Eureka Street

Keywords: High Court

AUSTRALIA

Tom Hughes, legend of Australian politics and law, farewelled
- Peter Craven
- 05 December 2024
Tom Hughes, who passed away at 101, was a towering figure in Australia’s legal and political history. A barrister of dazzling skill, an Attorney-General with a penchant for reform, and a man of unshakable conviction, Hughes combined wit, charm, and grit to shape justice and inspire a legacy beyond party lines.
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

New immigration laws treat humans as parcels
- Andrew Hamilton
- 04 December 2024
Australia’s recent immigration detention laws reveal a stark shift in governance, prioritising power over human dignity. As families face indefinite separation and bureaucrats enforce policies with brutal efficiency, the High Court's rebuke offers a glimmer of ethical resistance. But can such laws truly claim legitimacy in a democratic society?
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

Offshore people dumping by a spooked government
- Frank Brennan
- 04 December 2024
1 Comment
When High Court rulings challenge government policy, they usually prompt reflection and refinement. But for the Federal Government, a recent decision on non-citizen rights has sparked a legislative overreach, mirroring the Opposition’s hardline stance.
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

Housing is a human right. It's time it became law
- Kevin Bell
- 29 November 2024
2 Comments
With unaffordable housing pushing families into impossible choices, homelessness affecting 120,000 people, and systemic inequities deepening, we must ask: What kind of society do we want to build — and for whom?
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

The spirituality of KFC
- Michael McGirr
- 22 November 2024
3 Comments
There’s this other place that is neither heaven nor earth but which you might find in the car park of the third busiest KFC in Melbourne, waiting for your son to finish his shift. A bin beside the car is overflowing with all the packaging that comes with fast food, not to mention the remains of poor dead chooks whose life it is hard to imagine.
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

Long-term detention, curfews and ankle bracelets for asylum seekers under the rule of law
- Frank Brennan
- 08 November 2024
7 Comments
Last week, Australia’s High Court blocked government restrictions on non-citizens with criminal records. As Parliament scrambles to impose new restrictions, Chief Justice Stephen Gageler’s court remains steadfast against policies deemed discriminatory and excessively punitive.
READ MORE
INTERNATIONAL

Betting on lost causes
- Andrew Hamilton
- 23 October 2024
3 Comments
In the spirit of Spring Racing, the United Nations promotes its own high-stakes race: World Disarmament Week and United Nations Day. Despite heavy odds and the relentless rise of nuclear threats, these efforts remain crucial for global peace. Can the underdog of diplomacy prevail in the face of overwhelming opposition?
READ MORE
INTERNATIONAL

Songs of Cretan liars and the rambling voice of truth
- Peter Craven
- 09 October 2024
With moments of shared perspective and common ground, the weird thing about the CBS debate the debate between the two putative vice-presidents, J.D. Vance and Tim Walz, was how civil and considerate it was and (in its way) how impressive.
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

A second try at combatting disinformation
- Frank Brennan
- 25 September 2024
3 Comments
The Government is making another valiant effort to rein in the adverse effects of ungoverned digital platforms. But in debating such a detailed bill without the backstop of a constitutional or statutory bill of rights recognising the right to freedom of expression, there are no clear guard rails for getting the balance right.
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

What does Tickle vs. Giggle mean for single-sex spaces?
- Erica Cervini
- 04 September 2024
4 Comments
While women-only spaces have long been seen as essential, the verdict raises questions about inclusivity and the potential for compromise. Is it possible to balance gender equality with the need for safe, exclusive spaces?
READ MORE
AUSTRALIA

Did lawyers fail to stand on principle?
- Frank Brennan
- 20 August 2024
6 Comments
In the aftermath of the failed Voice referendum, questions arise about the legal profession’s role in public discourse. Was this a missed opportunity for legal experts to provide critical analysis and guidance on such a significant constitutional matter?
READ MORE
INTERNATIONAL

Only in America
- Peter Craven
- 25 July 2024
It’s easy, isn’t it – much too easy – to invoke the standard response that only in the so-called Land of the Free could these things transpire. A vulgar, mendacious man who has refused to believe that he lost the last election is now the improbable victim of an assassination attempt. And the incumbent president, who has not done badly at his impossible job, surrenders his chance at re-election.
READ MORE

Subscriber login

Keywords: High Court