Done By Law

Scrolling through your news feed and reading an interesting post is nothing out of the ordinary...But what if you're currently on jury duty?In this episode we'll be discussing the role of juries in our justice system and how Australian law is adapting to people's access to information online and on social media. Our guest is Researcher and Prosecutor Jemma Holt.For more you can check out Jemma Holt's article on The Conversation here: https://theconversation.com/juries-need-to-be-told-how-theyre-allowed-to-use-the-internet-to-ensure-fair-trials-130127?fbclid=IwAR3XXBKDPcSc_WJfNsXHmt7AJZP15-naoQ4YFYE1kTYCCJTWLWKKjaR3xc4

What responsibility does a corporation have to disclose the activities it funds which contribute to climate change? Last week Friends of the Earth joined with recent Australian bushfire victims to launch a test case against ANZ under international law, to hold the bank accountable for financing fossil fuel projects that contribute to the climate crisis. Tonight we speak to Emilia Nazari to talk about the claim and consumer based climate litigation - part of a new wave of public interest litigation being tested in Australia and around the world.

When your house burns down and everything is lost - the last thing on your mind is what the legal implications are. But as the smoke begins to clear, the legal issues suddenly become complex. Did you have insurance in place? How can you access your bank accounts if you’ve got no way to prove your identity? Can you get fired from your job if you’re stuck in an evacuated area? How can you find safety if you had an AVO in place for a residence that no longer exists?In this episode we will speak with two lawyers, Jenni Smith, the CEO of Northern Community Legal Centre, and PhD candidate Su Robertson, who both provided disaster relief legal assistance in the wake of the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. We will also discuss what’s being put in place by the community sector to provide assistance after these latest fires.

As the federal government announces an overhaul to the controversial Robodebt scheme, Victoria Legal Aid's Charley Brumby-Rendell explains what heralded the move.And with increasing reports of clashes between police and protesters, Gregor Husper from the Police Accountability Project lays down some much needed reforms.

In the last year, animal rights have gained traction in public discourse. In particular, the ABC’s recent investigation into the fate of racehorses shocked and focused the nation’s attention on this issue. Tonight, on Melbourne Cup, we take pause to talk with Nichola Donovan from Lawyers for Animals to discuss what rights animals have, the racing industry and what role the law has to prevent animal cruelty.

After protests around the world calling for meaningful action on the climate crisis, Lawyers for Climate Action have called on the Law Council of Australia, as well as state and territory peak bodies, to step up efforts to tackle this emergency.People working in the legal profession are encouraged to take steps towards action, starting by joining the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/lawyersforclimatejusticeaus/

Did you know that people are being sent 'cease and desist' notices telling them to stop using the Aboriginal flag? Who holds copyright in this critical icon and should a non-indigenous business be able to limit its use? We chat with Robyn Ayers, CEO of the Arts Law Centre of Australia and Laura Thompson, Managing Director of Spark Health Australia, about their 'Free the Flag' campaign.https://www.change.org/p/australia-change-the-licencing-agreement-around-the-aboriginal-flag-pridenotprofit

Following our chat with Fiona Patten earlier this year about her bill proposing a spent convictions scheme for Victoria, the Victorian Legislative Council’s Legal and Social Issues Committee has commenced a public inquiry into a legislated spent convictions scheme for Victoria. We take another look at spent convictions and why they're such a good idea.https://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/about-us/news/we-support-spent-convictions-schemeGuest:Kamna Muddagouni, Senior Lawyer, Equality Law Program, Victoria Legal Aid

What’s happening in our kitchens? This week on Done By Law we look at the hospitality industry and wage theft. In the wake of the Calombaris scandal, we’ll take a deeper look into why these practices are flourishing and what the law says about it. We’ll be joined in the studio by Gabrielle Watson-Munro, from WestJustice, and by Sarah* who has worked in Melbourne kitchens for the last decade. Tune in, 6:00pm this Tuesday.*not her real name. https://www.westjustice.org.au/community-development-and-law-reform/community-development-and-law-reform-projects/newly-arrived-and-refugee-employment-law

