News and Events

8 May 2020 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

RLC's Samantha Lee was a guest on The Drum, speaking alongside journalist Osman Faruqi about concerns that a disproportionate number of COVID-19 fines appear to be being issued in lower socioeconomic areas. The Drum (21 April 2020).

There are calls for more police data and accountability to monitor how authorities are enforcing the coronavirus restrictions in Australia. Jarni Blakkarly reports for SBS News

On April 6 2020, the Migrant Employment Legal Service (MELS) wrote to the Minister for Families and Social Services, the Hon Anne Ruston MP, to express concerns about the inability of vulnerable migrant workers to access welfare payments.

Guidance to NSW Police issuing COVID-19 public health fines must be made public and fines should not be issued to children to prevent people being further disadvantaged during the health crisis.

Thousands of migrant workers will be left destitute without immediate access to welfare payments during the COVID-19 crisis, warn legal organisations supporting vulnerable employees.

Police in New South Wales and Victoria have used new laws restricting public movement to fine more than 50 people for reasons including eating a kebab on a bench and sitting in a car. Max Opray reports for The Saturday Paper

Have you been stood down without pay? Don’t resign until you've had legal advice, says RLC's employment law solicitor.

Community legal centres have called on the federal government to protect migrant workers from visa cancellations during the COVID-19 crisis and urged businesses to rely on stand-down provisions rather than sack skilled employees.

The COVID-19 outbreak is having disastrous impacts for Australia’s workforce and economy. While temporary stand downs, terminations and redundancies negatively impact all employees, for migrant workers in Australia these actions could lead to visa cancellation, making their circumstances extremely precarious.