Done By Law

This week on Done By Law we look at the strengths and weaknesses of the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Amendment (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021.  After being introduced into parliament on 26 October 2021, the new laws proposed by this bill have led to recent Melbourne protests and some extreme rhetoric, including threats of harm to sitting members of parliament, associated with right-wing extremists. Members of the legal community have produced a more nuanced analysis of both the benefits of the Bill, and also how it could be improved. The Bill’s passage into law was frustrated last week, and the government passed a motion to postpone debate so that further negotiations can take place.  The government has said that it must pass new legislation before 15 December, when the current state of emergency expires.  We’re lucky to be joined by Gregory Buchhorn from Liberty Victoria, who will talk us through the bill. Liberty Victoria is a peak civil liberties organisation in Australia, and has been working to

Dylan and Jeremie speak with Mairead from Young Workers Centre and Liam from United Worker's Union - HospoVoice about wage theft laws which came into effect on 01 July 2021.We discuss what wage theft is, how rampant wage theft is, what these new laws change, and where to get help.https://www.youngworkers.org.au/https://www.facebook.com/youngworkerscentrehttps://www.twitter.com/youngworkersvichttps://unitedworkers.org.au/https://www.hospovoice.org.au/https://www.facebook.com/HospoVoice/https://www.instagram.com/hospo.voice/https://twitter.com/hospovoice  

The amazing Akuch Anyieth gives a facinating insight into the world of interpreting in the legal system.

This week on Done By Law we chat with Sex Work Law Reform Victoria about the new Sex Work Decriminalisation Bill 2021 (Vic), which marks the most significant development in the sex workers’ rights movement in Victoria to date.On 12 October 2021, the Victorian Government introduced a sex work decriminalisation bill into the Lower House of parliament, and this is anticipated to pass into law by the second of December 2021. The new laws would replace Victoria’s outdated licensing system, which criminalises consensual adult sex work. It marks the culmination of decades of work by sex workers advocating to be treated in the same way as other workers, and will greatly improve the safety of their workplace. Victoria is the fourth jurisdiction in the world to decriminalise sex work.  Tonight we’re lucky to be joined by Matthew, 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 decri

Dylan and Indy are joined by Ilo from PAP and Thomas from MALS to discuss militarisation of police.https://www.policeaccountability.org.au/https://melbactivistlegal.org.au/

Indy and Jeremie discuss the new Identify and Disrupt laws with guests Angus Murray and Lizzie O'Shea. More info on this topic:https://melbactivistlegal.org.au/2021/08/26/identify-and-disrupt-bill/https://digitalrightswatch.org.au/2021/09/02/australias-new-mass-surveillance-mandate/https://privacy.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/110221_Submission-to-PJCIS-Identify-Disrupt-Bill.pdf

This week on Done by law, we are talking about sex work. Currently in Victoria there is a review of the sex industry laws underway. Decriminalisation is on the table. There is a really interesting history to the way sex work has been dealt with by our justice system. Tess and Su chat with Barbara Minchinton, an expert on this history. Barbara's new book, Women of Little Lon, is focussed on the sex workers of Little Lonsdale St, Melbourne during the early 20th century. Part of that history is the law that surrounded sex work. We discuss connections between the old days and the 21st century situation, including what lessons we've learnt from the past, and what decriminalisation might achieve.

Dylan and Jeremie discuss the impacts of the recent changes to NT bail laws and their impact on young people with Mililma from Uprising of the People (UP). Facebook UprisingofthepeopleInstagram @uprisingofthepeopleYou can read more about this here: SBS News Article  

Sex Work and Access to Banking Services with special guests Denis Nelthorpe AM and Dean

Imagine if nature itself could fight back, legally, for its own protection against those who seek to destroy it? Recent 'next generation' laws around the world which hold that the natural environment has legal personhood and/or legal rights aim to enable just this. We talk with water law and policy specialist Dr Erin O'Donnell and respected Wurundjeri elder Aunty Diane Kerr OAM about the Yarra River Protection (Wilip-gin Birrarung murron) Act 2017, a similar Victorian law aiming to protect the Birrarung (Yarra river).https://www.water.vic.gov.au/waterways-and-catchments/protecting-the-yarra/yarra-river-protection-act?fbclid=IwAR2PAmLHddJgZ2OOxGtc8ojQBUfgQ6OaPcvdgvf4CbPtGHJs71Gy1zzdWvM

Su, Meg and Tess speak to Suzie Wnukowska-Mtonga and Sarah Schwartz about Movement Lawyering and Australia's first Rebellious Law Conference. For more information about the conference, visit www.reblaw.com.au. 

Hosts Indy and Dylan interview Larissa Baldwin, First Nation's Justice Campaign Director at GetUp. Larissa explains how Australia's cultural protection laws fail to protect Aboriginal sacred cultural sites and allow private companies to destroy and exploit country. Larissa discusses GetUp's campaign with traditional owners to stand together with First Nation's people and call for greater cultural protection. Find out more here: https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/first-nations-justice-campaigns/heritage-act-video/watch-and-share 

"Women and Mentoring (WAM) offers a unique, early intervention program that supports women charged with a criminal offence by matching them individually with a supportive female mentor. The volunteer mentors are trained and resourced to provide appropriate support to the program participants, to share their skills and to contribute to the wider community." - Women and Mentoring Website We delve more into this unique and inspiring volunteer lead program based in Melbourne. We get an inside look into how the mentor and mentee relationship has indelibly transfromed the life of Sammy, a woman caught up in the criminal justice system in Melbourne. To find out more and participate or donate to Women and Mentoring head to their website: http://womenandmentoring.org.au