Youthlaw has advocated for the interests of young people in relation to proposed cyber-bullying laws and policies in the Department of Communications’ Discussion Paper “Enhancing Online Safety for Children”.
We support the establishment of a Children’s e-Safety Commissioner, development of an effective complaints system to remove harmful material from social media sites quickly and securing these protections with federal legislation.
There has been public outcry in relation to the proposed laws removing rights to engage in public assembly and political demonstration. See concerns outlined in recent submissions to Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee.
Apart from those engaged in political demonstration, the proposed amendments will have a disproportionate impact on marginalised young people, people experiencing homelessness, poverty, and mental health issues who occupy public spaces.
Last Friday the Court of Appeal of the Supreme Court of Victoria made a landmark decision to grant a protective cost order to our client Nassir Bare. Without this order he would have had to discontinue his appeal. The appeal will now proceed.
Victoria Police has just opened a public inquiry into two key policies that shape their interactions with the community, particularly culturally and linguistically diverse groups and the Aboriginal community: its field contacts policy (‘stops and searches’) and its cross-cultural training program.
