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This has been an exceptionally busy month for the National Justice Project with a number of wins for our clients.
After a six-year battle to hold the government to account for failing to provide adequate medical care on Nauru, the Federal Court issued judgements approving settlements for two children who had been detained there.
In addition:
- The NSW Deputy State Coronor handed down significant findings in a coronial inquest
- The Senate Inquiry report was released on the Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children
- Staff from the National Justice Project were invited to address a United Nations Human Rights Conference
- We have advocated for the Western Australia Premier to close the state’s notorious Unit 18 youth prison
- Our partnership with Monash Law Clinics celebrates training 100 students to be social justice advocates
Read more below and visit justice.org.au/news to stay up to date.
WELCOMING | Court settlements approved for refugee children after six years
The National Justice Project has welcomed judgments from the Federal Court in two offshore detention test cases approving settlements for children who allege that the Commonwealth breached its duty of care by failing to provide adequate medical treatment on Nauru. This is a major win for us and for the families we represented for more than six years. But this fight is far from over.
REPRESENTING | Justice for Ricky 'Dougie' Hampson
We were proud to represent the family of Dougie Hampson earlier this year at the coronial inquest into his death, and to stand alongside them as the findings were handed down this month. The NSW Deputy State Coroner found Dougie's death was preventable and referred a Dubbo Base Hospital doctor to the Health Care Complaints Commission. They also called for NSW Health to amend a state-wide policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
SHOWCASING | National Justice Project by UN
The National Justice Project was recently invited to address the United Nations conference on 'Strategic Litigation Network on Migrants and People on the Move in Asia Pacific'. The two-day event held in Bangkok was hosted by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Asia Pacific Refugee Rights Network (APRRN).
HONOURING | Mona and Cindy Smith in Senate Inquiry report
We welcomed the release of the Senate report following a two-year inquiry on Missing and Murdered First Nations Women and Children. The report made specific reference to the recommendations of the NSW State Coroner from the coronial inquests for Mona Lisa Smith and Jacinta (Cindy) Smith.
PETITIONING | Open letter to WA Premier on U18 youth prison
The National Justice Project has joined more than 100 experts, advocates and prominent Australians to urge Western Australia Premier Roger Cook to close the state’s notorious Unit 18 youth prison.
CELEBRATING | Monash University students in National Justice Project clinic
Our partnership with Monash Law Clinics began in 2020 and we have just celebrated the 100th student completing a clinic. We looking forward to training up the next generation of social justice advocates.
THANKING | You
To all of our amazing supporters, without your generosity and support we would not be able to fearlessly fight these injustices and advocate for change. At the National Justice Project we don't accept government funding so we can hold them to account. That's why the support of people like you is vital to ensure our independence. If you are able, please consider supporting this work as a once off, or monthly donation and together we can secure truth, justice and accountability.
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National Justice Project (NJP)
15 Broadway CB01.17, Building 1, University of Technology Sydney, Gadigal Country, Broadway NSW 2007
We acknowledge that we live and work on the lands of First Nations Peoples, and we pay our respects to their Elders past and present. Our Sydney office is located on the lands of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation, whose sovereignty was never ceded. This land always was, and always will be, Aboriginal land.