Press releases - Grata Fund

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...

MEDIA RELEASE: Remote housing litigation in NT Supreme Court adjourned

Residents of Santa Teresa are left to wait more months for their housing complaints to be resolved following an adjournment of the Supreme Court hearing this morning. Dan Kelly, Solicitor for ALRAR said, “The...

MEDIA RELEASE: Landmark remote housing litigation reaches the NT Supreme Court

OPINION: New "espionage" laws could capture the critical work NGOs and advocates do in holding governments to account

Today, for the first time ever and in a demonstration of unity, ABC, News Corp, and Nine Entertainment executives will speak at the National Press Club about freedom of the press. This is a...

MEDIA RELEASE: W + J / Adani hearing today shows how big corporate money can lock out First Nations communities from accessing their rights

Today the Federal Court of Australia will hear the case from Wangan and Jagalingou Traditional Owners who oppose the Adani Carmichael mine development on their lands. Adrian Burragubba and Wangan and Jagalingou community members...