Women on the Line

In this episode, we speak with Ciara, a campaigner from Elbit Out of Victoria, a campaign opposing Elbit Systems' involvement in Victoria’s and Australia's industries over its defence ties with Israel and the US. We discuss Australia’s continued militarised path, rooted in colonial violence and alliances between war corporations, nation-states, and imperial powers that fuel genocidal campaigns, such as the one in Gaza committed by the Israeli state.

On this week’s episode, we share moments from the Public Sector Workers rally that took place on Wednesday 30th October outside Parliament House in Naarm/Melbourne. Workers across the state rallied together to demand that the Victorian State government sanction Israel and not public sector workers; that they break all military, diplomatic and industrial ties with Israel as well as cancel the Memorandum of Understanding with the IOF; and finally to end co-operation and investments with Israeli weapons companies such as Elbit Systems. In attendance on Wednesday were members of the Australian Education Union (AEU) who are also part of Teachers and School Staff for Palestine, Healthcare Workers for Palestine, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) Victoria for Palestine, Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) for Palestine and Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) for Peace. Today’s episode will be in three parts. Firstly, we will hear from Justine, an educator and organising member of Teachers and School Staff for Palestine. Secondly, we’ll listen to a statement that was produced by members of CPSU for Palestine. And lastly we will hear a short conversation with an anonymous CPSU member.

On this week’s episode of Women on the Line, we speak with Manjusha and Anya about Temple of Desire, a Karma Dance production exploring themes of gender, feminism, rage, queerness and spirituality through the traditional dance form of Bharatnatyam, and featuring queer South Asian artists. Manjusha (she/her) is a South - Asian Australian woman who lives, works and creates on across unceded Wurundjerii land. Manjusha is the producer and stage manager of Temple of Desire working closely with Govind Pillai the Director, Choreographer and dancer to bring this production to life. Manjusha is a multidisciplinary artist and arts worker, who lives, works and creates on the intersection of Performing arts, Intangible Cultural Heritage practices and Events Management.Anya (she/ they) is a South Indian Tamil woman living on unceded Wurundjeri land and one of the dancers in Temple of Desire. Outside of dancing, Anya works in family violence policy reform, and spends any spare time obsessing over her dog Appu, who sadly is obsessed with Anya's partner instead.

On this episode of Women on the Line we are commemorating 1 year since the genocide in Palestine escalated. Today on the show, we hear poetry, music and speeches from a vigil that was held on Monday 7 October this year, mourning the lives lost under genocide. The vigil was held in Narrm and we will hear poetry readings from Dr Michaela Sahar, an Australian-Palestinian writer and educator; Noor, a Palestinian student from Gaza, music performance by Basil, Elarah and Phoebe; and then finally we hear from Julie Webb-Pullman, a war crimes investigator who has worked in Gaza.

On this episode of Women on the Line we hear snippets from Scarlett Alliance’s ‘Debunking the Porn Panic’ webinar that was held on the 15th of August this year. The webinar was hosted by Jenna Love, sex worker and the Committee President of Scarlett Alliance, and featured guests Allan McKee, University Professor specialising in sexualized media ; Greta Degraves, sex worker and scarlett alliance’s policy officer; and Zahra Stardust, scholar working at the intersections of sexuality, technology, law and social justice. We hear from Greta Degraves and Zahra Stardust speak to us about moral panic, porn literacy, ending discrimination against sex workers, consent and sex education amongst young people.

On this week's episode of Women on the Line, we speak with Katie Sfetkidis, a multidisciplinary artist living and working on lands of the Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people, about her latest work - We the People x Yarra - a research project and community discussion about how community has historically driven social change.

This episode explores the impacts of repression, settler colonialism, and militarism in Kanaky (New Caledonia) ahead of Kanaky Invasion Day, September 24. The French colonised Kanaky in 1853.Since May 2024, the violent French occupation has intensified with increased military repression and significant deployment of French armed forces, raising concerns about the potential of genocide, the ongoing militarisation of the region and extrajudicial killings of Indigenous Kanak people as armed French civilian militias patrol the streets killing Kanak people at random.Sarah and Emma from the Free Kanaky Solidarity Naarm collective discuss the situation on the ground for Kanak people, in particular for Kanak women, in the face of what local feminists have warned could turn into a genocidal campaign. See below for an excerpt of a letter addressed to the world written by feminist organisations in Kanaky. "We, Kanak, Indigenous & allied women of Kanaky, appeal to your international feminist solidarity in response to the violent situation we are currently experiencing on our lands. This situation is the result of colonisation, starting from France’s taking possession of the land in 1853, followed by successive ‘civilising’ interventions by the army to ‘pacify’ the Kanak (then considered to be savages), and of an accelerated recolonisation via settler colonialism orchestrated by the French state. This situation has been reshaped along neoliberal lines since 2020 with the appointment of Sébastien Lecornu under Emmanuel Macron."Since 13 May 2024 we have been subjected to an extensive operation of colonial repression, including the massive deployment of French armed forces to a country already undergoing a process of militarisation.In particular, we are sounding the alarm over:- the risk of genocide identified through various markers- the need to reopen Nouméa's airports and commercial flights for the well-being of all."You can read the full letter here, published in May 2024.

On this episode of Women on the Line we chat with Katia Schwartz about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and its recent amendments excluding disabled people from accessing sex work services. We’re joined on the show by Katia who is a Deaf, professional erotic performer and career sex worker since 2008. She is also the National Programs Manager at Scarlett Alliance and on the Board of Touching Base. As a member of the disability, sex work and queer communities, Katia is a strong public advocate for inclusion, anti-discrimination and destigmatisation of marginalised groups. Please note that this episode mentions whorephobia and ableism. Transcript available here. Photo by Natasha Killeen.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners, please be advised that this program includes references to state violence and colonisation. If you need to talk to someone about the issues covered in the program you can contact: 13 YARN (13 92 76) which is a dedicated 24/7 national crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Lifeline 13 11 17On this week’s episode we speak to Raelene Cooper, Mardudhunera Traditional Owner from the Mardudhunera coast line and in-land areas. Raelene is the former chair of the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, and is one of the leaders of the Save Our Songlines campaign, which fights to protect Murujuga Country also known as the Burrup Peninsula in so-called Western Australia from destruction and desecration. The Murujuga petroglyphs are a sacred part of culture and Ngurra (Country) and the rock art is more than 40 000 years old, and contains important cultural and spiritual knowledge.In this conversation, Raelene speaks about the significance of Murujuga Country; the impact that over-development and seismic blasting are having on wildlife, Aboriginal culture and the climate; fighting both governments and industry, as well as her recent appearance at a public hearing for the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee inquiry into the Protecting the Spirit of Sea Country Bill.

On this episode, we listen to part of a speech by Dr Samah Sabawi, award-winning playwright, author and poet from Gaza city Palestine who lives and works in Naarm, speaking at a Free Palestine Rally on the 11 August 2024. We then hear from Kaushi, a feminist and activist based in Thailand and one of the founders of the group Chiang Mai for Palestine. Kaushi talks about organising for Palestine in Thailand, her ongoing activism in this space and the impact the group is hoping to have. This conversation first aired on 3CR Tuesday Breakfast on 6 August 2024.