Done By Law

On this episode, we speak with Laura Dreyfus and Danya Jacobs of the Ecosystem team from Environmental Justice Australia. Among many legal battles, they are currently putting their efforts into assisting the Dungallaba Kulumbirigin clan of the Larrakia people in the fight to protect their country from a large development project at Binybara, also known as Lee Point north of Darwin - a place of both cultural and environmental significance. Laura Dreyfus is a lawyer at Environmental Justice Australia who works with communities in the Northern Territory to protect nature and advocate for stronger legal protections for our ecosystems. Before joining EJA, Laura worked as a civil lawyer at the North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency in the Northern Territory and as a medical negligence lawyer at a plaintiff law firm in Melbourne. Laura holds a Juris Doctor (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts (Hons).Danya Jacobs also joins us in the studio. Danya is a skilled litigator, advisor and legal commentator who focuses on protec

***A warning to our listeners, this episode discusses family violence, family violence intervention orders, and gendered violence.*** This week Northern Community Legal Centre released two research reports examining the use of different online technologies in the family violence intervention order process. To discuss the reports and their findings we are joined by Northern Community Legal Centre’s, Partnerships & Community Development Manager, Tania McKenna. Regarding language we will be talking about women who have experienced family violence and referring to them as victim/survivors acknowledging there are different preferences for women.You can find out more about the Northern Community Legal Centre here: https://www.northernclc.org.au/.

Co-hosts Jimi & Lizzie are joined by Jess de Vries, Director of Legal Services at Women's Legal Service Victoria, to discuss a number of the incredible efforts undertaken by the WLSV team across the State. Whether discussing family law, criminal law, VOCAT, child protection or social work, Jess provides some fascinating insights into what her team are doing to support some of Victoria's most vulnerable communities. 

Jimi & Liz are joined by Jo Parkin & Shifrah Blustein of the Infringements Working Group to give us the lay of the legal land for those finding themselves in a sticky situation when it comes to fines and infringements.  A community legal centre or financial counsellor may be able to help you with your fines, especially if you have multiple fines and you have an experience of family violence, homelessness, mental health issues or disability, or drug and alcohol misuse.Find your local community legal centre: https://www.fclc.org.au/find_a_community_legal_centreFind your local financial counsellor: 1800 007 007 Information about the fines system that may help you self-manage your fine is available here:Law HandbookJustice Connect Homeless Law

​​​​​In this episode of Done By Law we discuss the decriminalisation of public intoxication legislation in Victoria and the implementation of the new alternative health-based response.  First recommended by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody over 30 years ago, being intoxicated in public was finally decriminalised in Victoria on 7 November 2023. A key driver of this historic and long overdue reform was the tireless advocacy by the family of proud Yorta Yorta woman Aunty Tanya Day, who tragically died after being detained by police as a result of public intoxication laws in December 2017.  Following the Coroner’s findings on 9 April 2020, the government’s appointment of an Expert Reference Group, who reported to the Attorney-General with extensive recommendations in August 2020, and further effective advocacy by Aunty Tanya Day’s family and others, on 8 December 2020 the Victorian government introduced into parliament laws decriminalising public intoxication. Those laws came into effect on

Lauren Levin of Financial Counselling Australia joins Jimi & Britt to discuss the hidden epidemic of gambling harm in Australia. 

Listeners please be advised that in this episode we discuss topics including family and domestic violence, sexual assault, and mental ill health. In this episode we hear about Health Justice Partnership from CEO of Health Justice Australia, Tessa Boyd-Caine. This important justice movement creates opportunities for lawyers and health care and other providers to assist their clients and communities with overlapping justice needs. Health Justice Australia was formed in 2016 and work to support the Health Justice Partnership movement across Australia.To learn more visit: https://healthjustice.org.au/ 

Amy Schneider from Economic Justice Australia joins hosts Britt & Jimi in their discussion of the recent Robodebt report. 

This special week is NAIDOC week, a week in which we celebrate the history, culture and achievements of First Nations people. This episode, we are very lucky to have Mrs. Bettina Cooper on our show who we pay respect to.Mrs. Bettina Cooper is a proud Aboriginal woman from the Boandik people of First Nations of South East Australia near what we now call Mount Gambier in South Australia and for many thousands and thousands of years Bettina’s ancestors lived on that country.Bettina is an experienced Aboriginal Financial Counsellor and currently works as Mob Strong Financial Counsellor and Strategy Lead at the Financial Rights Legal Centre, NSW and the Campaign Coordinator for the Save Sorry Business Coalition . In both roles, Bettina advocates for people who are disadvantaged as a result of language, literacy skills, geographical isolation, low income, disability, trauma or related factors. She is passionate about supporting her community.Recently Save Sorry Business Coalition won the Consumers’ Federation of Au

