Doin Time

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have died This special Doin’ Time program is the first 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. Part two of this tribute with Uncle Ray’s daughter Carolyn Jackson and Professor Bronwyn Carlson will air in two weeks, on May 9 2022. Marisa speaks today with Joseph Pugliese, Uncle Ray’s friend, longtime activist, and editor of Doin Time’s recently featured book, Mapping Deathscapes: Digital Geographies of racial and Border Violence. Joseph gives a comprehensive introduction and historical context to Ray’s life and work, beginning with his trauma as a child of the stolen generations driving his burning desire to achieve social justice. Joseph highlights Uncle Ray’s extraordinary grasp and memory of complex legal cases, but importantly also the profound and heartfelt understanding he had for the human dimension of each and every case which makes his activism and legacy so powerful. Amongst the many topics discussed are his work in legislating family attendance for autopsies of Indigenous Deaths in Custody to ensure ceremony and respect, his strong history of trade unionism in Sydney, and his vast internationalist view of activism, from connecting with First Nations activists in North America to denouncing Israeli state violence in occupied Palestine. Tune in on Monday May 9 for part two of this special Uncle Ray Jackson Memorial program.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have diedMarisa interviews Dr Maria Giannacopoulos about an upcoming online launch of the brilliant book Mapping Deathscapes: Digital Geographies of Racial and Border Violence, edited by Suvendrini Perera and Joseph Pugliese.The launch will take place online, Thursday 21 April 2022 at 8pm AEST.Dr Maria is one of the many excellent contributors in the book and she highlights and unpacks some of the key topics of the Mapping Deathscapes book, including Aboriginal deaths in custody and scholarly activism for change.Marisa then interviews Pamela Curr, refugee advocate who reports back on the Palm Sunday Rally, and talks about some of the issues confronting asylum seekers and refugees who have been released from the Park Hotel and other detention centres, also speaking about the ones who have been left behind because cruel of anti-refugee policies doled out by the government.Zoom link to attend the Mapping Deathscapes online book launch, 21 April 2022 at 8pm AEST.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains audio images and discussion of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have diedFirst up on the program, Marisa interviews Nerita Waight, a proud Yorta Yorta woman and CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS), about a Victorian Parliamentary inquiry which has called for an overhaul of Victoria's bail laws, following a review of the state's criminal legal system. They also discuss overrepresentation of Aboriginal women in prison.Marisa then interviews David Glanz from the Refugee Action Collective about their recent media release, NZ refugee deal a win but leaves so many still in misery.The final interview on this episode of Doin' Time is with senior lawyers Monique Hurley and Amala Ramarathinam from the Human Rights Law Centre, who continue the earlier discussion about the state's bail laws. The findings of the Inquiry into Victoria's Criminal Justice System are discussed, with a focus on the fact that things have not gone far enough to address human rights, particularly in marginalised communities.    Sign the VALS petition to fix Victoria's broken bail laws here.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin' Time contains discussions about the deaths of First Nations people.  First up on the show we hear from Samantha Lee, Police Accountability solicitor at Redfern Legal Centre. Listeners may recall the TJ Hickey Memorial program broadcasted on 14 February 2022. Marisa invites Samantha to talk about the legal centre's media release entitled NSW Police Safe Driving policy remains 'shrouded in secrecy' despite tragic deaths. This Doin' Time broadcast is dedicated to Mr Wright, an Indigenous youth who died as a result of a police pursuit. Next, Marisa brings listeners two interviews about a research report entitled Police responses to people with disability, University of New South Wales, Sydney, which became available in October 2021. Marisa interviews Eileen Baldry, Professor of Criminology at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, who discusses police responses to people with disability, and how they have been negatively impacted as one of the most vunerable groups in the community, and are overrepresented in the areas of violence, neglect and exploitation. She talks about how the report can build the Royal Commission's knowledge and evidence base about police processes, interactions and responses to people with disability, and how they can be improved. The term First Nations people is used throughout the report to refer to Australia's Indigenous people. Later, Marisa interviews Peta MacGillivray, a Kalkutungu and South Sea Islander lawyer and researcher specialising in the legal needs of First Nations children and young people, particularly those experiencing social and economic disadvantage. Peta talks about why the Research Report is important for the Royal Commission and discusses the key findings for First Nations people. Eileen and Peta both talked about gaps in the research and what still needs to be done, drawing upon the key findings in general.

