Townsville

Malcolm Fraser writes Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison have nothing to be proud about in their race to the bottom of the barrel

From occasional commentator and former PM, Malcom Fraser, via http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/abbotts-evil-policy-work-20120617...

The Coalition's latest asylum seeker plan is inhumane and lacks integrity.

TONY Abbott and Scott Morrison recently stood in front of Australia and proudly presented the Coalition's plan to ''ensure integrity and restore confidence in refugee assessment''. There is not much to be proud about in this policy. The announcement was based on misinformed and misleading information that plays straight into the unfounded public fear of asylum seekers.

Hazara refugee threatens to sue ABC over Four Corners story

by: Paul Maley, National Security Correspondent
From: The Australian June 14, 2012
A HAZARA refugee named on the ABC's Four Corners program as an "agent" of people-smugglers is threatening legal action against the national broadcaster unless an apology is issued and the "defamatory" claims withdrawn.

Medhi Rezaiee was named as collecting a payment on behalf of his brother, Mohammed Ali, as part of a Four Corners program into people-smuggling activities in Australia.

See it to believe it: 3 minute video clip - two human rights activists charged for singing Christmas Carols

Human Rights belong to everyone

Our justice system struggles to find the time to prosecute major criminality however has the time to persecute ordinary folk in the business of awareness-raising

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkxqt456sqw

Rally outside the Perth Magistrate Court on June 28

Expose about two pro-Palestine activists facing court on June 28, 2012 in Perth, Australia.

Miranda Wood and Alex Bainbridge were charged with trespass for singing modified Christmas carols in December 2011. They face a two day trial beginning 28 June 2012.

Human Rights Alliance media release - The Australian Government is lying - they told me they knew, and face to face

The piecemeal release of a score of Indonesian children from adult prisons is not enough

Another four children have been released from Australian adult prisons, following the three children released several weeks back, and therefore they were wrongly convicted. It is good they are going home to their families.

Country regions right behind the renters rights revolution – now a national movement

Gerry Georgatos
Renters Alliance (RA) WA coordinator Lea Keenan said that every week now Blackwood residents, renters and some who are home owners, are joining the movement and "are motivated for a united pursuance for legislation to make life fair for everyone."

Rally – August 15 – WA State Parliament – Rallies Australia-wide – October 16 – every capital city and many towns.
http://indymedia.org.au/2012/05/29/renters-rights-rally-wa-august-15-nat...

Promotion: 

Rights campaigner Julian Assange acknowledges his Torres Strait Islander form and content

Gerry Georgatos
Global justice campaigner and WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange has contributed his life to standing up for the oppressed and in challenging the world’s most powerful governments and clandestine institutions.

Mr Assange was born in Townsville, Queensland however he readily acknowledges a diverse heritage which he proudly said includes a Torres Strait Islander great-great-grandparent. In his form and content is that of a Thursday Islander, his (step) great-great-grandmother.

Promotion: 

Julian Assange loses appeal against extradition - rallies to occur on the 31st of May

It has just been announced that Julian Assange has lost his appeal in the UK High Court against his extradition to Sweden. He legal team however has been granted a two week period to consider an appeal to have the case reopened on a technicality.

Keywords: 

HRA media release: Bob Carr must live up to DFAT's side - Indonesia has lived up to their part - Schapelle soon home

Bob Carr said that it is abominable that children are in adult prisons - therefore release them all, now. Now that the Governor of Kerobokan has supported the right to early parole for Schapelle Corby, Australia needs to keep its side and en masse release all the children - now.

The conversations between DFAT and their counterparts, between Australian and Indonesian foreign ministries have occurred in that the goodwill of a sentence reduction, early parole for Schapelle Corby was brought up alongside the urgent need for Indonesian children in Australian adult prisons to be released.

Demonstrations for Julian Assange in Townsville

Date and Time: 
Thu, 31/05/2012 -
4:30pm to 6:30pm
Location: 
Ewan Jones' Office, Cnr of Ross River Road and Nathan St. Opp. Stockland, Townsville, QLD

Julian is facing imminent extradition to Sweden. The response from the U.K Supreme Court will be handed down on Wednesday the 30th of May 2012 see here:

http://www.supremecourt.gov.uk/news/julian-assange-v-swedish-judicial-au...

We're asking Townsville residents to stand-by to protest at Ewan Jones' office. It is likely we will hear a decision at 8pm local time, in which case we would need to co-ordinate our protest with those Around the World at the offices of DFAT.

Geography: 

National Renters Alliance campaign - WA rally August - National day of rallies October

Interviews with the HRA's National Renters Alliance

It started in the Blackwood region of the South West of WA, and then became the WA Renters Alliance, and now it's a national movement with the National Renters Alliance campaign

In August there will be a renters rally for justice at WA's state parliament followed by a coordinated national day of rallies in October