Doin Time

This week, Marisa speaks with David Glance from the Refugee Action Collective about the lack of accountability and duty-of-care in regards to the spread of COVID-19 in detention, after 22 out of the 46 men currently detained in Melbourne's Park Hotel detention centre have tested positive to the virus since October 17, 2021. He also reports on the rally in support of these refugees that took place outside the hotel on 7 November.  Then, Associate Professor Maria O'Sullivan (Associate Professor and senior lecturer in the Monash University Faculty of Law, and a member of the Monash Castan Centre for Human Rights Law) joins to discuss the Public Wellbeing and Pandemic Management Bill 2021, which is currently before the Victorian Parliament - and which will hopefully bring some transparency and accountability in these unprecedented times. Does the Victorian Charter of Human Rights need strengthening? Will temporary measures of intensified surveillance become permanent features of society? Maria shines a light on the positives as well as the negatives in regards to this bill.  Lastly, the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service and the Human Rights Law Centre are calling for the Victorian Government to reconsider their proposed changes to the age of criminal responsibility in Victoria so that they can comply with medical and international standards. This is in response to a meeting of Attorneys-General proposing to decrease the age of criminal responsibility in Victoria to 12 years old, which would be a devastating missed opportunity. Lee-Anne Carter (Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service) joins the program to discuss the implications of this plan for children young enough to be in primary school, how the carceral system does not rehabilitate, and the ongoing battle to raise the age of criminal responsibility in this country.

Content Warning: This story contains audio-images of people who have died.This year marks 30 years since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which made 339 recommendations. Very few have been implemented, and there is very little change.Today's broadcast is a roll-call in honour of all deaths in custody, but in particular, this show is dedicated to JC. JC was young mother who was fatally shot in the street on September 17th, 2019 in the Geraldton suburb of Karloo. The 29 year old woman was taken in to Geraldton Regional Hospital where she later died of her injury. A police officer was charged with her murder. JCs death triggered massive protest in Geraldton and sparked outrage across the state of WA. This week, Marisa interviews Aunty Anne Jones (mother of JC) with Aunty Megan Krakouer (from the National Suicide Prevention & Trauma Recovery Project) about what happened with JC's death, the court case and consequences for the police officer who shot her, and the lack of support and accountability in this broken system.Later, Marisa interviews Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition about the spread of coronavirus at the Parkville Hotel and other detention centres in Melbourne, and the inedequate response of the Australian Government in regards to this.

Marisa interviewed Kieran Pender Senior lawyer, HumanRights Law Centre about how The Human Rights Law Centre and Digital Rights Watch have written to Federal, State, and territory health Ministers calling for stronger privacy protections in the technology being used to support home quarantine trials.Marisa then interviewed Cheryl Axleby, Narunga woman and Co-Chair, Change the Record: aboutAustralia's state and territory governments being urged to follow the lead of the ACT, after it released its roadmap to raising the age. Overincarceration of First Nations people was discussed, as well as the stolen Generation, and the need for young people and children to have communities, not prisons.

Marisa conducted an extended interview with Lee-Anne Carter, Statewide Community Justice Leader from the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service about the Deaths in Custody Notification Service in Victoria, which prompted discussion about Aboriginal deaths in custody. In particular, Aunty Tanya Day was talked about, in the context of her Inquest, and the relevance of the assessment of risk, to promote more safety in custody.Marisa then interviewed David Glanz from the Refugee Action Collective about the right to safely protest for the rights of Refugees at the Park Hotel and Mita, during the Pandemic. Victoria police stopped protestors from picnicking and holding up placards, at Lincoln Quare, even though a Serco guard tested positive inside Mita.

Marisa interviewed Latoya Rule, sister of Wayne "Fella" Morison, an Aboriginal man who tragically died in custody in September, 2016 Latoya gave an update on Wayne's Inquest, and the traumatic events leading up to his death. Spit hoods were also discussed. Latoya and her family continue to do powerful work.Marisa also interviewed Tom Tanuki, commentator and activist about the pandemic and related issues.Finally, Marisa interviewed Ian Rintoul from the Refugee Action Coalition about another SERCO worker in a Melbourne detention centre testing positive for Coronavirus, and the safety implications and human rights for asylum seekers and refugees in detention.

Marisa spoke withChris Breen is an activist in the teachers' union, Aeu Sub Branch President at his school, and a member of the Left-wing Group solidarity. He also spoke about Union members' concerns about Mandatory vaccinations in his school. Analysis of the recent Protests was also discussed, as a result of the Pandemic!Marisa then interviewedLee -anne Carter victorian Aboriginal legal service Statewide Community Justice Programs Leader,Wiradjuri and Noongar woman about theLegal challenge launched to secure fair access to the Age Pension for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.Finally, Marisa spoke with Simone Cameron about thethree members of the Biloela family who were granted a 12-month visa extension. The youngest daughter Tharnicaa was not granted a visa, so the interview focused on human rights violations for this family, and the cruelty that has been shown by the Morison Government, as the family is stuck in Perth.

Monique Hurley and Amala Ramarathinam from the Human Rights Law Centre speak to us about their submission to the Inquiry into Victoria's Criminal Justice System with a focus on the over-representation of minority groups.We then speak with Tiffany Overall from the Federation of Community Legal Centres Vic about the campaign to Raise The Age of criminal responsibility from 10 to at least 14.

Doin Time speaks with Daney Faddoul, Campaigns Manager at the Human Rights Law Centre about the dramatic increase in support for an Australian Charter of Human Rights & Freedoms.

Marisa interviewed Janelle speed, known as Nell, a Biripi/Dhungutti woman who has worked in a variety of health settings, about Coronavirus, health, colonization and the rights of First Nations prisoners, and underresourced communities, mostly in the context of Coronavirus.Marisa then interviewed Karen Fletcher, Senior lawyer and Prison advocate fromFitzroy Legal service about Coronavirus and prisons, looking at the rights of prisoners to be kept safe from the coronavrus.

Marisa interviewed Samantha Lee Police Accountability Soicitor from Redfern Legal Centre about the need for greater police caution in response to COVID-19 public health order breaches.Marisa also interviewed ian Rintoul from The refugee Action Coalition about the growing support that is growing for the last remaining refugee family in Darwin's Mercure Hotel prison to be released from detention. The pandemic was also discussed.