Susan Harris Rimmer reviews Human Rights Overboard: If I let my inner dictator loose, every person in Australia would be forced to read this book, while listening to the Paul Kelly song "I get a little emotional sometimes".

Evan Whitton examines the historical and contemporary impediments to the formulation of effective legal policy in common law jurisdictions and proposes a set of remedies for the Federal Government to consider

HREOC Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick reports that gender inequality remains an everyday reality for women and men in Australia and outlines the key areas she has identified for reform.

Tackling Indigenous disadvantage will require a patient approach to building relationships and a strong commitment to sharing decision-making power, writes CPD fellow Meredith Edwards.

'They were targeted for precisely the reasons that had led them to seek asylum in Australia in the first place. One had married for love across religious lines. The other was associated with the pre-Taliban government. But their claims were not believed by Australian officials and so they were sent home. Now their children are dead.' Anna Samson, Ben Spies-Butcher and Phil Glendenning show why the battle to reform our refugee policies is far from over.

Howard and Beazley’s failure to stir up public outrage over the recent native title decision in WA shows that the old ‘backyards at risk’ line is getting rusty, writes Larissa Behrendt.

What do you call an offer to use revenue from your own land to lease that land from you at a fraction of its value, and then rent it back to you at market rates? The Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Amendment Bill (2006). Jon Altman argues that the amendments will weaken the property rights of traditional owners, weaken land councils and destroy the integrity of the Aboriginal Benefits Accoun.

The first hurdle towards the enactment of Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities was overcome last week when it was passed by the Legislative Assembly . While we wait for it to be considered by the Legislative Council, Spencer Zifcak provides a critique of the new law. He acknowledges that it is an important step towards the first State-based human rights Charter, but it is not without its compromises

Kirk McKenzie considers the moves afoot within the States to introduce Charters of Rights. He argues that these will help not hinder the national campaign for a Human Rights Act. Introducing rights protections at a State level would provide much needed protection and may reinvigorate State politics which has become obsessed with service provision and law and order.