In the fifteen years since Blak and Black spoke of the erosion of civil liberties, much of what was forewarned has been realised.
The cathedral of the rule of law faces challenges as has done Notre Dame, being damaged and rebuilt over the centuries to become a more complete icon.
The High Court of Australia case regarding the power of the Commonwealth to proscribe hate groups is a seminal test of the rule of law.
Emergency legislation implemented for sound reasons can become the tool of unscrupulous and unethical people if not dismantled when no longer needed.
Examining the principles that undermine the rule of law highlights the failures of Australia's legal system.
Enforcing a disputed political definition in the public service sets an implicit bias that will affect public policy and relations both local and international.
The rule of law, the presumption of innocence, and the right to a fair trial are the oxygen of a democratic society.
Imposing punishment on a.defendant before the accusation has been proved, such as proposed in current legislative review, fails to preserve this crucial legal tenet.
The descent into totalitarianism can only be avoided by cultivating truth, accountability, and pluralism in politics.
Unequal application of the law places democracy at risk.
Protections of in whistleblower legislation fail to protect both the person making the disclosure and victims of malicious attack via fraud.
Legal complexity, discretionary enforcement and systemic biases have created an environment where justice is unevenly administered.
Individual responsibility and universal jurisdiction are the positive legacies of Nuremberg upon which justice must continue to stand.
Australia's crackdown on the dissenting and outspoken voices underscores a concerning trend where the state overrules the rule of law.
Freedom of speech and the rule of law are both necessary for democracy to function and endure.
Legislative instruments expanded since 9/11 represent a vast creep of restrictions on liberty, privacy and due process
Every human life holds equal value, regardless of individual differences and is pivotal in ethical and legal frameworks.
Perceptions of the politicisation of the AFP have considerable weight stretching back to its origins and continuing to today.
To place a person above or outside the law is to undermine democracy.
Australia’s political guardrail institutions are often holograms lacking the substantive ability to fulfill their mandates.