Doin Time

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody. First up on the show, Marisa invites Brett Collins from Justice Action on the show to discuss some of their work, particularly the Computers in Prison Cells project for prisoners' entitlements to web calls and whitelisted websites allowing access to family, telehealth, education, and legal services and information. He talks about teh NSW State government's $42M investment into the project, and what now needs to be approved so it can reach its full potential. Later he delves into human rights violations: the state-enforced assault at the most intimate base of incarcerated individuals — the chemical handcuffs of forced medication.  In the second half of the show, Marisa speaks with Richard Trudgen, cross-cultural community educator and author, and also the special guest speaker for 2023 Myall Creek Massacre Memorial, Yarning About Truth Telling. He discusses the actively hostile attitude from mainstream institutions in the Northern Territory and the trauma that arises when First Nations individuals do not have access to their original languages. He highlights the sophistication of language and its immense power in understanding legal, medical, and economic systems (and much more), where English continues to fall woefully short.  Head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime for full access to links and previous podcasts.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody. First up on today's show, Marisa interviews Wani Wandian man, longtime activist, and President of the Black Peoples Union, Keiran Stewart-Assheton, who kicks off his interview with a brief explanation of the general aims and work of the BPU as a revolutionary political organisation, and their nonconservative NO campaign in regards to the Voice to Parliament. He goes on to discuss the history of the idea of an Aboriginal advisory committee as a Liberal Party initiative to further undermine First Nations people exercising their Sovereignty, the $25-27M in donations to the Yes23 campaign by mining companies and their affiliates, and the specific kind of Treaty the BPU aims toward... not one with a colonial government who only aims to divide and conquer and further oppress, ending the interview with words of hope. There continues to be a large gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, and yet the age of access to the age pension continues to discriminate against Aboriginal people. Next up on the show, Marisa speaks with Gunditjmara woman and VACCHO CEO Jill Gallagher about the Federal Court of Australia, who has dismissed the legal challenge seeking fair and equal access to the age pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, failing to recognise this age pension discrimination.  She goes on to discuss the prevalence of chronic illness and overrepresentation in the criminal justice system for Aboriginal people, why she supports the Voice to Parliament, changing the culture of correctional services in Victoria, and more. Head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime for full access to links and previous podcasts.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody. First up on today's show, Marisa speaks with Nicole Lee (President of People with Disability Australia) about the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation of People with Disability, and in particular about a recent research report on eliminating restrictive practises experienced by people with disability, "such as seclusion and restraint that is not only a traumatic violation of our human rights, but is also state-sanctioned within current state and territory laws". PWDA urges the Disability Royal Commission to make this recommendation in their final report. Next, Marisa speaks with Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition, who gives listeners a run-down on the 10 Years: Too (Bloody) Long, demonstrations that were held in 28 cities across Australia from 19th-23rd July, marking 10 years since Rudd introduced the PNG deal, detention centres on Manus Island and Nauru, to the 'Pacific Solution' of mandatory offshore detention for refugees and asylum seekers. He gives a background of the situation, calls for the immediate cessation of offshore detention, and why we need to act quickly to bring the 75 individuals that remain in Papua New Guinea to Australia. Last up, Marisa reads a media release from the Human Rights Law Centre about systemic aged pension inequality, and the Federal Government's failure to close the gap in life expectancy between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous people.  Head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime for full access to links and previous podcasts.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody. First up on the program, Marisa speaks with Jenny Weber, forest activist from the Bob Brown Foundation, who discusses the recent 3-month prison sentence and further 6-months suspended sentence of the first female environmental defender in Tasmania, Dr Collette Harmsen. She discusses the history of peaceful protest and its vilification by the government specifically in relation to forest defence and habitat preservation.  Next up, Marisa speaks with Cheryl Axleby (Co-Chair of Change the Record), about the age of criminal responsibility and human rights violations inflicted upon criminalised children in this country. She gives listeners a run-down on where each state and territory stands legally in regards to this issue, how our system is failing all kids and especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids, and offers alrernatives in the face of a government that - over 30 years after the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody - still refuses to commit to a safe future for our young people. Last up on the program, Marisa reads a media release from the Refugee Action Coalition: 10 Years Too (Bloody) Long! Head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime for full access to links and previous podcasts.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody. Many targeted racialised groups understand their differential treatment by police, but what kind of formal data collection or publication is available about police encounters with the public? This episode of Doin' Time features an extended interview with Dr Tamar Hopkins, following on from last week's discussion. Today she joins Marisa on the program to discuss her 2022 PhD thesis entitled Understanding Racial Profiling in Australia, providing an in-depth breakdown of her research methods, aims and findings, and the lack of formalised data or legal precedents (and experience at the Flemington & Kensington Community Legal Centre) which led her to this work, and what it means going forward. Importantly, she notes "clear evidence that there are two systems of policing in Victoria - a more 'textbook' version that the police roll out when they are policing white people," versus a "speculative, invasive, and humiliating type... when police are policing particular racialised groups." Head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime for full access to links and previous podcasts.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody. Inner Melbourne Community Legal recently released a report entitled Policing COVID-19 in Victoria: exploring the impact of perceived race in the issuing of COVID-19 related fines during 2020 - first up on today's show, Marisa speaks with lead researcher on the project, Dr Tamar Hopkins, about evidence of racial profiling by Victoria Police against people of African/Middle Eastern appearance during the lockdown, and also of First Nations people in an analysis of COVID fines data. Later, Marisa speaks with Renuga Inpakumar, young Tamil Eelam activist with the Tamil Refugee Council, who are urging Immigration Minister Andrew Giles to stop the deportation of Dixtan Arulruban and grant the young Tamil man a Permanent Visa. To quote their latest media release: Dixtan was just 13 years old when his father was murdered in the 2009 Mullivaikkal genocide in Sri Lanka. He is currently in detention in Australia. Last up on the show, Marisa interviews Wani Wandian man and President of the Black Peoples Union, Keiran Stewart-Assheton, about the BPU's progressive NO campaign in regards to the Voice to Parliament, alternative initiatives and also about their demands and recommendations to achieve true change for Mob in this country. Head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime for full access to links and previous podcasts.

