Newsletter date: 2 December 2013
Contents:
* SBS Living Black Radio's Marc Tong interviews Co-Chair of Congress Kirstie Parker: Congress Opposes RDA Amendments
* Geoffrey Brahm Levey & Helen Pringle, ABC The Drum: Why the 'Bolt laws' should stay
* ABC Lateline: "Professor Gillian Triggs, the President of the Australian Human Rights Commission discusses freedom of speech."
* Marina Freri, SBS Radionews: Groups combine to oppose Racial Discrimination Act change
* Brooke Boney, NITV News: Attorney-General under fire over Racial Discrimination Act
* WGAR News: Tony Abbott wants to repeal Racial Discrimination laws: Pedestrian TV (17 Nov 13)
* Nicole Watson, Tracker: Little Black Duck: An Australian race to the legal bottom
* Brooke Boney, NITV News: 'A troubled relationship': Media struggles with reporting on Indigenous Aussies
* Sol Bellear, Tracker: The Top 10 things Kevin Rudd can apologise for…
* The Stringer: Western Desert mob win Ethics award, putting governments to shame
* Jeff McMullen, Tracker: The Way Ahead: The strength of the human spirit
* Sovereign Union: Radio Africa - The Sovereignty Movement - Interview with Michael Anderson and Fred Hooper
* SBS LIVING BLACK RADIO'S MARC TONG INTERVIEWS CO-CHAIR OF CONGRESS KIRSTIE PARKER: CONGRESS OPPOSES RDA AMENDMENTS
- Audio Interview
SBS Living Black Radio: Congress Opposes RDA Amendments
By Marc Tong
http://www.sbs.com.au/yourlanguage/aboriginal/highlight/page/id/303567/t...
29 Nov 13: "The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples have joined forces with eight other peak community organisations to oppose any repeal of the Racial Discrimination Act. ... Peak community orgnisations have banded together to oppose any repeal that weakens the RDA. The National Congress of Australia's First Peoples has been in discussions with eight other organisations that say if anything the RDA should be built upon and not be diluted. Co-Chair of Congress Kirstie Parker tells Marc Tong, if the repeal is successful it would destabilise one of the country's foundational laws." By Marc Tong
* GEOFFREY BRAHM LEVEY & HELEN PRINGLE, ABC THE DRUM: WHY THE 'BOLT LAWS' SHOULD STAY
- Analysis / Opinion
ABC The Drum: Why the 'Bolt laws' should stay
By Levey & Pringle
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-27/levey-pringle-why-the-bolt-laws-sh...
28 Nov 13: "Freedoms of expression, association, worship and the press are certainly important, but 'centring' liberal democratic rights actually requires racial vilification laws, write Geoffrey Brahm Levey and Helen Pringle. ... In sport a fundamental rule of fair play is that one 'plays the ball and not the player'. Penalties apply where that rule is violated. In politics, where the stakes are so much higher and of greater consequence than a ball game, we should also expect principles of fair play to apply. Non-discrimination no less than fundamental liberties is integral to the conduct of civil life. ... "
"Geoffrey Brahm Levey is Associate Professor and an Australian Research Council Future Fellow in Political Science, and was founding director of the Program in Jewish Studies, at the University of New South Wales."
"Helen Pringle, also in Politics at UNSW, specialises in the areas of human rights, ethics in public life, and political theory."
* ABC LATELINE: "PROFESSOR GILLIAN TRIGGS, THE PRESIDENT OF THE AUSTRALIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION DISCUSSION FREEDOM OF SPEECH."
- Video
ABC Lateline: Professor Gillian Triggs
Reporter: Steve Cannane; Presenter: Steve Cannane
http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3900500.htm
27 Nov 13: "The Attorney-General George Brandis has made it clear his first legislative act will be to change Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, which is designed to protect ethnic groups against hate speech. Section 18C of the act has become known in some circles as the Andrew Bolt law, for the Herald Sun columnist who was successfully prosecuted after writing that certain Indigenous Australians had sought professional advantage from the colour of their skin. ... At the centre of the debate is Gillian Triggs, president of the Human Rights Commission, which oversees the act."
