Done By Law

Sex Discrimination and the Australian Defence Forces: 19 April 2011

In Australia, we are generally not permitted to discriminate on the basis of gender in the course of employment.  The Sex Discrimination Act regulates against this type of discrimination.  However, the law also allows the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to obtain an exemption from employing women in positions involving the performance of combat duties.

Tonight on Done By Law, we will be discussing whether our laws should continue to maintain the allowance of this exemption against women in the ADF.  We will discuss the arguments for and against the exemptions.

Tune in tonight at 6pm.

Public order offences: 22 March 2011

On tonight’s show we look into the deceptively benign public order offences - crimes such as being drunk in public, using offensive language or offensive behaviour or not “moving on” when asked to by police – and the way that these offences have a way of disproportionately impacting on the homeless, the young, the mentally ill and other users of public space. We speak with Tamar Hopkins, the Principal lawyer of Flemington/Kensington Legal Centre and a leading practitioner in the area of policing and human rights. Tamar will discuss with us how public order offences can to lead to discriminatory policing practices - where police over-zealously target certain ethnic groups or age groups in seeking to uphold the law – and the impact that this can have on individuals and the community.

Not seen, Not Heard- Violence against people with a disability: February 15 2011

Coroner’s court 22 February 2011

This week we speak with human rights advocate Charandev Singh who, for close to twenty years, has worked with families who find themselves involved in coronial proceedings. Charandev describes the workings of the Coroners Court and provides information supporting access to justice for people who have lost a loved one.

Community Legal Centres: 8 February 2011

For almost 40 years, Community Legal Centres, or “CLCs”, have been working at the legal frontline to promote human rights and social justice. There are a number of suburban, rural and specialist Community Legal Centres scattered throughout Victoria. These centres provide a range of services - they offer free legal advice to those who might not otherwise be able to afford representation, and make law reform submissions to a range of reviews by government and law reform bodies to agitate for change.

The Federation of Community Legal Centres is the umbrella organisation that provides direction and support for Community Legal Centres. Joining us tonight on Done by Law is Michelle McDonnell, who is a Policy Officer with the Federation of Community Legal Centres.

Freedom of the Press in Australia:14 December 2010

The TV, newspapers and airwaves are awash with the WikiLeaks controversy and the arrest of its founder, Julian Assange. Joining us tonight to discuss the protections journalists are afforded in Australia against disclosing their sources or publishing information from these sources is Justin Quill, a leading Australian media lawyer from firm Kelly Hazel Quill.

Discrimination, Young People, and the case they won - 21 December 2010

In October this year, Cobaw Community Health Service won their case of unlawful discrimination against Christian Youth Camps (CYC).

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal found CYC’s failure to accept Cobaw’s application to accommodate members of their queer suicide prevention and support group, “Wayout” at their Phillip Island Adventure Resort amounted to unlawful discrimination under the Equal Opportunity Act.

Tonight on Done By Law we talk to Sue Hackney, project co-ordinator for Wayout, about the decision.

Tune in on 855AM tonight.

HIGH COURT DECISION AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

In 2008 the South Australian government introduced ‘the world’s toughest anti-bikie laws’.

The legislation is designed to ‘disrupt and dismantle criminal bikie gangs’ and, some said, went too far in curtailing civil rights and liberties.

Earlier this month, the High Court of Australia agreed, and struck down the control orders as unconstitutional. Tonight we are joined by Dr Patrick Emerton, Lecturer at Monash University, to discuss the High Court’s decision and explain the implications for civil liberties in Australia.

A balancing act? The human rights of convicted sex offenders in Victoria

Victoria passed laws this year that allows for sex offenders to be kept in custody indefinitely after serving their sentence if they are considered likely to commit sex offences in the future.  The indefinite incarceration continues to take place in a prison, not rehabilitative type environment.

Tonight on Done By Law, we discuss the need to balance human rights against the need to protect the community from convicted offenders perceived to be a high risk of further offending.

Defending human rights in Columbia: 23 November 2010