Housing has become an increasingly desperate situation for so many in the community, and renters are often the most vulnerable and at risk of poverty and homelessness. The current private tenancy rates are sitting well below 1% in many parts of the state, and suitable accommodation stock is often worse for those with little to spend or who need access to critical services. On top of that, many renters have been slugged with massive increases on their rent, making keeping a roof over their head very hard, and with nowhere available to go.  Done By Law recently spoke to RAHU (Renters and Housing Union), but  given the immense amount of pressure many in our community are feeling about their housing stability, we’re focusing on the legal rights of renters and cases currently being taken to VCAT or other Courts to consider these issues. To help us understand, we’re joined tonight by Amy Frew. Amy is the Director of Client Services at Tenants Victoria, a specialist CLC that serves renters statewide. Tenants Victori

It’s National Reconciliation Week, and we’re all talking about the Voice to Parliament for First Nations Australians.There’s a lot of myths swirling around about this proposed change to our Federal Constitution. So, this episode of Done by Law is about myth-busting that chatter.Tom Warne-Smith, senior lawyer at West Heidelberg Community Legal joins us to help sort out and explain a few of those misconceptions, from the law perspective.

In this episode of Done by Law, Ingrid and Beth look at the ANZAC legend and its 21st Century legacy – a century during which Australia has continued to participate in foreign conflicts (with allegations of serious war crimes committed against civilians by Australian troops in Afghanistan) and where it might be said that violations of the laws of war appear to have occurred without sufficient scrutiny or, as yet, redress in domestic or international systems.  We’re joined by Dr Carolyn Holbrook, a Senior Lecturer in the Contemporary Histories Research Group at Deakin University, and the Director of Australian Policy and History. Her latest book, Lessons from History: Leading Historians Tackle Australia's Greatest Challenges was published in July 2022. She is writing a history of Australians' attitudes towards their federal system of government, and co-authoring with Professor James Walter a history of policy-making in Australia. Carolyn is the author of the award winning book, Anzac: The Unauthorised Biograph

Lizzy, Jimmy and Britt talk to Sarah Sacher, Law Reform Officer at Economic Justice Australia about some of the big issues in social security law currently, including changes to the couples assessment, the AAT, and ongoing issues with Robodebt. Listeners are advised that this episode discusses family violence and Centrelink.If you are requiring assistance with Social Security debts/Centrelink debts you can contact Social Security Rights Victoria on phone: 03 9481 0355 or National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.If you are experiencing family violence you should contact Safe Steps on 1800 015 188 24 hours a day/7 days a week.  If you are in immediate danger, please contact 000.

In this episode of Done By Law we explore the concept of decolonising environmental justice, and discuss its application to the work of Environmental Justice Australia, a national environmentally-focused public interest legal centre. We are fortunate to be joined by Dr Bruce Lindsay, Senior Specialist Lawyer and Justice Lead, within the Justice Program at EJA. Bruce researches and writes on topics from environmental offsets, water law and native vegetation clearing. He also engages with community members and stakeholders on our campaigns, and leads EJA’s Yarra River Protection Act campaign.

Dylan and Indy speak with Eirene Tsolidis Noyce about renter's rights, the 'rental crisis', and RAHU.Learn more about RAHU here: https://rahu.org.au/

This week on Done by Law our very special guest is a true access to justice hero - Gerard Brody. After 10 years as CEO of Consumer Action law Centre, Gerard is stepping away from his role. Listen in as Gerard looks back over his incredible achievements during this time. He covers the rewards, the challenges, unfinished business and advice for future consumer law advocates. 

·       Beth and Ingrid look at the issue of de-banking and the impact on people working in the sex industry and in adjacent professions such as stripping. We look at the draft guidance from AUSTRAC on financial services for customers that financial institutions assess to be higher risk. We look in particular at the ways that that guidance supports sex workers and the ways it falls short, particularly in terms of the requirement to remind financial institutions about obligations under state and federal anti-discrimination laws. To speak on this issue, we’re lucky to be joined by Matthew Roberts, a sex worker and the Policy Officer at Sex Work Law Reform Victoria. Sex Work Law Reform Victoria is an independent non-partisan volunteer group led by sex workers, lobbying for the full decriminalisation of consensual adult sex work in Victoria. We have spoken with Matthew before on Done by Law about the Sex Work Decriminalisation Bill and we’re excited for him to return as a guest to shine a light on financial discr

This week on Done by Law we chat about Specialist Family Violence Courts. Why are they needed? What do they look like? Why aren't these in place already?Listen in to Belinda Lo from Eastern Community Legal Centre, and Rachel Pliner from the Federation of Community Legal Centres talk about this crucial part of the justice system. 

In this episode, we explore the issue of the cultural competency of legal practitioners appearing in matters involving First Nations clients - and in discussing the rights of First Nations people coming before the courts. We talk about what cultural competency is, how it impacts First Nations clients and how lawyers can improve cultural safety for First Nations clients involved in legal issues or requiring advice. We are joined by Avelina Tarrago, a barrister based in North Quarter Lane Chambers, Brisbane. Avelina is a proud Wangkamadla woman from Central-West Queensland, and was admitted to the profession in 2009 and called to the bar in 2017. She has a general practice with focus on inquest and Commissions of Inquiry, regulatory and administrative law. Prior to joining North Quarter Lane Chambers, Avelina worked as a Senior Legal Officer for the Office of the Health Ombudsman and Counsel Assisting in the Coroners Court of Queensland. In 2014 she was selected as an Indigenous Fellow by the Office of the High