Media releases
MEDIA RELEASE: New hearing as Federal Government fights to keep Robodebt information secret
August 23, 2021A 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
August 19, 2021The 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
June 21, 2021A 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
April 22, 2021Today 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
March 09, 2021The 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
February 23, 2021Today 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
October 27, 2020Human 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
October 27, 2020Professor 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
September 11, 2020The 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
September 08, 2020The 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
June 05, 2020Australian 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
May 29, 2020A 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
May 21, 2020Grata 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
May 13, 2020Today, 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
April 07, 2020A 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
April 02, 2020Eight 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
December 10, 2019Aboriginal 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
October 22, 2019Residents 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
October 16, 2019Residents 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
October 15, 2019Aboriginal 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...