* MARINA FRERI, SBS RADIONEWS: GROUPS COMBINE TO OPPOSE RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT CHANGE
- Audio
SBS Radionews: Groups combine to oppose Racial Discrimination Act change
By Marina Freri
http://www.sbs.com.au/podcasts/Podcasts/radionews/episode/302009/Groups-...
22 Nov 13: "In a joint statement, nine community organisations have hit back at the proposal to change the Racial Discrimination Act, saying it will expose entire groups to vilification. The group is comprised of the National Congress of Australia's First Peoples, the Arab Council Australia, the Australian Hellenic Council, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the Chinese Australian Forum, the Vietnamese Community in Australia, the Lebanese Muslim Association, the Armenian National Council of Australia, the United Muslim Women Association and All together Now." By Marina Freri
* BROOKE BONEY, NITV NEWS: ATTORNEY-GENERAL UNDER FIRE OVER RACIAL DISCRIMINATION ACT
- Video
NITV News: Attorney-General under fire over Racial Discrimination Act
By Brooke Boney; Source NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/11/18/racial-discrimination-act-...
18 Nov 13: "The Attorney-General of Australia, George Brandis, has been criticised for his proposed changes to the Racial Discrimination Act. ... The Racial Discrimination Act is the part of the law protecting different racial and religious groups from vilification and discrimination. ... But Peter Wertheim from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry says an amendment will change more than just how Australian law is interpreted. Mr Neumann agrees that the consequences could spark violence in Australian communities." By Brooke Boney
* WGAR NEWS: TONY ABBOTT WANTS TO REPEAL RACIAL DISCRIMINATION LAWS: PEDESTRIAN TV (17 NOV 13)
- Compilations
WGAR News: Tony Abbott wants to repeal Racial Discrimination laws: Pedestrian TV (17 Nov 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/11/16/wgar-news-tony-abbott-wants-to-repeal...
"Contents:
* Pedestrian TV: Tony Abbott wants to repeal Racial Discrimination laws
* The Wire: Andrew Bolt, racial discrimination and free speech [Featuring Dr Mark McMillan - Wiradjuri man]
* Suresh Rajan, The Stringer: Brandis, Bolt and a whole lot of other B's!
* Barry Everingham, Independent Australia: Abbott Government acts swiftly to legalise racism
* Jessica Wright, The Sydney Morning Herald: George Brandis to repeal 'Bolt laws' on racial discrimination"
WGAR News: ... (24 Nov 13)
http://indymedia.org.au/2013/11/23/wgar-news-interview-john-pilger-expos...
"Contents: ...
* Angus McAllen, Green Left: How to fight racism in Australia
* Brooke Boney, NITV News: Attorney-General under fire over Racial Discrimination Act
* Kristina Kukolja, SBS Radionews: Racial Discrimination Act plans 'should be transparent'
* Jonathan Swan, Canberra Times: Indigenous, ethnic groups unite against law changes
* Gerry Georgatos, The Stringer: Destroying 18C will give rise to "race hate""
* NICOLE WATSON, TRACKER: LITTLE BLACK DUCK: AN AUSTRALIAN RACE TO THE LEGAL BOTTOM
- Analysis / Opinion
agendaTracker: Little Black Duck: An Australian race to the legal bottom
http://tracker.org.au/2013/11/little-black-duck-an-australian-race-to-th...
25 Nov 13: "NATIONAL: Race has always lingered in the shadows of Australian law, writes NICOLE WATSON. The rules of legal storytelling, otherwise known as judgments operate to silence Aboriginal voices and make racism appear normal. I first confronted this reality 20 years ago, when, as a law student, I studied the High Court’s decision in Tuckiar v R." By Nicole Watson, a Murri lawyer and researcher with the Jumbunna Indigenous House of Learning at the University of Technology Sydney; a monthly columnist for Tracker
* BROOKE BONEY, NITV NEWS: 'A TROUBLED RELATIONSHIP': MEDIA STRUGGLES WITH REPORTING ON INDIGENOUS AUSSIES
- Videos
NITV News: 'A troubled relationship': Media struggles with reporting on Indigenous Aussies
By Brooke Boney; Source NITV News
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/11/28/indigenous-australias-trou...
