Done By Law

3CR RADIOTHON - DONATE NOW!

The radio station was established in 1976 to provide a voice for those denied access to the mass media, particularly the working class, women, Indigenous people and the many community groups and community issues discriminated against in and by the mass media.

 Many 3CR broadcasters are community activists and therefore uniquely placed to present alternative current affairs, news and views.

3CR stages a number of special broadcasts annually to promote human rights issues including Indigenous rights, women’s rights and worker’s rights.

When major social justice events are happening in Melbourne such as strikes, rallies and demonstrations 3CR is usually the first place socially justice minded people tune into.

How will the funds be used?

To contribute towards the running costs of Melbourne’s uncensored radio station. 3CR gives a voice to women, indigenous people, unionists, environmentalists, new and emerging multicultural communities and many more.

Are donations tax deductible? Yes

Will I receive a receipt for my donation?
Yes, immediately sent to you by email when approved.

Fatal mistake? VicPolice taser trials: 27 March 2010

In February this year Victoria Police announced a trial of taser stun guns in Bendigo and Morwell. The trial will start in July 2010 and run for a year. Currently, only two specialist police units, the Special Operations Group and Critical Incident Response Teams, part of the Force Response Unit are authorised to use tasers. Previously both former Police Commissioner Nixon and current Commissioner Overland had ruled out the expansion of tasers to general duty police. Therefore this trial represents a signifcant shift in the manner in which police can deploy force.

In 2009 an Office of Police Integrity report which investigated Victoria Police’s use of force recommended that officers not be given taser stun guns. There are substantial dangers that tasers can kill or harm if used on vulnerable groups, such a young people, people with heart conditions, people experiecing mental illness, or if the taser is used in particular ways. The data suggests around 73% of taser use in Victoria was against people in mental health crises and that 85% of subjects were affected by prescription or illegal drugs. Evidence from overseas and increasingly from Australia suggests that tasers are prone to misuse. 

Done By Law discusses these trials with Emma Ryan, a Monash University lecturer and PhD researcher.

Community Round-Table on Police Related Issues

You are invited to attend a special Roundtable meeting on Thursday 18th
February to be held at Maysar in Fitzroy.

The Roundtable aims to provide an opportunity for our many groups to share
information and explore opportunities for collaboration on tactics,
strategies and campaigns on police-related issues in Victoria.

You will be aware that, despite lobbying and campaigning, Victoria passed
new search, move on and public drunkenness powers passed into law in 2009.
You will also be aware that three deaths in police custody occurred in
December 2009 and that in each case, it is the police who are
investigating these deaths. You will also be aware that that Victoria
Police is failing to adequately train its members in safety first and
de-escalation principles and that police brutality against people
including women and children continues in this State. You will also be
aware of increasing incarceration rates of Indigenous and migrant youth
and the failure of the police (and government) to acknowledge the racist
attacks that are occuring against Indian, Sudanese and other people of
colour.

All of us are working on the collective tragedy of a State Government and
police force which is doing nothing to realistically to end racism, deaths
in police custody, stop police assaults on Indigenous, Migrant, homeless
and mentally ill people and where the evidence of the failure in police
accountability is available in numerous official reports.

In order in increase our individual and collective capacity to creatively
and effectively work and mobilise on these issues, Melbourne Copwatch
invites you to a community roundtable to explore opportunities for
collaboration and share information about the vital work we are all doing.

We ask that you send one or more of your members to the Community
roundtable which we propose will operate as Spokescouncil. We are grateful
to Anthony Kelly for agreeing to faciliate this event.

The Community Roundtable will be at Maysar 184-186 Gertrude St Fitzroy
between 6-8pm on Thursday 18 February 2010.

Please bring information about your organisation and information on the
campaigns you are working on to share with others.

To obtain further information, to RSVP or to join Melbourne Copwatch,
please contact Melbourne.Copwatch@gmail.com

Copwatch acknowledges the Wurundjeri, the traditional owners of this
country and is grateful to the Melbourne Aboriginal Youth, Sport and
Recreation Centre for donating the space for this event.

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

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

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.

activists launch action against Bayswater power station

Climate change activists from the Newcastle based group Rising Tide yesterday lodged a challenge in the NSW Land and Environment Court seeking the regulation of carbon dioxide pollution from the country’s biggest coal fired power station.

Bayswater power station in Muswellbrook is owned by the Government corporation, Macquarie Generation and produces 12 to 15 million tones of carbon dioxide pollution every year.

The activists will argue that Bayswater is releasing greenhouse pollution without permission from the State Government pollution control agency, the Environment Protection Authority, which is required under the NSW Protection of the Environment Operations Act.

Fitzroy Legal Service Benefit

Musicians Against Police Violence are hosting a benefit for Fitzroy Legal Service on 5 May at The Tote in Collingwood, Featuring Mammal and Electric Mary. The gig kicks off at 8PM.

The Tangled Web: Beyond An Internet Filter

/newmatilda.com/ presents a national series of public forums about the internet regulation debate in Australia.

The Federal Government's proposal to block internet sites with a mandatory filter has drawn overwhelming opposition from voices across
politics and civil society. So what are the real questions for policy-makers?

These forums explore the ethical, social and political questions raised by government regulation of the internet. With the growing intersection
between technology, politics and media, how do existing and proposed classification regimes measure up? Is filtering inevitable? Or are there better ways to regulate the world wide web?

*SPEAKERS*:
Senator Scott Ludlam, the Australian Greens
Michael Flood, Sociologist
Colin Jacobs, Electronic Frontiers Australia 

*WHEN:*
Monday April 27th, 6.30pm

*WHERE:*
ACMI Cinemas
Federation Square
Flinders Street, Melbourne

Tickets for this event are $5. RSVP is essential:
enquiries(at)newmatilda.com [Please inc: “Melbourne Forum” in the
subject line]

musicians against police violence (MAPV)

MAPV are holding a benefit gig on 28 February in Melbourne at Ding Dong Lounge. Featuring bands such as Bellusira, Ezekiel Ox & the Fury, Fading Hour and Joelistics (TZU), all money raised will go directly to Lex Wotton’s family. Lex is an indigenous man currently serving 6 years jail for ‘rioting with destruction’ on Queensland’s Palm Island, after the death in custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee in 2004. A subsequent coronial inquest found that Snr Sgt Hurley was responsible for the death. It also uncovered numerous breaches of procedures by Queensland Police in the ensuing investigation. Snr Sgt Hurley has since received a promotion and a $100,000 compensation payout from the Queensland Government.

To find out more, check out MAPV’s website.

AMCRAN releases 3rd edition of “Anti-Terror Laws: ASIO, The Police and You”

The Australian Muslim Civil Rights Advocacy Network has released the third edition of its booklet, Anti-Terror Laws: ASIO, The Police and You. The booklet answers general questions about the anti-terrorism laws that have been introduced in Australia since 2001, including the terrorism offences, the extended powers and functions of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP), as well as information on control orders, preventative detention, and the sedition offences.

It is available in four languages: English, Arabic, Indonesian (Bahasa) and Urdu.

Download a copy of Anti-Terror Laws: ASIO, The Police and You here.