Done By Law

World Mental Health Week: 11 October 2011

Yesterday was World Mental Health Day, a day aimed at raising public awareness about mental health issues. So tonight on Done By Law, we’re talking about mental illness. People suffering from mental illness can sometimes be treated without their consent, both in hospital and in the community. When this happens, people can be subject to involuntary treatment because they can’t or won’t consent to treatment. Involuntary patients can be subjected to significant restrictions on their personal liberty. So what safeguards are there to protect their rights, and do the safeguards go far enough? Tonight on Done By Law we talk to Catherine Leslie, lawyer and policy officer at the Mental Health Legal Centre and Merinda Epstein, a consumer of mental health services and coordinator of Our Consumer Place, a resource for mental health consumers.

DBL: Changes to the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity laws. Is it time to panic?

Victoria has had Equal Opportunity laws since 1977.  The new Victorian Equal Opportunity Act 2010 was the brainchild of the former State government.  The new Act is due to commence on 1 August this year.  However, the current State government has introduced proposed changes into Parliament regarding the new Act.  Some argue that these proposed amendments are a step back for anti-discrimination laws.  In addition, the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities is currently being reviewed.  Joining us tonight on Done By Law to discuss the changes to both pieces of legislation is someone who works wtih these laws on a daily basis- the Commissioner of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, Helen Szoke.

DBL: New Police Powers: 1 December 2009

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.