Doin Time

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have died First up on the program, Marisa speaks with Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition about their recent Media Release regarding the armed robbery of two Iranian refugees in Port Moresby. He discusses the increase in violent assaults targeting refugees in Papua New Guinea, and thow these and other health and safety concerns are yet another reason for immediate evacuation to Australia of everybody in indefinite offshore detention.  Later, Marisa interviews Felicity, proud Ngarrindjeri woman with lived experience of incarceration, about her participation in The Torch program. Felicity speaks about how she began learning more about her mob, culture and art while participating inside, and her ongoing connection with the program from the other side of the prison walls - as an in-community participant. Lastly, Marisa speaks with Cath B and Kharen Harper, performer and Artistic Director (respectively) with the theatre company Somebody's Daughter. They discuss the company's ongoing work with women in prison, positive storytelling for marginalised people in the community arts, and their upcoming new theatre production, She Swallowed that Lie, created and performed in collaboration with women who have lived prison experience, and marginalised young people from regional Victoria. She Swallowed that Lie premieres this Thursday 25th August, running until Saturday 27th August at Chapel Off Chapel in Prahran, VIC.  For tickets, head to www.chapeloffchapel.com.au/show/she-swallowed-that-lie/, or you can call the Box Office on (03) 8290 7000, 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday.

First up on the show, David Glanz from Refugee Action Collective (Vic) joins Marisa to discuss the new Albanese Government's approach to refugees and asylum seekers during its first 10 weeks in Parliament. He analyses their tendency to celebrate few high-profile positive announcements (such as permanent residency for the Nadesalingam 'Biloela' family) while downplaying cruel business-as-usual policies in the background, attributing lack of systemic change or plans to Labor's fear of being seen as 'soft' on immigration. He talks about Immigration Minister Andrew Giles, differences with the LNP, and RAC-Vic's recent press release, welcoming the spirit of the Ending Indefinite and Arbitrary Immigration Detention Bill 2022, introduced into parliament this week by independent MP Andrew Wilkie. David's take-home message is "Let's celebrate our victories - like the Home to Biloela family - but remember there are thousands of people who haven't won yet, and we need to keep campaigning and we need to keep on the street." For more information on their next Rally & Open Mic for Permanent Visas, at 2 Lonsdale St on Wednesday 24th August, you can check out the Facebook event, or call Lucy on 0404 728 104. RAC Vic also have weekly meetings every Monday 6pm at Kathleen Syme Library in Carlton (all welcome). Check their Facebook page for more details and options for online attendance. Later, Marisa invites Andreea Lachsz, Head of Policy, Communications & Strategy at the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), to give us an in-depth look at the Ombudsman's report on investigations into the use of force at the Metropolitan Remand Centre and the Melbourne Assessment Prison. She notes the Ombudsman's reporting of "concerning behaviour or poor decisionmaking" by officers in all 8 incidents in his report, and discusses increasing prison and remand populations in Victoria, particularly of Aboriginal women and children. Andreea also draws links with the 2021 IBAC report on corruption and abuse in the prison system and how both of these reports look at difficulties in surveillance such as failures to utilise body cameras, and expands on why reform is necessary in the area of police and prison staff surveillance from a legal aid perspective.  We encourage listeners to read and sign the VALS petition to fix Victoria's broken bail laws here.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have died Marisa starts off the program by paying tribute to the late Uncle Archie Roach to whom this show is dedicated, and whose music is played throughout the hour. The first interview today is with Nerita Waight, proud Yorta Yorta woman and CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. She comes on the show to discuss how Victoria's dysfunctional bail laws are worsening since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody over 30 years ago, with ever stricter conditions disproportionately affecting Aboriginal people for whom the remand prison population has increased to a horrific 50%. She also explains how there are more women in remand (many of which are incarcerated for crimes relating to poverty and survival), and how the same bail conditions apply for children, with devastating effects for those in state care. Read and sign the VALS petition to fix Victoria's broken bail laws here. VALS also released a new policy paper last week, entitled Reforming Police Oversight in Victoria  - we encourage listeners to read their abridged policy brief (link to the comprehensive policy paper here). Later on the program, Marisa invites Uncle Jack Charles for an extended conversation to remember late Uncle Archie Roach, where he discusses working and singing together on the Bloodstream tour, and connecting after Uncle Jack spoke out about systemic issues with insidious questions of Proof of Aboriginality, which led to the Australia Council for the Arts amending their policy.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time may contain audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have diedThis week, Marisa has an extended interview with Uncle Colin Isaacs, continuing last week's discussion about culture, young people, treaty, native title, the constitution and all about his life and art.You can check out and support Uncle Colin's artwork here.

