MEDIA RELEASE: Landmark class action lawsuit sees frontline communities sue Australian Government for climate crisis
First Nations leaders from the remote islands of Boigu and Saibai in Gudamalulgal in the Torres Strait (Zenadth Kes) are taking the Australian Federal Government to court in a bid to prevent the destruction...
MEDIA RELEASE: Federal Government brings Bill to hide documents about ‘National Cabinet’s’ Covid-19 response and more
Responding to the Federal Government’s tabling of legislation designed to exclude National Cabinet from Freedom of Information Act requests, Isabelle Reinecke, Executive Director of Grata Fund, said:
MEDIA RELEASE: New hearing as Federal Government fights to keep Robodebt information secret
A long-running legal battle to access documents behind the Federal Government’s botched Robodebt scheme will be back before the Administrative Appeals Tribunal on Wednesday 25 August.
MEDIA RELEASE: Litigation hitlist launched to challenge the Government’s FOI refusals
The Federal Government is routinely rejecting Freedom of Information (FOI) requests from journalists, civil society organisations and the public on spurious and potentially unlawful grounds, according to analysis by Grata Fund.
MEDIA RELEASE: Secrecy surrounding Robodebt to be tested in legal battle
A long-running legal battle to access documents behind the Federal Government’s botched Robodebt scheme reaches the Administrative Appeals Tribunal this week in a hearing that begins today.
MEDIA RELEASE: Territory Government's water investment must mean urgent action on safe water for remote communities
Today the Territory Government announced a plan to invest in water infrastructure in some remote communities facing water stress, however, funding is needed for every single community living without safe access to water as...
MEDIA RELEASE: Minister Ley to face legal challenge on refusal to grant FOI access to documents about controversial ‘fast tracked’ projects
The Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) will today file a case at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) challenging Environment Minister Sussan Ley’s refusal to release documents requested under Freedom of Information laws about 15 ‘fast...
MEDIA RELEASE: NT Gov to argue against 'humane' housing at Appeal today
Today the full bench of the NT Supreme Court sitting as the Court of Appeal will hear the NT Government’s arguments against its responsibility to provide ‘humane’ rental homes to its remote First Nations...
MEDIA RELEASE: Urgent scrutiny of police powers and access for legal observers at Djab Wurrung protest
Human rights and legal organisations have condemned a police operation targeting Djab Wurrung protestors who are protecting sacred Djab Wurrung trees in Victoria and are calling for urgent scrutiny of police powers and access...
MEDIA ADVISORY: George Williams AO joins Grata's Board
Professor George Williams AO, imminent constitutional law expert, UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Planning and Assurance, Anthony Mason Professor and Scientia Professor of Law has joined Grata Fund as a Board Director. George comes to Grata...
MEDIA RELEASE: Adani’s “trained attack-dog” legal strategy takes aim at community criticism and democratic freedoms through Pennings
The QLD Supreme Court decided in favour of Adani today, agreeing to issue interlocutory [temporary] injunctions against community advocate Ben Pennings. Adani sought injunctions that would restrict Mr Pennings from engaging in advocacy about...
MEDIA RELEASE: Historic Supreme Court victory establishes right to humane housing for Santa Teresa, and sets scene for new challenges
The NT Supreme Court today released its decision in the landmark Santa Teresa test case. This precedent established for the first time that remote community tenants must be provided with housing that meets contemporary...
MEDIA RELEASE: Policing of Black Lives Matter protests must not unduly infringe freedom of assembly
Australian governments must ensure that COVID-19 emergency measures and policing are consistent with democratic freedoms and human rights. Orders introduced by governments in response to COVID-19 have understandably led to temporary restrictions of freedoms...
MEDIA RELEASE: COVID forced adoption of tech heralds revolution in the courts
A report released today outlines the dramatic changes to Australian courts in response to COVID and the transformative potential of these changes for how the courts, the third pillar of our democracy, function and...
MEDIA RELEASE: New resource launched to track ongoing COVID-19 measures that impact on civil liberties
Grata Fund, in partnership with law firm Hall and Wilcox is today launching the COVID-19 Law Monitor, a resource for journalists and civil society to track COVID-19 measures introduced by governments that impacts on...
MEDIA RELEASE: Greater integrity measures required for Covid Commission say former judges and legal groups
Today, a former Victorian Court of Appeal judge Anthony Whealy, and law and integrity groups, including the Centre for Public Integrity, Grata Fund, Transparency International, PIAC, Amnesty International, Human Rights Law Centre and The...
MEDIA RELEASE: Covid-19: Extraordinary powers must be balanced with strong parliament and courts says report
A report released today by Grata Fund lays out a road map for the Government to maintain public trust through the management of the COVID-19 crisis. Within a matter of weeks of Covid-19 hitting...
MEDIA RELEASE: Parliamentary scrutiny of COVID-19 response is vital in public health emergency: Civil society and legal groups
Eight legal and civil society groups have today called on the Australian Senate to establish a Select Committee with broad powers to review and report on the Federal Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. ...
MEDIA RELEASE: Housing test case in NT Supreme Court today could set unprecedented legal standards for remote communities
Aboriginal people living in remote communities living in appalling conditions in the NT are closely observing the developments of the Santa Teresa landmark test case that will be heard in the NT Supreme Court...
MEDIA RELEASE: Remote Aboriginal community wins safe housing in class action against NT Government
Residents in the Aboriginal community of Santa Teresa will finally be compensated for the NT Government’s failure to maintain housing to a safe and healthy level after the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal...