Media Releases
First Quarter 2010
11 March 2010 - Launch of New ASIO Website and Recruitment Campaign
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today launched the new Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) website and recruitment campaign for new Intelligence Officers.
11 March 2010 - Release of Report on Commonwealth Secrecy Laws
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today tabled the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) report ‘Secrecy Laws and Open Government in Australia’.
11 March 2010 - Passage of Legislation to Prohibit Torture and the Death Penalty
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the passage of legislation through Parliament which prohibits the use of torture and ensures that the death penalty cannot be reintroduced anywhere in Australia in the future
10 March 2010 - Emergency Management Cooperation with New Caledonia
Australia and French New Caledonia have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in preventing and responding to bushfires and other natural disasters, under a Letter of Intent signed today by the Attorney-General, Robert McClelland.
9 March 2010 - Flood Grants for Small Businesses and Primary Producers
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Premier Anna Bligh today announced joint Commonwealth-State funded grants to help small businesses and primary producers affected by recent flooding in Queensland.
9 March 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for New South Wales Flood Affected Communities
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to communities affected by recent storms and flooding in New South Wales.
6 March 2010 - Tsunami Awareness Project
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, and Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) Director of Life Saving, Peter George, will today promote an innovative awareness program at Bondi Beach to help the general public and surf life savers better prepare and respond to tsunami warnings.
5 March 2010 - Commonwealth Extends Assistance for Queensland Flood Victims
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide additional financial assistance to Queensland communities affected by heavy rainfall and associated flooding.
5 March 2010 - Ethiopian Intercountry Adoption Program
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Ethiopia-Australia intercountry adoption program will resume on 6 April 2010.
3 March 2010 - Establishment of the Australian International Disputes Centre
Sydney is set to share in the booming market in commercial dispute resolution with the announcement today that the first dedicated international dispute resolution centre will be established in the CBD later this year.
3 March 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for Queensland Flood Affected Communities
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to Queensland communities affected by recent flooding.
1 March 2010 - Appointment of new Australian Government Solicitor Chief Executive Officer
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the appointment of Mr Ian Govey as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS).
23 February 2010 - Legislation to Combat People Smuggling
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Senator Chris Evans, and Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, today outlined the Government’s intention to introduce legislation to significantly strengthen Australia’s people smuggling laws.
23 February 2010 - Securing Australia, Protecting our Community
The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, Attorney General, Robert McClelland and Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith today launched the 2010 Counter-Terrorism White Paper, Securing Australia, Protecting Our Community.
20 February 2010 - Statement on the Death Penalty
Successive Australian Governments have maintained a long-standing policy of opposition to the death penalty. The death penalty has been formally abolished by all jurisdictions in Australia.
19 February 2010 - Commonwealth and Victoria agree on Disaster Resilience Partnership
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and Victorian Minister for Emergency Services, Bob Cameron, today announced a $7.8 million joint implementation plan for disaster resilience initiatives in Victoria.
18 February 2010 - Meeting of the International Pro Bono Advisory Group
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today chaired the third meeting of the International Pro Bono Advisory Group.
17 February 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for New South Wales Flood Affected Communities
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to New South Wales communities affected by recent flooding in the south coast and far west.
15 February 2010 - Counter-Terrorism Trial Sentences
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today acknowledged the sentences imposed by the Supreme Court of New South Wales in the trial of five individuals convicted of terrorism offences.
9 February 2010 - Trial of Bushfire Fire Detection Cameras
Federal Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, Victorian Minister for Emergency Services, Bob Cameron, and New South Wales Minister for Forest Resources, Ian Macdonald, today announced a comprehensive trial of bush fire detection cameras.
7 February 2010 - Anniversary of Black Saturday Bushfires
The Australian Government today joined with Victoria in marking the first anniversary of the devastating Black Saturday bushfires.
4 February 2010 - Release of Report into the Royal Commission Act
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today released the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) report, ‘Making Inquiries: A New Statutory Framework’.
4 February 2010 - Passage of Legislation to Combat Serious and Organised Crime
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the passage of legislation implementing reforms to more effectively prevent, investigate and prosecute organised crime activity, and target the proceeds of organised crime groups.
2 February 2010 - Passage of Legislation to Protect Computer Networks from Attack
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today welcomed the passage through Parliament of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Amendment Bill 2009.
28 January 2010 - Commonwealth Assisstance for Flood Affected Queensland Communities
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial assistance to North Queensland communities impacted by recent heavy rain and flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclones Olga and Neville.
28 January 2010 - Release of Family Law Reviews
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today released key reports examining the operation of the family law system and how the family law courts deal with cases involving family violence.
12 January 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for Flood Affected Communities in the Northern Territory
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and Federal Member for Lingiari, Warren Snowdon, today announced that the Commonwealth Government will provide financial support to the Northern Territory Government to assist with costs associated with helping communities impacted by recent flooding.
9 January 2010 - Appointments to the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced new appointments to the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council (NADRAC).
8 January 2010 - Commonwealth Assistance for Flood Affected Queensland Communities
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced the Commonwealth Government will provide financial support to the Queensland Government to assist with costs associated with helping communities in Central and South West Queensland impacted by recent heavy rain and flooding.
8 January 2010 - Release of Commonwealth Legal Services Procurement Report
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today released a broad review into the procurement of Commonwealth legal services.
8 January 2010 - Border Protection Command Intercepts Vessel
Border Protection Command today successfully intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel.
6 January 2010 - Additional Funding for Family Law Legal Education Programs
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced additional funding of $360,000 for community legal centres to develop or expand partnerships with universities providing placement opportunities for students in family law.
4 January 2010 - Border Protection Command Intercepts Vessel
Border Protection Command yesterday successfully intercepted a suspected irregular entry vessel.