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It is this Council’s view that the Courier Mail has raised important public issues as to the extent to which the OIA may be improperly exercising its powers where it is arguably contrary to the provisions of the OIA’s statute with the result that free speech incursions are occurring in relation to the ability of Local Councillors to exercise their public duty to engage in appropriate criticism of matters affecting Local Government in Queensland
Read MoreI am writing to impress on you the need to commit to that review in the first hundred days of the next Labor government as a catalyst to reform Australia’s commitment to social justice.
Read MoreWe assume therefore that in making each of those directions, you have conducted an analysis which demonstrates that you have given proper consideration to all relevant human rights in preparing the directions.
Read MoreIn formulating our views on what such a law should look like we have had regard to the principle that the press is and must be independent from government and has a presumptive though not unconditional right to seek out the news. Freedom of speech is rooted in a distrust of the government’s capacity to regulate speech particularly political speech where it is in a position of a conflict of interest. This conflict is no starker when it is seeking to restrain the use of embarrassing information obtained by journalists
Read MoreWe acknowledge that all the rights in the Human Rights Act can be limited in accordance with section 13. However, it is the Council’s position that mandatory vaccination is only acceptable where there is an exemption for those who hold a personal, philosophical or religious objection to it.
Read MoreThe QCCL has written to the Commissioner of Police asking for comment in relation to reports that police are using ANPR (Automated Number Plate Recognition Technology) to charge people with breaching the Home Confinement Direction by travelling more than 50km from their home.
Read MoreThe right to freedom of speech is a fundamental right which the City Council in fact has a duty to facilitate. It should do so by enacting laws which comply with its obligations under the Human Rights Act.
Read MoreFrom the point of view of the QCCL two principles are relevant to this issue. The first is freedom of religion. Parents are entitled to have their views about what religion, if any, their children are taught respected. The stories that we hear repeatedly, would indicate that that is not occurring in Queensland State Schools.
Read MoreIn the end, whilst we acknowledge that there may be certain efficiency benefits to your proposal we do not consider that those efficiency benefits outweigh the risks that flow from the collection of this permanent piece of private data about a person.
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