*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 the show, Marisa speaks with longtime Noongar activist Marianne Mackay, who discusses a recent deaths in custody vigil she attended and an update of what's been going on. She also talks about the importance of listening to a diversity of First Nations voices across so-called "Australia", and gives us a critique of seemingly ubiquitous corporate narratives during NAIDOC week that don't include Aboriginal activism or reflect true grassroots movements and change. Later, Marisa speaks with Bidjigal activist and artist Uncle Colin Isaacs about NAIDOC, treaty, and his artwork. They have a continuation of the previous discussion about why he opposes the Uluru Statement from the Heart, talking also about the failings in the current models for Treaty, including lack of proper consultation with Aboriginal people. This conversation will be continued in the next Doin' Time show on July 11 2022.Lastly, Marisa interviews David Glanz from the Refugee Action Collective who speaks on a number of issues: reporting back on a rally for NT death in custody Mr Walker, and also giving an update on what is happening in this country in regards to refugees and asylum seekers.

This week is Radiothon week, and the Doin' Time show's target is $850! Our Radiothon theme for 2022 is Keep Community Strong - Marisa reads pledges from listeners, and speaks to guests Cheryl Kaulfuss from ISJA Melbourne, First Nations actor and activist Uncle Jack Charles, also showcasing highlights from the past year to contextualise the important role of Doin' Time and of 3CR within the greater landscape of community-controlled media. Go to 3cr.org.au/donate to make a donation, or call (03) 9419 8377 during business hours

This week, Marisa presents Doin' Time from Dja Dja Wurrung country. First up on the show, she interviews Chris Breen from the Refugee Action Collective, about the good, the bad and the ugly of the new Labor Government's policies regarding refugees and asylum seekers -- despite many hard-fought wins by on-the-ground refugee activism, and Labor's promise to provide permanent visas to those on temporary and SHEV visas, there is still a long way to go:  Labor's deterrent approach is currently neglecting the >10,000 people on bridging visas, Medevac refugees, children of families on Nauru, the 9,700 refugees already rejected by the fast-track system (and were not even allowed an interview), the number of people remaining in offshore detention, and those in Indonesia.  He discusses the contradictory attitude of this government who, on the same day of announcing the Murugappan family's return to Biloela in central QLD, turned their first boat back to Sri Lanka.  You can tell the Albanese government to do more by attending the rally ahead of world refugee day: 1pm June 18th, State Library of Victoria. Later, Marisa speaks with Josephine Langbien, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, about their recent media release:  "[We have] welcomed the appointment of Claire O'Neill as the Minister of Home Affairs and Andrew Giles as the Minister of Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs and have called on them to take action to end a decade of cruelty against refugees and people seeking safety".  She discusses the years of cruelty, mistreatment and neglect that has been an intentional policy against people seeking safety and protection, and the opportunity this cabinet change offers to bring fairness and dignity to our refugee policy.  Josephine details the five specific steps the HRLC is hopeful the new government can address as priority areas for change: Ending the use of temporary protectionShutting down offshore detentionAddressing the crisis in immigration detention within AustraliaBringing families back togetherRestoring our humanitarian resettlement program Lastly, Marisa invites Nerita Waight, proud Yorta Yorta woman and CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, on the program.  Nerita has been with VALS for almost a decade and has a vast amount of experience as both a lawyer and a social justice advocate. She discusses the case challenging aged pension discrimination for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as it heads to Full Federal Court later this year. She highlights the need for fair and equal access to benefits for Aboriginal people who commonly do not reach pension age by virtue of lower life expectancy. Until this life expectancy gap is properly addressed, Aboriginal people have the right to retire with dignity; she notes that this change would also improve economic participation, financial security and the overall wellbeing of people who can no longer work.  Marisa ends the program by reading a media release entitled Routine strip searching of children in Tasmanian jails to end.Tune in next week for our Radiothon special program, and please donate if you can. Your donation directly supports community owned and community run media free of corporate control: To donate you can call (03) 9419 8377 during business hours, or online at 3cr.org.au/donate

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have died Each year, hundreds of people around the country gather on the Sunday of the June long weekend to commemorate the unprovoked massacre of at least 28 Wirrayaraay women, children and older men by a group of stockmen on Myall Creek Station on June 10, 1838. The Myall Creek Memorial was constructed near Bingara on 10 June 2000 by a group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working together in an act of reconciliation. In 2008 the massacre site and memorial were included on the national heritage register, and also received NSW state heritage listing in 2010.  This week, Marisa presents part two of a yearly commemoration of the Myall Creek Massacre, interviewing Keith Munro, Aboriginal co-chair of the Friends of Myall Creek Memorial National Committee, and grandson of Uncle Lyall Munro Snr, to continue last week's discussion with co-chair Cecilia Blackwell and talk about their special upcoming annual memorial event. Keith gives listeners a comprehensive picture of the events and legal proceedings surrounding the massacre, including jurors openly admitting bias, and remembers the work of lawyer George Plunkett, without whom 7 of the 11 initially acquitted perpetrators would not have been re-trialed and convicted.  He notes that despite continued colonial violence with widespread horrific massacres before and after the event, it shines through as a time in history where good people did fight for justice, and discusses the legacy of the Myall Creek memorial services in bringing together decendants of both perpetrators and survivors of the massacre, allowing everyone to remember history truthfully in a step to heal intergenerational trauma and educate the wider community.  Alongside the memorial event this year, there will also be a community concert Myall Creek Rocks the Roxy taking place 3-5pm Saturday June 11 at the Roxy Theatre in Bingara.  Memorial special guest speaker, local historian and author James Wilson-Miller, is also delivering a special program Yarning About Truth-Telling on Friday June 10 at the University of New England in Armidale. The memorial event will take place on Sunday 12th June 2022, at the memorial site located roughly mid-way between Bingara and Delungra - for more information, or to become a member of Friends of Myall Creek, you can go to their website www.myallcreek.org   Later in the Show, Marisa interviews Ellen Maybery, Senior Lawyer at Environmental Justice Australia, about a controversial amendment they are urging the Andrews government to withdraw from parliament as it will see draconian law that criminalises peaceful protest.  The Sustainable Forest Timber Amendment (Timber Harvesting Safety Zones Bill) 2022 was introduced by the Victorian Government last week, and would see protesters who are attempting to prevent native forest logging in Victoria face fines of up to $21,000 or 12 months in jail.  Ellen comes on the show to discuss that in the face of recent catastrophic bushfires and devastating climate end ecosystem collapse, the protest of illegal logging should be protected. Instead, VicForests is facing 9 court cases brought by the community - where instead of regulating the logging indistry and cracking down on illegal logging, the Victorian Government is trying to introduce amendments to current laws to create tougher penalties for protesters, citing health and safety concerns.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have died This week, Marisa presents part one of a yearly commemoration of the Myall Creek Massacre, interviewing Cecilia Blackwell, non-Aboriginal co-chair of the Friends of Myall Creek National Committee alongside Keith Munro, who will be joining the program next Monday 30th May.  Each year, people around the country gather on the June long weekend to commemorate the unprovoked massacre of at least 28 Wirrayaraay women, children and older men by a group of stockmen on Myall Creek Station on June 10, 1838. The Myall Creek Memorial, constructed near Bingara was constructed on 10 June 2000 by a group of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people working together in an act of reconciliation. In 2008 the massacre site and memorial were included on the national heritage register and also received NSW state heritage listing in 2010.  Cecilia discusses the brutal story of the Myall Creek Massacre and its aftermath, the history of commemorations and memorials, and the importance of representative descendants of both perpetrators and survivors acting in yearly reconciliation events, with an emphasis on truthfully remembering the past, reaching out to community and building a shared vision of the future. To find out more about the fundraiser and memorial events in Myall Creek on the 11th & 12th June 2022, or to become a member of Friends of Myall Creek, you can go to their website www.myallcreek.org  Later in the program, Marisa speaks with Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition about a tragic further suicide at Villawood Detention Centre, where a New Zealand woman in her early 30s took her own life 22nd May 2022, following at least two other suicides this year (and a large number of attempted suicides) in Villawood and other detention centres. He discusses this epidemic of self-harm and suicides within the detention regime in so-called Australia and the familiar story of distress and abuse of the hands of Serco guards, calling for an inquiry into the lack of oversight, timelines, and procedures involved in immigration detention. Also discussed are the large number of people from New Zealand in immigration detention and other temporary visa holders who do not necessarily fall under the umbrella of refugees or asylum seekers, but are commonly deported or detained under existing regulations of section 501 (and how many are unaware of the visa cancellation laws that put 80% of people in immigration detention through visa cancellations), and the struggle ahead in securing rights for all people in this system under the new Labor government, including those on bridging or expired visas and those already in detention, here and offshore.  Lastly, Marisa speaks with Brett Collins from Justice Action about a recent partial win in the SA supreme court, allowing the distribution of the JUST US newspaper to prisoners in the state. JUST US, running since 2004, is the only newspaper for people in detention that allow prisoners to read a statement from state and federal political parties in regards to prison issues ahead of elections. Since this win, one newspaper will be made available per prisoner in detention nationwide.  This is not a complete win, however, with many redactions including an advertisements for the Justice Reform Initiative for the words "justice is failing" and also "Jailbreak Prison Radio", and perhaps most alarmingly, contacts for NGO supports available to prisoners. The struggle continues. If you would like a copy of the JustUs newspaper, you can send a request to Justice Action at PO Box 386 Broadway NSW 2007. To donate to Doin' Time for 3CR's annual Radiothon fundraiser, you can make a tax-deductible donation on 3cr.org.au/donate, or call (03) 9419 8377 during business hours.  Our target this year is $850 - Keep Community Strong and please donate if you can!