*Content Warning: This episode of Doin'Time may contain audio images of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander people who have passed This episode of Doin Time is a special commemoration honouring the death of TJ Hickey Marisa crossed to Raul Bassi from ISJA Sydney, at a special commemoration rally honouring the death of TJ Hickey, a Redfern Aboriginal teenager who died as a direct result of the actions of the Redfern police in 2004. Marisa spoke to Raul about the ongoing campaign demanding justice for TJ. Raul also spoke about Gail Hickey, TJ's mother, and her overwhelming grief and frustration that a proper investigation has been refused for TJ's death, despite taking things to the United Nations. Marisa also interviewed Professor Bronwyn Carlson, from the Department of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University, about police investigating police, deaths in custody and the Deathscapes website, which documents deaths in custody, . Then Marisa heard from Cheryl Kaulfuss, representing ISJA Melbourne, who conveyed a heartfelt message of solidarity support to the family of TJ Hickey, and talked about the ongoing persecution of police who in every way block the family from investigating TJ's death. Cheryl spoke about how over the years, in the words of Warrior Ray Jackson who has since passed away but was a staunch supporter of the Hickey family, "Redfern Police continue to refuse to allow the installation of the Commemorative Plaque to be installed at the fenceline where TJ was impaled as a result of his bicycle being rammed by a police vehicle. The police want to see this as an accident. That will never happen". Cheryl spoke about police investigating police and how important and powerful the Redfern rallies are that happen every year on TJ's death. We note that it is uncertain whether the Plaque has even been installled yet.

Marisa interviews Scott Cosgriff, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, about a recent survey that was commissioned by the HRLC with the Migrant Workers' Centre, about concerning trends in migrant workers' residency. Their research shows that many people who have been living and working in Australia for 5-10 years aren't being recognised as permanent residents, despite that almost 80% of Australians support a pathway to permanent residency. They also discuss the issue of exploitation for vulnerable refugee communities in this country. Later, Marisa interviews Chris Breen from the Refugee Action Collective VIC, who gives us an update about what's happening with refugees and asylum seekers at the Park Hotel in Melbourne, including some of the draconian laws that Scott Morrison has introduced which has facilitated the rampant spread of COVID-19 through these detention centres.

Content Warning: This program may contain audio descriptions of Aboriginal and Torres-Strait Islander peoples who have passed on. Suicide and suicide prevention will also be discussed. If you find any of the content distressing or triggering, you can call Lifeline on13 11 14This year, January 26 (also known as Invasion Day or Survival Day), is particularly significant - as well as being a day of mourning that marks disposession, colonisation, and genocide, 2022 marks the 50th Anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. The Aboriginal Tent Embassy was established on the lawns of what is now Old Parliament House, on the date that marked invasion in 1972. The ongiong Tent Embassy action was sparked by then-Australian Prime Minister, Billy McMahon, announcing on Invasion Day Eve that his government would not be recognising Aboriginal land rights, and would instead be establishing a system of fifty-year leases.Today, Marisa hosts a special broadcast about Invasion Day, with a report of some of the events that happened over the country, interviewing two strong and powerful First Nations women:First, Aunty Megan Krakouer (from the National Suicide Prevention & Trauma Recovery Project) comes on the show to discuss Invasion Day issues, including Aboriginal youth detention and deaths in custody. Later, Marisa speaks with Lea-Anne Carter from the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service (VALS) about Invasion Day and her work on preventing Aboriginal deaths in custody. You can also listen to 3CR's annual Invasion Day special broadcast here.

Marisa interviews Tiffany Overall, Policy, Advocacy & Human Rights Officer at Youthlaw about raising the age of criminal responsibility in Australia to at least 14, in order to reflect international medical standards.  They discuss the ongoing battle by various legal organisations in the space of youth incarceration in this country, including Youthlaw's submissions to a national review, a disappointing plan for a proposal by Attorneys-General to raise the age to 12 years. Later, Marisa reads An Interview With the Jumbunna Institute’s Paddy Gibson by Paul Gregoire, from Sydney Criminal Lawyers, highlighting the level of intimidation by the far-right that's currently happening in activist spaces.

Marisa interviewed Ian Rintoul from The Refugee Action Coalition about a very unfortunate and terrible incident. He spoke about noeo-nazis attacking the family home of Sydney anti-racist activist Paddy Gibson. Marisa then interviewed Dr Maria O'Sullivan, Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer Faculty of Law and a member of The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law at Monash University, about the Public Health and Wellbeing (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021 and the Victorian Human Rights Charter.Finally, Marisa interviewed Brett Collins from Justice Action NSW about ongoing Projects at Justice Action in regards to prisoners' rights, and the Pandemic in particular.

This week, Marisa interviews Aunty Megan Krakouer and Gerry Georgatos from the National Suicide Prevention & Trauma Recovery Project about a class action lawsuit against Banksia Hill Youth Detention Facility in WA. Former inmates are suing the centre over conditions which observers say condemn children as young as 11 to a life of trauma and disadvantage. Later, Marisa speaks with Scott Cosgriff, Senior Lawyer at the Human Rights Law Centre, about stranded refugees and people on temporary visas for whom there is no plan in regards to Australia's "reopening".