Doin Time

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and descriptions of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have died, and in-depth discussion of Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. This episode of Doin' Time, the first of 2023, is dedicated to Veronica Nelson, who died in custody at Dame Phyllis Frost Centre on January 2, 2020. This week's show begins with a recap of the Findings of the Coronial Inquest into the passing of Veronica Marie Nelson, delivered today at the Coroners Court of Victoria, and the statements issued today by Aunty Donna Nelson, Veronica's mother, and Uncle Percy Lovett, Veronica's Partner. Marisa then invites Cheryl Axleby (Co-Chair of Change the Record) on the program to discuss Australia's need to implement UN anti-torture protocols, calling for independent oversight of police and prisons in this country and changes to bail laws and the age of criminal responsibility. She discusses the limited adoption of the recommendations outlined in the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody over 30 years ago, and how not only are Aboriginal men women and children increasingly disproportionately imprisoned, but also now six times more likely to die in custody on average.  Last up on today's program, Marisa invites Uncle Kelvin on the program to discuss several topics all coming back to the need for unity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people, including "Australia Day", and his perspectives on processes affecting incarceration rates and the facets of the Voice to Parliament. Stay tuned in the coming weeks for further coverage on the Findings of the Coronial Inquest of Veronica Nelson.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have died, and contains sensitive and triggering descriptions of racial violence.  First up, Marisa is joined by Megan Krakouer and Gerry Georgatos (Project Director and National Coordinator of the National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project, respectively) They discuss the death of a young man due to racial profiling, and a lawsuit taking on the WA State Government for the treatment of Aboriginal children at the Banksia Hill Detention Centre. Marisa also speaks with Brett Collins, Coordinator with Justice Action, about music in prisons and a book published earlier this year, Music-Making in Prisons: Listening to Incarcerated Voices, written by Mary L. Cohen and Stuart P. Duncan. For full access to links and previous episodes, head to www.3cr.org.au/dointime

Marissa speaks with disability advocate, Samantha Connor, Vice President with People With Disability Australia, about the Disability Royal Commission and guardianship orders. They discuss the importance of rights over decisions, and the "dignity of risk", which is the right to make the mistakes we all make.The Disability Royal Commission held a public hearing about experiences of violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds with disability.  Lived experience witnesses told the Royal Commission about their experience of intersectional discrimination as people with disability who are also members of another minority groupMarissa also speaks with lawyer, Nerita Waight, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service about the harm caused by "tough on crime" politics, and the alertnative plan for Aboriginal justice in Victoria. They discuss how the government is dragging its feet on prison reform and they discuss what prison abolition would look like.Marrisa and managing lawyer, Monique Hurley, with the Human Rights Law Centre talk about how Australia is under scrutiny by the United Nations anti-torture watch-dog. Australia is a signatory to the Convention Against Torture, and yet youth in detention are suffering abuse. They discuss the horrors revealed in ABC's Four Corners episode, Locking Up Kids.

Imagine losing and needing to reclaim all your rights every six months -- your right to study, work, and access to healthcare.Today's broadcast is dedicated to refugees and asylum seekers, and focuses on two "No-one Left Behind" rallies, in Melbourne and Sydney, to demand the government makes good on its promise to provide permanent visas.Ian Rintoul spokesperson from the Refugee Action Coalition (NSW) reports on the rally outside the Sydney Town Hall, on 6th November 2022.David from the Refugee Action Collective (RAC, Vic), reports on the rally outside the State Library, Melbourne, on 5th November 2022, and the impact of protest laws.

Re-broadcasting excerpts from the state funeral for Uncle Jack Charles. The funeral took place on the 18th October 2022.

First up on the show, Marisa welcomes Ilo Diaz, Advocacy Coordinator in the racial discrimination work of the Police Accountability Project, to discuss the consequences of police investigating police for our vulnerable communities. Ilo gives us a run-down on where we are at with independent oversight while police investigate police. They also discuss the Victorian Government's ongoing lack of action on this issue. Next, Marisa speaks with Josephine Langbien, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre (HRLC), about their submission outlining the issues of torture and ill-treatment that Australia should address in its forthcoming periodic report to the UN Committee against Torture. Issues include treatment of prisoners and conditions of detention; involuntary psychiatric treatment; and violence against women, specifically within Australia's refugee protection and immigration detention regimes. Marisa continues the conversation regarding the UN investigation later in the program with Tiffany Overall, Human Rights Officer at Youthlaw, about where children and young people fit in. She specifically describes the submission by a working group of Smart Justice For Young People, the coalition of over 40 organisations of which Youthlaw is a part. The submission itself calls for equivalency of healthcare, the need for the Government to implement the OPCAT protocol (including independent monitoring), raising the age of criminal responsibility of at least 14 years of age, and encourages visits to youth detention centres in Victoria such as Parkville and Malmsbury. The day before this program aired, it was announced that this visit by the UN Committee against Torture has been suspended.

Marisa speaks with prisoners’ rights activist Brett Collins from human rights group Justice Action, about their meeting with the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT). On the meeting agenda were issues such as forced medication and strip searching.Following this interview, the SPT were in the news when NSW refused to allow the United Nations torture investigators entry into a state detention centre. The UN officials visit was part of an investigation by the United Nations Subcommittee on the Prevention of Torture (SPT). NSW has so far been the only state in Australia to refuse to co-operate with the SPT, with NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet backing the decision, despite Australia ratifying the UN protocol in 2017. Marisa also speaks with Monique Hurley, a lawyer with the Human Rights Law Centre, who are calling for the end of torture and human rights abuses in Australian prisons and police cells. Monique describes how the U.N. is shining a light on Australia with regard to mistreatment of prisoners.

Today's show is dedicated to refugees and asylum seekers.Marisa speaks with Joey Tangaloa Taualii who is in detention at the Melbourne Immigration Transit Accommodation (MITA). Joey has experienced both prison and detention, and says detention is much worse. "It is designed to destroy you", he says. You can find Joey's youtube channel here, where he talks with other detainees.Ian Rintoul, spokesperson from the Refugee Action Collective (RAC), reports on the RAC rallies across the country, calling for the Labor government to come good on their promise to change temporary visas to permanent visas. He also comments on the injustice inflicted on non-citizens like Joey.Marisa reads and comments on an article about the Norwegian prison system, by Sonia Hickey, a freelance writer, magazine journalist, and member of the Sydney Criminal Lawyers content team.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have diedMarisa dedicates this program to the late Uncle Jack Charles, First Nations elder, much loved actor, Indigenous theatre pioneer and musician. This tribute celebrates his work and legacy by returning to two past interviews with Uncle Jack Charles, (with permission from his family to use this audio). We hear Uncle Jack tell his life story in his own words, his activism, and offering advice on expunging criminal records, in interviews from 12 July 2021 and 9 August 2021.

Marissa speaks with Max Costello from Victoria's Refugee Action Collective about a disturbing development regarding safety breaches by Australian Border Force. Refugee advocates who wrote to the Comcare regulator over alleged safety breaches by Australian Border Force are outraged that the reply came from ABF itself, clearing itself of any wrongdoing.Marissa then speaks with Anthony Kelly, from Melbourne Activist Legal Support. They talk about the class action against Victoria Police’s use of capsicum spray and excessive force against protesters at the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) in Melbourne in October 2019. Will we see accountability?