LATEST PODCASTS
DBL: Bingle, Privacy and the Wild West of the internet: 9 March 2010
Written by camilla on March 9, 2010You would have to have been living under a rock not to have noticed the media frenzy and public debate surrounding the naked photo of Lara Bingle, allegedly taken without her consent by Brendan Fevola while she was in the shower. Bingle’s manager Max Markson announced that Bingle would take legal action against Fevola for breach of privacy, defamation and misuse of her image.
However, the unauthorised taking, distribution or publication of photos and film has been an issue (including in the law) since these media were invented. In the age of cameras phones and internet publication, this problem has become more prevalent and somewhat more permanent.
Joining us tonight on Done by Law is the Victorian Privacy Commissioner, Helen Versey, to discuss Australia’s privacy laws and how technology and the internet have prompted calls for changes in privacy law.
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Gunns 20 Litigation Goes to Trial - Feb 2nd 2010
Written by shane on March 8, 2010On December 13, 2004, 20 environmental activists, organisations and concerned citizens were issued a 216 page writ by the Tasmanian logging company Gunns Ltd. The woodchipping giant is suing for a combined AU$6.9 million for actions it claims has damaged their business and reputation.
This unprecedented agressive attack on environmental activists is finally making it to trial.
Done by Law speaks to Lawyers for forest Solicitor Vanessa Bleyer and former Gunns 20 defendant Lou Morriss about the trial and some of its implications for the environment movement.
Comments OffKids locked up for no good reason - NSW Young Offenders and Bail: 2 March 2010
Written by alex on March 2, 2010Up until 2007 in NSW, it was usual for about 3,600 young people to be detained in custody each year.
In 2006 - 2007, this number jumped to 4,236.
In 2007 - 2008, this number rose to 5081.
Over these years there was no increase in juvenile involvement in violent and property crimes.
The vast majority of these young people in custody were on remand (that is, they were not serving a sentence after been found guilty and convicted). In fact, only a very small proportion of these young people (between 8-16%), went on to receive a custodial sentence
Tonight, DBL speaks to Katrina Wong, co-author of the report “Bail Me Out – NSW Young Offenders and Bail” about why so many young people are being detained in the State of NSW.
Comments OffDBL: International students under attack: 9 February 2010
Written by camilla on February 21, 2010You might be mistaken for thinking that the recent Victorian government announcement of a new Minister for the Respect Agenda is a Monty Pythonesque farce – but no! On the 20th of January, Premier Brumby announced that Justin Madden would be the inaugural Minister for Respect, stepping into this role to address social issues such as alcohol related violence and racial tolerance.
This comes at a time where the Victorian government is under intense international scrutiny regarding the spate of attacks on Indian students in Victoria. Only last week, Brumby was on the defensive once again after the Indian high commissioner Sujatha Singh accused his government of not doing enough to address attacks on Indian students.
As a result of mounting pressure regarding these attacks, the Victorian Government has also recently opened a new 24-hour support and welfare service for international students. This service is supposed to provide support and advice on a raft of issues for international students, including legal services.
Meanwhile, the Western Suburbs Legal Service are ahead of the game. Acknowledging the raft of issues facing international students, in particular given the high incidents of assault against Indian students out west, an International Student Legal Advice Clinic (ISLAC) was established by the Western Suburbs Legal Service, in collaboration with volunteers working with the international student community. This clinic began on the 1st July 2009 and deals with a raft of issues including housing and tenancy issues, student rights, police matters (including complaints), employment and discrimination/racism
We are joined tonight on Done by Law by Sanmati Verma, Coordinator of ISLAC to discuss the ongoing issues facing international students and whether the government response is adequate in addressing these issues.
Comments OffDone By Law on Survival Day
Written by shane on January 25, 2010- Done by Law on Survival Day -
Here at Done by Law as part of 3CRs special Survival day broadcast we’re
trying something a bit new – we’re going to broadcast a reading of Maria
Giannacopoulos’ 2006 essay - Terror Australis: White Sovereignty and the
Violence of Law as published in the Borderlands e-journal.
The central contention of this essay, is that Australian law is a regime
born of, and sustained through racial violence. The paper rejects the
notion that there is an absolute separation between the workings of
Australian law and the workings of white sovereignty. Maria uses the
federal anti-terrorism laws, and the Tampa ruling, to bring together two
distinct instances of Australian law in order to show the inextricability
of law and racial violence.
you can find the original Giannacopoulos essay at the borderlands e-journal:
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