Done By Law

Done By Law on Survival Day

shane — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 23:42:04 +0000

- 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:

DBL: Political violence and the law in the Philippines: 12 January 2009

camilla — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 06:14:51 +0000

On 23 November 2009, 57 people were massacred near the town of Ampatutan in the province of Maguindanao in the Philippines. A convoy of vehicles was carrying civilians, journalists and lawyers, who were on their way to file a certificate of candidacy for Esmael Mangudadatu. Mangudadatu was challenging mayor in the forthcoming Maguindanao election. The convoy was stopped, the people abducted and later murdered. It was reported that witnesses and people in the cars on either side of the convoy were also massacred.

Andal Ampatuan, Jr and a number of others have been arrested for the massacre. His father and several other clan members have been charged with rebellion. On 5 January 2010, Andal Ampatuan, Jr pleaded not guilty. The Ampatuan clan are known for being loyal supporters of President Gloria Arroyo. Since the election of President Gloria Arroyo in 2001, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and other human rights organisations have reported on the rise of serious human rights abuses in the Philippines. President Arroyo is charged with having created a culture of impunity for those committing politically motivated violence – which includes hundreds of extra-judicial killings and thousands of individual documented human rights violations.

Tonight we are joined by Neri Colmenares, Secretary General of the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers – who lost colleagues in the massacre. He will be discussing political violence and the law in the Philippines - including an interesting proposition as to how Australian lawyers can actively help human rights in the Philippines.

DBL: New Police Powers: 1 December 2009

alex — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:46:51 +0000

This week on Done By Law we talk to James Farrell, Principal Lawyer at the PILCH Homeless Person’s Legal Clinic, about proposed legislation soon to be made law, which is set to dramatically increase police powers in the State of Victoria.

These new laws will enable Police to conduct arbitrary searches of any person including children in designated zones.

Worryingly, this is the first piece of legislation to be introduced to Victoria’s Parliament with an acknowledgement that it is incompatible with the State Government’s new Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.

DBL: legal experience of sexual assault victims / survivors: 8 December 2009

camilla — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 08:11:39 +0000

In the age of nightly American TV shows that produce legal and police drama about women being sexually assaulted - it is worth asking the question - what is ? What do they face and what are their options? Joining us tonight on Done by Law - to demystify the legal process and to discuss the experience of Australian victim/survivors of sexual assault when it comes to the law - Viv Waller of Waller Legal - a lawyer specialising civil claims for victim/survivors of sexual assault - and Caroline Worth from Victorian CASA Forum Inc, the peak body of the 15 Centres Against Sexual Assault and the Victorian Sexual Assault Crisis Line.

DBL 24 Nov: Local indigenous leaders speak out against local law 8

marian — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 05:00:20 +0000

Last month on Done By Law, we examined the recent decision by Yarra Council to place a ban on public drinking through the introduction of Local Law 8, which will give police the power to pour out opened drinks and issue on the spot fines of $100.

This week we speak to three Indigenous leaders from Collingwood about what impact they think the laws will have, and how they intend to fight these provisions (see our news section for the details).

We also speak to Fitzroy Legal Service advocate Meghan Fitzgerald about new laws being introduced to give police the power to move people on.

‘Last Time’ Party to be held on Smith Street Monday 30th!

shane — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 05:36:12 +0000

On the last day before Local Law 8 comes into effect banning public
drinking in the Yarra City area, come down to Smith St to show your
solidarity and support to the Parkies, local Indigenous people who have
been gathering on Smith St for decades and are the central targets of this
law. Since the announcement of the law, already there has been increased
police harassment, raids, arrests, and threats of violence.

See attached flyer for details, and come down to Smith St on November 30th at 12pm to
talk, hear stories, and find out how you can support the Parkies in their
ongoing struggle to fight dispossession and dislocation.

DBL: LOCAl law 8 and the ban on public drinking in yarra, 27 Oct 2009

marian — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 08:38:20 +0000

This week on Done By Law we take a look at the recent decision by Yarra Council to place a ban on public drinking. Local Law 8, was passed at a heated Council meeting last week and will give police the power to pour out opened drinks and issue on the spot fines of $100. We’re joined by Councillor Steve Jolly, the only member of Council to oppose the ban, and Belinda Lo from Fitzroy Legal Service.

DBL: Discrimination on basis of sexuality in Victoria, Australia: 13 October 2009

camilla — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 08:20:41 +0000

Tonight on done by law we are joined by Hayley Conway from the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby to discuss how the ‘right to religious freedom’ is used trump justice and equal rights. While Victoria’s Equal Opportunity Act makes it unlawful to discriminate against a person because of a particular attribute – including race, disability, age, physical features, political belief or activity, breastfeeding, sexuality, gender and marital status - Victoria has more exemptions to its equal opportunity law than any other state in Australia.

DBL: Out of Africa and into Court: The legal problems of African refugees: 6 October 2009

mark — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:01:26 +0000

This week on Done By Law, we speak to Katie Fraser from the Footscray Community Legal Centre about common legal problems faced by African refugees after they arrive in Australia and possible solutions.

Imprisoned People and Social Justice Forum # 2

shane — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:40:44 +0000

This audio is the second installment from the Imprisoned People and Social Justice Forum held in Melbourne on Thursday the 10th of September 2009. See the DBL front page for the rest of the audio and details about the day: