Strategic litigation, searchable.
16 cases across 14 issue areas. Filter by topic, outcome, or precedent strength. Each profile is a starting point for adaptation, not a finishing line.
- Victoria, Australia· 2024· Victorian ParliamentfavorableHigh precedentlegislative reform
Victorian Youth Justice Act 2024 - Raising the Age
Victoria legislated to raise minimum age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 12 (2024), then to 14 by 2027. First state with phased raise-the-age approach.
age-of-responsibilityindigenous-rightsyouth-justice - Western Australia, Australia· 2023· Inspector of Custodial ServicesadverseHigh precedentinspection report
WA Inspector Report - Unit 18 Casuarina
Inspection of Unit 18 at Casuarina adult prison where children were held. Found conditions breached international obligations and domestic law.
adult-prisondetention-conditionsindigenous-rightsyouth-justice - Australia (National)· 2023· High Court of AustraliafavorableHigh precedent
NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2023] HCA 37
Whether indefinite immigration detention of a non-citizen who cannot be removed in the reasonably foreseeable future is within Commonwealth power.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentionindefinite detention - Western Australia, Australia· 2022· Inspector of Custodial ServicespendingHigh precedentinspection report
OICS Review of Banksia Hill Detention Centre
Multiple inspections found systemic failures: high isolation use, self-harm, staff shortages. Children transferred to adult facility (Casuarina Unit 18) as emergency.
detention-conditionsindigenous-rightsyouth-justice - Australia (National)· 2020· Coalition of PeaksadverseHigh precedentnational agreement
Closing the Gap Target 11 - Youth Justice
Target 11: reduce Aboriginal youth detention rate by 30% by 2031. Current trajectory: WORSENING - rate increased from 21x to 23x overrepresentation.
closing-the-gapindigenous-rightsyouth-justice - Australia (National)· 2018· Australian Law Reform CommissionfavorableHigh precedentreport
ALRC Report 133 - Pathways to Justice
Comprehensive inquiry into Aboriginal incarceration overrepresentation. Found justice reinvestment, Aboriginal-controlled sentencing, bail reform most effective.
indigenous-rightsjustice-reinvestmentyouth-justice - Northern Territory, Australia· 2017· Royal CommissionfavorableHigh precedentroyal commission
Royal Commission into Protection and Detention of Children in NT
Systematic abuse of children in youth detention including tear-gassing, hooding, restraint chairs, solitary confinement at Don Dale. Triggered by ABC Four Corners footage.
detention-conditionsindigenous-rightsyouth-justice - Papua New Guinea· 2016· Supreme Court of Papua New GuineafavorableHigh precedent
Namah v Pato [2016] PGSC 13; SC1497
Legality of Australia's offshore detention of asylum seekers transferred to the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre under the Australia-PNG arrangement; right to personal liberty under s42 of the PNG Constitution.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentionoffshore processing+1 - Australia (National)· 2016· High Court of AustraliaadverseHigh precedent
Plaintiff M68/2015 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2016] HCA 1
Constitutional validity of the Commonwealth's participation in and funding of the detention of asylum seekers at the Nauru Regional Processing Centre.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentionoffshore processing+1 - Australia (National)· 2015· High Court of AustraliaadverseHigh precedent
CPCF v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2015] HCA 1
Lawfulness of detaining at sea, and taking towards another country, a group of Tamil asylum seekers intercepted en route to Australia.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentioninterception at sea+1 - Australia (National)· 2014· High Court of AustraliaadverseHigh precedent
Plaintiff S156/2013 v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection [2014] HCA 22
Validity of the designation of Papua New Guinea as a regional processing country and the removal of asylum seekers there under the Migration Act.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentionoffshore processing+1 - Australia (National)· 2004· High Court of AustraliaadverseHigh precedent
Al-Kateb v Godwin [2004] HCA 37
Whether a stateless person who cannot be removed from Australia may be detained indefinitely under the Migration Act.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentionindefinite detention - Australia (National)· 2001· Federal Court of Australia (Full Court)adverseHigh precedent
Ruddock v Vadarlis [2001] FCA 1329 (the Tampa case)
Whether the Commonwealth executive had power, absent statutory authority, to detain and remove asylum seekers rescued by the MV Tampa and prevent them entering Australia.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentionexecutive power+1 - International (UN Human Rights Committee)· 1997· UN Human Rights CommitteefavorableHigh precedent
A v Australia, Communication No. 560/1993, UN Doc CCPR/C/59/D/560/1993
Whether prolonged mandatory immigration detention of an asylum seeker (over three years) breached the prohibition on arbitrary detention and the right to judicial review of detention under ICCPR article 9.
refugeeasylumnon-refoulementimmigration detentionarbitrary detention+1 - Australia (National)· 1997· Human Rights CommissionfavorableHigh precedentnational inquiry
Bringing Them Home - Stolen Generations
National Inquiry into the separation of Aboriginal children from families. Foundational understanding of intergenerational trauma driving justice contact.
child-removalindigenous-rightsintergenerational-traumastolen-generations - Australia (National)· 1991· Royal CommissionfavorableHigh precedentroyal commission
Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody
339 recommendations to address systemic causes of Aboriginal deaths in custody. Found deaths were caused by overrepresentation in custody, not conditions alone.
deaths-in-custodyindigenous-rightssystemic-reform