Home / Strategic Litigation / Doctors for Refugees

Doctors for Refugees

We brought the case of Doctors for Refugees Incorporated v the Commonwealth of Australia (2016) to the High Court of Australia, challenging new secrecy provisions in the Australian Border Force Act 2015 (Cth) on the grounds of unjustifiable burden on the freedom of political communication. Advocacy and lobbying alongside the case engaged a broad collaboration of legal, health and refugee advocates. In October 2016, an exemption was passed excluding health care professionals from the operation of the Act. Our clients pressed on with the case, and subsequently, the Commonwealth Government introduced and passed substantial reforms to the secrecy provisions under challenge, expanding the scope for communication on matters of political and social concern for all workers in immigration detention centre environments.

Latest news and updates

FLS CEO Hamish McLachlan reflects on September
September 30, 2024
A message from the CEO – September 2024
Read article ›
His Honour Magistrate Brian Wright
September 24, 2024
FLS Life Member reflects on 46 years of community service
Read article ›
The Law Handbook 2024
September 10, 2024
Fitzroy Legal Service’s Law Handbook 2024 is now available as a free online resource for the community
Read article ›
Save Community Legal Centres
September 5, 2024
Fitzroy Legal Service calls on governments to end the funding crisis
Read article ›
August 22, 2024
Fitzroy Legal Service calls for family law system reforms to protect victim-survivors of family violence
Read article ›
Changes to the FLS Board
August 6, 2024
Fitzroy Legal Service announces new appointments and changes to the Board   
Read article ›
Media-release-Medicinal-Cannabis-driving-laws.png
July 8, 2024
MEDIA RELEASE: Victorian Government must fix outdated and unfair driving laws that punish those prescribed medical cannabis    
Read article ›
The Law Handbook 2024
July 8, 2024
Fitzroy Legal Service launches 46th edition of The Law Handbook    
Read article ›
Carol Andrades, Former Fitzroy Legal Service Board member and long-term Night Service volunteer
July 4, 2024
Five minutes with former Fitzroy Legal Service Board member and longstanding volunteer, Carol Andrades  
Read article ›
Night Service victim-survivor of gendered violence
June 12, 2024
Gemma’s case is not unique (CW: gendered-violence) 
Read article ›
FLS appoints new CEO Hamish McLachlan
May 30, 2024
Fitzroy Legal Service’s Board appoints new CEO, Hamish McLachlan
Read article ›
Job Expo for Lived and Living Experience
May 23, 2024
Groundbreaking jobs expo to challenge barriers for women locked out of employment 
Read article ›
IDAHOBIT DAY
May 17, 2024
Fitzroy Legal Service and Q+Law celebrate IDAHOBIT Day
Read article ›
Australia must do more to secure a ceasefire in Palestine
May 14, 2024
Australia must do more to secure a ceasefire in Palestine
Read article ›
FLS's free Divorce Clinic
April 30, 2024
Family Law and Family Violence team reignite FLS’s Divorce Clinic
Read article ›
A msg from the CEO, Hamish McLachlan
April 30, 2024
Message from the CEO – April 2024  
Read newsletter ›
April 15, 2024
Migration Bill denies safe pathways for people seeking asylum in Australia
Read post ›
March 28, 2024
Message from the CEO – March 2024  
Read newsletter ›
Rebecca Johnston-Ryan, Service Director and Principal Lawyer, Night Service
March 27, 2024
Five minutes with FLS Night Service Director and Principal Lawyer, Rebecca Johnston-Ryan
Read post ›
March 26, 2024
FLS welcomes new volunteers for 2024 
Read post ›
March 15, 2024
FLS submission to amend Australia’s Family Law Act  
Read post ›
February 29, 2024
Message from the CEO – February 2024  
Read newsletter ›
FLS 2024 Trainee Lawyer
February 29, 2024
Welcoming FLS’s 2024 Trainee Lawyer
Read post ›
A message from the CEO, January 2024, Hamish McLachlan
January 31, 2024
Message from the CEO – January 2024  
Read newsletter ›
January 18, 2024
Fitzroy Legal Service doors remain open this Invasion Day
Read post ›
Hamish McLachlan
January 9, 2024
Introducing FLS Interim CEO, Hamish McLachlan  
Read post ›
November 28, 2023
In the future, people like Thuy will no longer face unfair barriers
Read post ›
November 8, 2023
FLS announces CEO departure following a legacy of purposeful growth
Read post ›
Solicitor and former Australian Government Solicitor, Michael Kingston
October 24, 2023
Five minutes with former FLS volunteer, Michael Kingston
Read post ›
June 30, 2023
Reflections on a harm reduction intervention in the Inquest into Veronica Nelson’s passing
Read article ›
Human Rights News
June 19, 2023
Victoria Police breaches human rights and its own policies at cannabis legalisation rally
Read article ›
May 26, 2023
FLS submission on a medically supervised injecting service in the City of Melbourne
Read post ›
March 31, 2023
Q+Law: A new legal service with and for LGBTIQA+ communities
Read article ›
March 10, 2023
FLS joins calls for a Supervised Injecting Service in the CBD
Read article ›
January 24, 2023
Fitzroy Legal Service joins in calls from Aboriginal, legal, and human rights organisations for the urgent reform of Victoria’s bail laws.
Read article ›
October 13, 2022
Vale Uncle Jack
Read article ›
October 22, 2021
Human Rights don’t stop at prison gates. It is time to end routine strip searching of people in prison!
Read post ›
January 8, 2021
Peter Lynch – Law Handbook contributor
Read article ›
February 18, 2021
Brian Wright – Law Handbook Contributor
Read article ›
March 24, 2021
The Victorian Government Must End Its Harmful Obsession with Expanding Victoria’s Prison System
Read article ›
Read more news ›