This special Doin’ Time program is the second part in a shining yearly tribute to the much-loved and honourable Uncle Ray Jackson, who died on April 23 2015.Uncle Ray was a Wiradjuri warrior who dedicated his life to fighting for justice and human rights for Aboriginal people affected by the so-called criminal justice system, and all people affected by state violence. A vocal and knowledgeable Deaths in Custody campaigner, and long-time President of the Indigenous Social Justice Association (ISJA), Uncle Ray received the prestigious French Human Rights medal, with the Australian state (despite its long history of atrocities) never allocating an award to him.The tributes on today's show are from Lisa Deluca, friend of Ray Jackson - she considers him her mentor. They worked together on Aboriginal deaths in custody campaigns.Sergio Zorino and Dick Whitehead, union friends who worked extensively with Ray in the trade unions. They will give a history of Ray's work especially in the area of occupational health and safety. They speak about Uncle Ray being politicised as a young man through his involvement with the union movement as a wharfie, and about Uncle Ray being a passionate activist and an indefinable and implacable opponent of injustice, oppression and the marginalisation of all disadvantaged people everywhere.Carolyn Jackson, Ray's daughter, who helped organise this show today. Raoul Bassi, friend and colleague from ISJA, who worked alongside Ray, campaigning to build the movement to stop Aboriginal deaths in custody.