Doin Time

Doin Time spoke to Uncle Jack Charles about Sorry Day and the stolen generation.  Then we spoke to Vickie Roach about prison abolition and the stolen generations.

We interviewed Habib  from Australian Burmese Rohingya Organisation about Manus Island and the recent suicide of a refugee.  Then we interviewed Chris from the Campain Against Racism and Fascism  about a number of court cases coming up.

We interviewed Ian about the violations of human rights for Asylum seekers and Refugees. Ian gave an update about what's happening on Manus Island. We also interviewed Lidia Thorpe about Having a  Treaty in Victoria, and the importance of Aboriginal Elders being included and properly resourced, and consulted. Lidia spoke about a bill for Treaty that will be debated in Parliament very soon. She also talked about Sorry Day coming up on 26 May, and the Stolen generation.

We interviewed Lex Wotton from Palm Island about the class action he look against the state of QLD and also interviewed Brendan about an Maori youth in isolation I stand with Jason and also we interviewed Latoya about deaths in custody and the death of her brother Wayne.

Mumia Abu Jamal commenties from Prison Radio.

Marisa spoke with Tyrone from the Federation of Community Legal centers about an open letter that was written by the Federation on the banning of pen pal communications in Victorian prisons, by Corrections. Marisa and Tyrone discussed the Victorian Charter of Human rights and Responsibility, and how this pertains to the violation of human rights of written communication. Tyrone also talked about the traumatic effects that the  banning is having on First Nations people, and Transgender communities. He talked about  general issues in regards to all prisoners. An event was also advertised for the 10 of May, about racialised communities, organised by the Federation. Marisa then spoke with Pauline Klagu, first Nations woman, academic and artist about a very special event coming up this month, during Reconciliation Week. She discussed in detail this event, which is      Telling the 'untold story of Aboriginal women deaths in custody through art. Four Indigenous creatives and academics, Professor Larissa Behrendt, Assoc Professor Pauline Clague, Dr Lou Bennett, and Dr Romaine Moreton, have worked with community to re-voice the stories of Aboriginal women who have created a  cell block. In particular Pauline talked about the making of a beautiful Possum skin Cloak which will be wrapped around the women who have died in custody,  through audio and visual  effects, citing many, many issues.   The installation will be officially launched on the 30th May, during Reconciliation Week with the exhibition open to the public from the 31st May - 10th June at Boomalli Co-operative, 55-59 Flood Street, Leichardt in Sydney. There will also be a panel on the 31st May focusing on the issue of escalating numbers of Aboriginal women in custody.

A special memorial show about Ray Jackson, First Nations warrior, advocate to end aboriginal deaths in custody and the co-founder of Indigenious Social Justice Association Sydney, awarded a human rights medal from france.  We interviewed Joseph who has know Ray for 20 years, he  worked with him and nominated Ray for the human right award in France.  Also we interviewed Carolyn Jackson, the daughter of Ray, she gave a report back on Rays memorial from Sydney.

Marisa interviewed Auntie Noelene who  an Aboriginal author and researcher, and important Elder. They talked about The Myall Creek Masacre, and Auntie's project about identifying and intergrating Aboriginal graves into the Cemetery at Moree. Auntie Noelene also talked about her Tribal great grandmother, and the terrible way Aboriginal people were treated in the hospitals in the 1850's and beyond. Marisa also spoke with Chris Breen from the Refugee Action collective  about Manus Island, and the violations of human rights regarding asylum Seekers and Refugees. Chris talked about, the work the collective is doing to bring everyone home to Australia.

We interviewed Tamar Hopkins, former Principal Solicitor from Flemington Kensington Community Legal Centre, and current researcher of police ethical standards and the complaint system. We discussed the broken Police complaints system, racial profiling and  the effect of Guerin's activities. The avalanche of police brutality reports were also discussed, along with how it's important to have an independent body investigating police.We also interviewed Wayne Muir, Ceo of the Aboriginal Legal service, about how the current police complaints system impacts on Abboriginal people. Stolen Generation was also discussed, along with the police brutality reports, and how we can fix the complaints system in Victoria. The underlying trauma of colonisation was also commented upon.

Anthony Kelly, from Flemington Kensington Community Legal Centre, talks about  Victoria Police's announcement to introduce confronting new riot gear.  Victoria Police are introducing a series of new weapons. These are crowd control guns and other apparatus that could seriously criminalise protestors and minority groups. We will also be speaking about the standing down of Assistant Commissioner, Brett Guerin in relation to his racist, sexist and homophobic online posts. Assistant Commissioner Brett Guerin was a career police officer, with 40 years of service, who headed Professional Standards Command.  After that, we'll speak with Vickie Roach, respected  Aboriginal writer and activist about Stolen Generation and her own experiences and views in regards to this.