First up on the Doin' Time show this week, Marisa speaks with Brett Collins from Justice Action about his ongoing work in prisoner justice, specifically the Computers in Cells project, which by the end of the week will provide all prisoners in NSW with either a computer, tablet, or laptop in their cells. He talks about recent successes in international conferences in both Adelaide and Nairobi, and the specifics of telecommunications as a basic human right, allowing imprisoned people vital connections with family, education and legal services, telehealth and counseling providers, to name a few.  Next, Marisa speaks with Scott Cosgriff, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, who welcomes the news of the forthcoming evacuation of detainees in Nauru.  Unfortunately, however, the Albanese Government is failing to take responsibility for those >80 men who have been resettled from Manus Island to Port Moresby, and living in poor conditions in Papua New Guinea since 2013 as a direct result of punitive and arbitrary Australian Government policy. He talks about the predictable and horrific health deterioration and "untold suffering" these individuals have been subjected to, and how it directly impacts their third-country resettlement options. Scott also highlights ongoing issues of transparency, how visa status is used to punish and deter people (including Australian-born children of refugees and their families), and why the Australian government should end this policy now to provide people a chance at livelihood and dignity.   Later on the program, Marisa thanks all who donated to Doin' Time for Radiothon 2023, reads a media release from the Human Rights Law Centre entitled Independent review recommends overhaul of Australia’s modern slavery laws, about the persistence of modern slavery for Australian businesses, governments and consumers, and gives a run-down of some of the topics Doin' Time has highlighted throughout the past year. You can still donate to help Doin' Time reach our Radiothon target:  make a tax-deductible donation online here, or give 3CR a call on (03) 9419 8377 during business hours.  Head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime for full access to links and previous podcasts.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and discussion of Deaths in Custody. For this special Radiothon Episode of Doin' Time, Marisa speaks with Cheryl Kaulfuss from ISJA Melbourne, reflects on the Doin Time program as a listener of the program, talking about her highlights from the past year, her favourite annual memorial programs and why she believes supporting community-powered radio 3CR is so important.   Later Marisa showcases some of the interviews of the past year, including: Cheryl Axleby (Change the Record), about the UN convention against torture and deaths in custody,  Megan Krakouer (National Suicide Prevention & Trauma Recovery Project), about her work with children in detention in WA,  Sue-Anne Hunter (Yoorrook Justice Commission) about her work with Yoorrook, and the road to Treaty, and the importance in supporting Aboriginal community-controlled organisations,  The late Uncle Jack Charles, from his special Tribute Program last year, Joseph Pugliese (friend of the late Uncle Ray Jackson) speaking about Uncle Ray's life on his yearly Doin Time Memorial Program 2023, Nicole Lee (People with Disability Australia), about condemning neo-nazi and far-right anti-trans activism. Marisa also thanks those listeners who have already pledged toward Doin' Time's $850 target, noting that prisoners and detainees cannot donate... Stay Tuned and Stay Radical, and make a tax-deductible donation online here, or give us a call on (03) 9419 8377 during business hours with your pledge.  Head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime for full access to links and previous podcasts.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died. FIrst up on today's show, Marisa speaks with Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition who gives listeners an update on issues regarding refugees and asylum seekers, with particular focus on the Sudanese conflict and why the Australian govermnent has not resettled people fleeing violence in Sudan. He discusses arrests in Indonesia during a peaceful Sudanese-Afghan refugee vigil, as weekly protests against refugee detention continue in the country with no resettlement in sight.   Later, Marisa has an extended interview with longtime cross-cultural community educator and author Richard Trudgen, special guest speaker for the 2023 Myall Creek Massacre memorial event Yarning about truth-telling.  He gives an in-depth explanation of the the sophistication of Yolŋu language, and its immense power in understanding original medical, legal, and economic systems. He discusses the failings of mainstream English language education, the traditional courts and original higher education systems in Arnhem Land, and how it is crucial to teach higher levels of Yolŋu language for a comprehensive cultural understanding. Head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime for full access to links and previous podcasts.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died, and of deaths in custody. First up on today's show, Marisa speaks with Sue-Anne Hunter who is a proud Wurundjeri and Ngurai (Nu-Ray) Illum Wurrung woman and Deputy Chair and Commissioner with the Yoorrook Justice Commission. She informs listeners on Yoorrook's work toward Treaty in Victoria through redress and address of the historical and contemporary systemic injustices against First Nations people. With in-depth discussion of the public hearings they have been running since her last Doin' Time interview in February, she highlights the importance of making public record of the true history in this state.  Next, Marisa speaks with David Mejia-Canales (Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre) about HRLC's call for the South Australian legislative council to block the proposed anti-protest laws that were recently rushed through the SA House of Assembly, discussing the potentially disastrous consequences of eroding civil liberties such as peaceful protest in this country.  Last up on the program, David Glanz from Refugee Action Collective (Vic) joins the program to discuss updates and news about refugees and asylum seekers, in particular about a forum being held on 29th May on the problem of children in detention and also of those who may live in the community, but in the precarious situation where lack of permanency denies them a future. Listeners are encouraged to get involved with regular events held by RAC Vic - check out their Facebook page here. Head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime for full access to links and previous podcasts.