Tonight we discuss the challenges, progress and achievements of Richmond's Medically Supervised Injection Room, as it moves to its new location at North Richmond Community Health.https://nrch.com.au/services/medically-supervised-injecting-room/Guests:Dr Nico Clarke, Medical Director, Medically Supervised Injection RoomAdam Willson, Senior Drug Outreach Lawyer, Fitzroy Legal Service

Did you know that there are proposed changes to the rules that govern local councils? Critics say that the changes would make it harder for parties other than Labor and the Coalition to be elected.Tonight on Done By Law we will be speaking with Samantha Ratnam - Leader of the Victorian Greens about why the Greens oppose the changes.if you want to have your say, see the website below. Feedback is required to be in by 31 July 2019.https://www.localgovernment.vic.gov.au/council-governance/local-government-act-review

This week we conduct a special in depth interview with ClientEarth in the UK - a climate change litigation firm bringing a claim on behalf of a group of Torres Strait Islanders against the Australian government.It’s the first climate litigation brought against the government based on human rights, alleging the government’s inaction on climate change is a breach of the Islanders’ cultural rights.Guest:Sophie Marjanac, Project Lead, Climate Accountability, ClientEarthhttps://www.clientearth.org/press/climate-threatened-torres-strait-islanders-bring-human-rights-claim-against-australia/http://ourislandsourhome.com.au/

Tonight we talk about how West Papuans are using both international and domestic law to fight for independence from Indonesia’s colonial rule. We're joined by Erwin Bleskadit from 3CR’s own Voice of West Papua and Dr Richard Chauvel, Honorary Fellow at the Asia Institute at The University of Melbourne.https://www.change.org/p/gillian-bird-add-west-papua-to-the-un-decolonization-list-at-the-2019-general-assembly

Tonight on Done By Law it's our Midsumma special! We chat with Lee Carnie, Director of Legal Advocacy at the newly established LGBTIQ+ legal advocacy and human rights organisation Equality Australia. www.equalityaustralia.org.auWe’re also excited to be chatting with Victoria’s inaugural LGBTIQ+ outreach lawyer Sam Elkin, who works for the LGBTIQ Legal Service, a health justice partnership between St Kilda Legal Service and Thorne Harbour Health (formerly the Victorian Aids Council). www.skls.org.au/legal-help/lgbtiq-outreach-service We discuss how their services support LGBTIQ+ communities, the recent launch of Equality Australia, andask Sam for some some advance tips from their upcoming LGBTIQ inclusive legal practice training session for community lawyers this Thursday.

Kate Goodwin and Emma Strybosch from Paper Giant talk technology, access to justice and human centred-design.

William Bowe, psephologist and editor of The Poll Bludger blog, joined us to talk about why micro-parties were elected to the Victorian Legislative Council with only a hand-full of votes.  Chris Bowse, principal solicitor at the Whittlesea Legal Service, also joined us to discuss 'Expresso Legal', an innovative new project providing free outreach legal advice with free coffee.

How far do super fund trustees need to consider climate change when investing our money? Tonight on Done By Law we chatted with Mark McVeigh, member of Rest super fund, and David Barnden, Principal Lawyer at Environmental Justice Australia, who are putting this to the test in the first court action of its kind!https://www.envirojustice.org.au/projects/a-23-year-old-is-taking-a-50bn-super-fund-to-court-over-climate-change/

Tonight on Done by Law we discuss Cemino v Cannan & Ors - a Supreme Court judgment that assures better access to the Koori Court and sets the stage for Aboriginal cultural rights more broadly. We're joined by Patrick Warner, Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service, and Tal Shmerling, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission.https://vals.org.au/assets/2018/09/Cemino-MEDIA-RELEASE-FINAL.pdf 

Sam Elkin runs Victoria's first dedicated LGBTIQ legal service, which is a partnership between St Kilda Legal Service and Thorne Harbour Health (formerly the Victorian Aids Council). We talk to Sam about the challenges and successes of the service.