The Latest Breaking News from The Law Council of Australia

Is Australian democracy eroding?

Across the world, concern about democratic backsliding – the erosion of democratic institutions and civil liberties – is growing.

The Conversation · May 5

Up to 80,000 people in Australia may be affected by ‘sledgehammer’ powers to deport noncitizens to Nauru, lawyers warn

Greens senator David Shoebridge accuses Tony Burke of ‘doing his Peter Dutton impression, dog-whistling and punching down on migrants’

The Guardian - AU · Sep 2, 2025

Mandatory minimum sentencing is proven to be bad policy. It won’t stop hate crimes

Weeks after Opposition Leader Peter Dutton announced his support for mandatory minimum jail terms for antisemitic offences, the government has legislated such laws. Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke stated the federal parliament would now be “putting in place the toughest laws against hate speech that Australia has ever had”.

The Conversation · Feb 6, 2025

Bernard Collaery trial highlights ‘prohibitive’ and ‘onerous’ government secrecy restrictions, lawyers claim

Exclusive: Whistleblower’s legal team detailed the ‘profound’ cost of the commonwealth’s rules in inquiry into the effectiveness of the National Security Information Act 2004

The Guardian - AU · Jul 3, 2023

Law council joins calls to abolish Australia’s powers to detain terrorist offenders to prevent future crimes

Peak legal body endorses findings by independent monitor that recommends scrapping continuing detention orders

The Guardian - AU · Apr 4, 2023