Done By Law

Making Fines Fair

Jordana — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:23:08 +0000

Tonight on Done By Law we look at the pervasive but little understood infringements system. For most people, paying a penalty to avoid having to go to court is an effective and efficient way of dealing with minor offences. However for the disadvantaged members of our community – people who suffer from mental illness, housing stress, poverty or serious substance addiction – dealing with infringements can be a lifelong struggle, adding monetary burdens, stress and even gaol to their already extensive list of woes. Victoria has developed a “Special Circumstances” system to try to alleviate the pressure of the infringements system for certain vulnerable groups. How does it work? Does it go far enough to assist people to move past their infringements? Are there other, better ways that people can be helped to manage their infringements? Join us tonight on Done By Law as Aimee Cooper of Victoria Legal Aid, Jordana Cohen of Youthlaw and special guest Katrina Wong of Youthlaw and ex-Marrickville Legal Centre – all reluctant infringements experts - discuss how the infringements system works (or doesn’t) and how we’d like to see it work better for our clients.

If you would like legal information or advice on infringements you can contact Victoria Legal Aid on 9269 0120, Youth Law on 9611 2412, or your local Community Legal Centre on 9652 1500.

2012 RADIOTHON’S A-COMIN’

Jordana — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:22:40 +0000

The mad rush to help keep Done By Law on air peaks with our blockbuster show on 11 June. But you can get in before the rush and donate NOW - Look to your left, hit the “DONATE” button & pledge away! Dont forget to tell 3CR you’re donating to support this show.

Smart Justice: 1 May 2012

Jordana — Tue, 08 May 2012 09:14:00 +0000

On tonight’s show we speak with Michelle McDonnell, policy officer at the Federation of Community Legal Centres, about their Smart Justice initiative. Smart Justice provides a much needed tempered, reasoned and fact-backed voice in the often heated debates around criminal justice policies in Victoria.

For more information see the Smart Justice website: http://www.smartjustice.org.au/

Off the Record: Criminal Record Discrimination

Julia — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 09:12:20 +0000

A recently launched documentary Off the Record profiles stories of people who have been discriminated against on the basis of their criminal record. Film Producer, Jessica Croft, talks to us about the experience of working with community legal centres on social change projects and the stories profiled in the film. Academic and social advocate Dr Bronwyn Naylor of Monash University talk to us about her research and work in the area of criminal record discrimination in particular her research with employers and models operating in other jurisdictions.

Your Community Group: Getting Started

belinda — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:10:35 +0000

PilchConnect, a free legal service for not-for-profit organisations in Victoria recently received philanthropic funding to run a series of workshops for culturally and linguistically diverse community groups.

These workshops, entitled “Your Community Group: Getting Started” aim to assist culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) migrant groups to better understand their legal roles and obligations, avoid legal problems and be well governed and sustainable not-for-profit organisations.

PilchConnect is in the process of developing the program of free, tailored legal training and support for migrant groups to help them navigate the complex legal landscape for not-for-profit organisations in Victoria and will be also distributing a free resource kit to migrant groups via project partners.

Tonight on Done By Law juanita Pope from PilchConnect talks to us further about its program for CALD communities.

The City of Monash takes on pokies- 20 March 2012

belinda — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:56:05 +0000

We’ve all heard about the Government’s current dilemma with regard to gaming and mandatory pre-commitment but what about the issue of the number of pokie machines being introduced into our communities?

On 5 March 2012, the City of Monash opposed an application by L’Unico Hotel in Clayton to increase the number of its pokie machines from 28 to 35. In a municipality where $122 million per year is generated from pokie machines but where the monthly expenditure on pokie machines is 80% higher than the Victorian average, it is not surprising that the issue of pokie machines continues to be highly controversial and socially significant.

Tonight on Done By Law, we will be speaking to the Mayor of Monash City Council, Stefani Perri about her battle to control the number of pokie machines being introduced into her community.

Right to decide? Review of the Guardianship and Administration Act

Jordana — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 09:11:46 +0000

The Victorian Law Commission recently undertook a review of the Guardianship and Administration Act and it has delivered a report to the Attorney General which is being tabled in Parliament within the week. The review recognised that the current guardianship laws in Victoria draw a sharp line between capacity and incapacity, and has looked at alternative arrangements which move from substituted decision making to supported decision making. Supported decision making has been recognised in the 2006 United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons With Disabilities and is defined by the Mental Disability Advocacy Council as an arrangement “premised on the fact that with proper support a person who would otherwise be deemed to lack capacity is, in fact, able to make personal decisions”. Tonight on Done By Law we discuss this important issue with Robyn Mills, the Program Manager for Victoria Legal Aid’s Mental Health & Disability Advocacy Program.

Lethal deployment of ‘less-than-lethal’ force: Tasers and police homicides

Julia — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 08:54:23 +0000

In early March Victorian Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay has signed off on a roll-out of tasers, stun-guns which administers an electric shock of 50,000 volts, to the whole police force. The police argue that taser provide police with an extra tactic to resolve high-risk incidents without lethal force or with ‘less-than-lethal’ force. The death of 23 year old Brazilian student Roberto Laudisio Curti in Sydney on Sunday 18 March after police fired several taser at him has prompted calls for Victoria Police to postpone their roll out. Tonight on Done By Law we talk to Dr Thalia Anthony a Senior Lecturer at UTS about the risk the normalisation of tasers in policing presents and the need for independent oversight of police assault and homicide.

Abuse in the Catholic Church - Seeking Justice - 13 March 2012

Jordana — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:41:34 +0000

Did you know that you can’ t sue the Catholic Church in Australia for sex offences? In particular, if you were the victim of abuse as a child, it’s next to impossible to take legal action about the abuse as an adult. Tonight on Done By Law we’re speaking with Judith Courtin, who is a Phd candidate conducting research into sexual assault in the Catholic Church. We’re also joined by Stephen Woods, who is a survivor who is a survivor of clergy sexual assault. We’ll be talking to our guests about whether victims are finding justice for such abuse, focusing on how the laws and systems in place can be improved for victims.

If any listeners want to ask questions about this show or find out more about options for victims, send an email to Judith Courtin at jcourtin@netspace.net.au

Police shootings and accountability - 6 MARCH 2012

Annie — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:47:23 +0000

Tonight’s Done By Law program picks up where this week’s ABC Four Corners program left off with the story of the NSW police investigation into the death of Adam Salter, a young man shot by a police officer in 2009. Appearing on the Four Corners program on behalf of the National Police Accountability Network, Tamar Hopkins of the Flemington Kensington Community Legal Centre joins Done By Law to further explore the issue of police accountability in Australia and how other jurisdictions, such as Ontario and Northern Ireland, approach the investigation of police shootings.