28 Nov 13: "Ahead of the 2013 Walkley Awards for Excellence in Journalism, NITV News takes a look back at some examples of how Indigenous people are negatively portrayed. ... Indigenous Australia has long had a troubled relationship with the mainstream media. On Invasion Day in 2012, a small gathering of people outside Old Parliament House were told Tony Abbott wanted the Tent Embassy torn down. ... Indigenous radio host, Tiga Bayles was present at Old Parliament House January 26th, 2012 and said the portrayal of the event was far from accurate." By Brooke Boney
NITV News: Watch: David Liddle interview with Tiga Bayles on the history and future of Indigenous media
[scroll down page] http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2013/11/28/indigenous-australias-trou...
* SOL BELLEAR, TRACKER: THE TOP 10 THINGS KEVIN RUDD CAN APOLOGISE FOR...
- Analysis / Opinion
newsTracker: The Top 10 things Kevin Rudd can apologise for…
http://tracker.org.au/2013/11/the-top-10-things-kevin-rudd-can-apologise...
21 Nov 13: "FORMER Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has signalled he will retire from parliament, and form a ‘National Apology Foundation’. So with that in mind, SOL BELLEAR provides a list of 10 things Kevin Rudd can apologise for during his time in office. ... During his final speech, Rudd announced that he would form a "national apology foundation". I wish him luck with that venture, and to help get him started, here’s a list (starting below) of 10 more things Kevin Rudd can apologise for… in no particular order."
* THE STRINGER: WESTERN DESERT MOB WIN ETHICS AWARD, PUTTING GOVERNMENTS TO SHAME
- Analysis / Opinion
The Stringer: Western Desert mob win Ethics award, putting governments to shame
http://thestringer.com.au/western-desert-mob-win-ethics-award-putting-go...
29 Nov 13: "Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaka Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation has taken out the inaugural national Ethical Enterprise Award which is Australia’s only ethical enterprise award for socially conscious business models. The Ethical Enterprise Award is presented by Australian Ethical who are passionate in supporting and celebrating ethical leadership, and conscious business and social innovation. Western Desert offers holistic renal dialysis care and support to Indigenous people in and around Alice Springs who would otherwise be forced to leave their communities for healthcare." By The Stringer
* JEFF MCMULLEN, TRACKER: THE WAY AHEAD: THE STRENGTH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT
- Analysis / Opinion
agendaTracker: The Way Ahead: The strength of the human spirit
http://tracker.org.au/2013/11/the-way-ahead-the-strength-of-the-human-sp...
26 Nov 13: "NATIONAL: If you are a young woman or man about to become a parent for the first time what do you think is the greatest gift you can give your child, asks JEFF MCMULLEN*. Love, happiness, health, the strength of family and Culture, the freedom to walk the land that holds you, the joy of hearing this country sing to you? We wish so much for the ones we love. This is the strength of the human spirit. I was yarning about this recently with an Aboriginal man I greatly admire, Dr David Brockman, from the Utopia Clinic in Central Australia, who surely has one of the biggest workloads I’ve seen." By Dr Jeff McMullen AM, one of Australia’s most respected journalists, a winner of the UN Media Peace Prize, a monthly columnist in Tracker magazine.
* SOVEREIGN UNION: RADIO AFRICA - THE SOVEREIGNTY MOVEMENT - INTERVIEW WITH MICHAEL ANDERSON AND FRED HOOPER
- Interview
Sovereign Union: Radio Africa - The Sovereignty Movement - Interview with Michael Anderson and Fred Hooper
http://nationalunitygovernment.org/node/784
27 Nov 13: "We, as First Nations Peoples, have the international right as independent Nations Peoples to assert our right of self-determination under international law. We cannot achieve this if we are to sit on our backsides in Australia and appealing to our oppressor for justice, because their agenda is not in our best interest"
- Nyoongar Ghurradjong Murri Ghillar, Aboriginal Sovereignty Leader ...
Voice of Africa Radio (VOAR) 94 FM ... "
- - -
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