed to become legislation.

Click here to download our submission to the Senate Committee.

The West Papua Mini Film Festival is a touring festival of short films organised by the West Papuan community and their allies and supporters in Australia to raise awareness of the situation in West Papua.  Click here to read a review by ERC Director 'Alopi Latukefu, published by the Development Policy Centre of Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University.

Friday 12 April 2024

Following on from Monday's resolution by the United Nations Human Rights Council calling on countries to stop selling or shipping weapons to Israel, the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education calls on the Australian government to immediately halt all military equipment trading with Israel.

The Government of South Australia committed to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart - Voice, Treaty and Truth - commencing with the South Australian First Nations Voice to Parliament. In what was a historic moment, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in South Australia were recently able to vote for their Local First Nations Voice representative. Elected representatives will sit on the SA First Nations Voice and will be a direct and independent line of communication for First Nations people to South Australia's Parliament and the government. 

Video Source: Attorney-General's Department SA