Thursday Breakfast Emily Cowlrick, Inez Winters, Leila Baptist, Priya Kunjan

 Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// We played a speech given by Declan Furber-Gillick, Eastern Arrernte man and member of the Black Peoples Union and Unionists for Palestine, at the April 15th rally at the Victorian Parliament steps launching the campaign to Get Elbit Out of Victoria. The campaign aims to end the state government’s contracts with israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems as part of the global solidarity movement fighting for a free Palestine.// Content note: this interview contains discussion of massacres and systemic harm towards First Nations people. For support, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners can call 13 YARN on 13 92 76 or Yarning Safe'n'Strong on 1800 959 563. Listeners can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.  We heard part two of a conversation with Yoorrook Justice Commisioner Travis Lovett who joined Leila last week to share updates from the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s land justice hearings. In this part of the discussion, Commissioner Lovett contextualises on-Country evidence given at the March 21st ceremonial hearings within histories of Victorian First Nations aquaculture, science and lore, long-standing strategies of resistance, and the ongoing impacts of colonisation. Listen back to part 1 here. Make a submission to the Justice Commission here.// El Gibbs, Director of Policy and Advocacy at Disability Advocacy Network Australia, spoke with us about last month's introduction of legislation aiming to amend the operation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme in response to last year's NDIS review report. The legislation, put forward by Minister for the NDIS Bill Shorten, risks further undermining access to vital NDIS-funded supports for people with a disability in Australia.// Dr Stephen Townsend, Research Fellow at the University of Queensland’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, joins us to talk about the management of concussion in elite Australian sporting codes, focusing on the AFL and AFLW. Despite the progressive introduction of concussion management protocols at both elite and community levels, serious concerns remain about how to safeguard athletes' health in an inherently risky game. Stephen is an historian who seeks to reveal the hidden past of sports concussion in Australia and internationally. You can find him on Twitter(X) @historycrab and at The Conversation.// Songs//For My Tittas - Barkaa//Indigenous Land - DRMNGNOW//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// Sheree Lowe, Executive Director of the Balit Durn Durn Centre at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), joined us to discuss the Victorian government's failure to act on the urgent need for youth justice system reform scaling back the encroachment of the criminal legal system into the lives of young Aboriginal people. Late last month Attorney General Jaclyn Symes announced a backflip by the government on reverse onus bail reforms, and the concerning introduction of an electronic monitoring system to track children on bail in Victoria. Sheree Lowe is a Djab Wurrung and Gunditjmara woman with a strong connection to South West Victoria, and has lived most her life on Wadawurrung Country in Ballarat. She has been advocating within the Aboriginal Community in Victoria for over 20 years, and previously worked as a management consultant at PWC on projects related to organisational transformation through an Aboriginal lens and cultural safety program design.// Dr Rebekah Hoffman, General Practitioner at Kirrawee Family Medical Practice in Sydney and NSW/ACT chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), spoke with us about the latest Drug Checking Service pilot running out of Kings Cross' Medically Supervised Injecting Centre. This pilot builds on the life-saving history of drug checking service provision at fixed sites and festival pill testing in Australia, demonstrated in the ACT and Queensland. Dr Hoffman discussed how drug checking service provision will work based at a medically supervised injecting centre, and what the pilot seeks to achieve.// Content note: this interview contains discussion of massacres and systemic harm towards First Nations people. For support, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners can call 13 YARN on 13 92 76 or Yarning Safe'n'Strong on 1800 959 563. Listeners can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. The Allan government recently issued a widely criticised response to the 45 recommendations from the Yoorrook for Justice report, documenting the findings of the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s inquiry into child protection and the criminal justice system in Victoria. This response follows the government’s announcement of concerning proposed amendments to Victoria’s bail laws, including trials for digital monitoring of minors on bail. We listen to part one of a conversation with Yoorrook Justice Commissioner Travis Lovett who joined Leila to discuss these recent developments and provide the latest updates on this year’s Yoorrook hearings investigating land injustice, which began with on-Country evidence last month.//James Godfrey, spokesperson for Free Gaza Australia, a member of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, spoke with us about the Coalition's plans to set sail in mid-April to carry 5500 tons of humanitarian aid and hundreds of international human rights observers to Gaza. The Coalition, made up of international civilian groups fighting for freedom and human rights, will challenge the long-standing israeli siege on the Gaza Strip as israel's genocidal onslaught continues into its sixth month. James is a PhD student in the Faculty of Business, Government and Law at University of Canberra. For more than 35 years, he has been active in many campaigning organisations fighting for social justice, locally and internationally, including the Non-Stop Picket of the South African Embassy in London (1986-1989). In recent years, he has focused on justice for the Palestinian people and is a spokesperson for the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, which physically challenges the illegal israeli blockade of Gaza.//

 Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// We replay a conversation from Hong Kongology where host Katy spoke with Nazanin of Feminista Melbourne about women's rights and activism in Iran. Hong Kongology airs every Thursday on 3CR from 6-7PM.// We listen back to a conversation Inez had with AJ from Melbourne Activist Legal Support in October 2023, which covered points of concern witnessed by legal observers and attendees at the Free Palestine Rally on the 15th of October 2023. This interview also included some tips on how to keep yourself safer at events and actions, an important listen in an era of escalating heightened police surveillance and violence against autonomous activists.// Techno Park resident Lara Week joined us with updates about the campaign to save the homes of residents of Techno Park Drive in Williamstown, who were ordered to leave their homes last year after a decision by Hobsons Bay Council to enforce industrial zoning laws. Lara spoke about the upcoming march to Hobsons Bay Council this Tuesday the 9th of April to stop the mass eviction of families, pensioners and other vulnerable people from their homes at Techno Park.// Joannie from racial justice organisation Democracy in Colour spoke with us about The Migration Amendment (Removal and Other Measures) Bill 2024, which seeks to grant the Minister for Immigration unprecedented new powers, including imposing a travel ban by preventing visa applications from deemed ‘removal concern countries.’ If passed into law, the legislation will confront people fleeing persecution, torture and death with a perilous choice: return to a place where they may be harmed or killed, or be detained in prison for refusing to comply with removal. It would also allow the Minister, and future governments, the discriminatory power to prohibit visa applications from entire national populations. Join the snap rally called by Tamil Refugee Council tomorrow, Friday the 5th of April at Flinders Street Steps, protesting the Bill. Follow Democracy in Colour on Instagram for details on how to demand politicians take a stand against this injustice, and to make a submission to the Parliamentary inquiry into the Bill (12th April deadline).// Simona Castricum joins us to speak about her new consultancy practice Design 4 Trans and Gender Diverse, which aims to centre trans and gender diverse placemaking and belonging in spatial design. Challenging the cisheteropatriarchal status quo of built environments, Design 4 Trans and Gender Diverse will use research-led approaches to empower queer and trans communities to actively shape public and civic spaces according to their unique needs and aspirations. Simona is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, developing transfeminist methodologies in architectural design, history, and theory.//

 Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// We replay Spike’s conversation from November last year with Iain MacIntyre from the Commons Social Change Library. The Commons Social Change Library is a service that documents the collective wisdom of people who have engaged in social change struggles and campaigns in so-called Australia and the world, and is committed to making that information free and accessible to support the fight against social injustice. Today, we played part one of Spike’s interview with Iain, where they discussed a definition of social change and free and accessible information. They also discussed why documenting struggles helps us achieve social change, and the first steps you can take in a social justice campaign. Listen to part 2 here and part 3 here.// Yesterday, Priya caught up with RMIT NTEU Branch Committee member Liam Ward on the picket to hear about the strike action running this week from Monday 25-Thursday 28 March in the face of management's ongoing delays in negotiating a new enterprise bargaining agreement. RMIT's previous EBA agreement expired over 1000 days ago! We were also joined by rank and file RMIT NTEU member Tami to contextualise this industrial action in relation to worker solidarity with Palestine as Israel escalates its genocidal campaign of bombing and starvation in Gaza. Note: Priya is also an RMIT employee and NTEU member, and has been on strike with colleagues this week - donate to our strike fund here. Your support makes a big difference, especially for precariously employed casual workers at RMIT.// Content note: discussion of racism and torture. Support is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14, or for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Listeners on 13 YARN (13 92 76).Human rights activist and lawyer Veronica Koman spoke with Priya about the systemic dehumanisation of West Papuans by the Indonesian state and military, given the recent circulation of several horrific images and video of the torture of Mr Warinus Murib and several other young West Papuans. By maintaining ambiguity about the legal status of its military occupation of West Papuan territory, the Indonesian state continues to evade and stymie international scrutiny of its violent colonial occupation, while framing all West Papuans subjected to brutality at the hands of soldiers as potential resistance fighters. For the latest news and music from West Papua, make sure to tune into 3CR’s Voice of West Papua show every Tuesday evening from 6:30-7:30PM.// Content note: discussion of genocide and state violence. Support is available via Lifeline on 13 11 14, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners can call 13 YARN (13 92 76), and queer listeners can call QLife on 1800 184 52.We listen back to an interview from 30 November 2023 with independent queer researcher Dr Shoshana Rosenberg, who joined us to talk about disability and trans solidarity with Palestine in the face of Israel's ongoing violent occupation, exploring the connections between disability justice, trans freedom and liberation for Palestine. Shoshana speaks about genocide as a mass disabling event and what it means for disabled folks to engage in solidarity actions across colonial borders and from stolen land in so-called Australia.//

Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// Nathalie Farah of Disrupt Wars joined us live from the community picket that's been running weekly on Thursday and Friday mornings outside Heat Treatment Australia in Campbellfield. The picket has been established and maintained into its seventh week by members of the local Hume community in support of Palestine, who are protesting against HTA's role in heat-treating vital components required for Lockheed Martin's F-35 Joint Strike Fighter given their use by Israel in the genocide of Palestinians. Hume community members have committed to continued action outside HTA until it ends its contracts with weapons manufacturers profiteering off war and genocide.// Dr Sue Lewis, Acting President of the Victorian Forest Alliance, spoke with us about the recent announcement of the impending end of Vic Forests, which is set to wind up in mid-2024 after years of grassroots activism, official inquiries, legal battles and Parliamentary debate about the widespread harm that the entity has caused to Victoria's native forests. With the end of Vic Forests on the near horizon, we discussed the implications of its closure and what comes next for statewide native forest management. Respond to Kinglake Friends of the Forest’s urgent call to action against Forest Fire Management Victoria’s planned burns by sending an email (details below) or using the template here.// In the spirit of World Social Work Day, which falls on 20 March, we replayed an interview from June 2023 featuring Angelica Ojinnaka-Psillakis talking about the importance of investing in authentic youth voices, youth participation in mental health sectors, and advocacy. Angelica Ojinnaka- Psillakis is a youth development advocate, researcher, and speaker. She served as the 2022 Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations, and is involved in a number of projects and organisations.// Member of Whittlesea for Palestine Logan Balavijendran chats with us about the snap action on Saturday 23 March outside the office of Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles. The action has been prompted by Australia’s decision to cancel the visas of Palestinians escaping genocide,some of which have occurred mid air, leaving several Palestinians stranded with no where to go. Australian families have paid thousands of dollars to bring their loved ones to safety, only to be left scared and worried about where their loved ones will go now. Logan resides in Whittlesea with his Palestinian partner and sons. He has a career spanning education and IT, and is committed to community-building to hold leaders accountable.// Ashleigh Buckett, Principal Solicitor at the National Justice Project, spoke with us about the coronial inquest into the 2016 death of Faysal Ishak Ahmed, a young Sudanese refugee, while he was detained on Manus Island in Australian immigration detention. The inquest, which ran across Monday and Tuesday this week, examined Faysal's access to medical treatment over several months prior to his death, and assessed the circumstances of his delayed medical evacuation to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, where he passed away. With the United Nations Subcommittee on the prevention of torture making the significant decision to suspend its visit to Australia in late 2022, citing obstructions to its work and a lack of co-operation, the inquest into Mr Ishak Ahmed's death may provide a rare window into the draconian operations of Australia's immigration detention regime.// The image used for this episode was taken by photographer Matt Hrkac. Go support his brilliant independent photojournalism here.// --- Kinglake Friends of the Forest Urgent Call to Action: Stop Planned Burns! We need your help to prevent an imminent and terribly ill-conceived planned burn that will impact greater gliders near Kinglake.We've been surveying for endangered greater gliders and hollow-bearing trees in a beautiful, var

 Acknowledgement of Country// Headlines// Content note: this interview includes discussion of racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander listeners can call 13 YARN (13 92 76) or Yarning Safe'n'Strong on 1800 959 563. Shelley Ware, proud Yankunytjatjara and Wirangu woman and sports broadcaster, joined us this morning to discuss the structural racism against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australian sporting codes. This conversation occured in the wake of Roosters prop Spencer Leniu being handed an 8-week ban on Monday after racially derogatory comments on field to Brisbane Broncos' Ezra Mam, at the same time as the revelation that former prominent AFL figures Kevin Sheedy and Terry Daniher are among those named in a class action case alleging racial vilification filed in Victoria's Supreme Court last year by North Melbourne great Phil Krakouer. Want to report an instance of racism or discrimination against First Nations peoples? Head to the Call It Out racism register.// Rita Jabri Marquell, a solicitor for Birchgrove Legal, caught up with guest presenter Harry earlier this week to discuss the referral of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other senior politicians to the International Criminal Court. Birchgrove Legal submitted the 92-page referral document last Tuesday, alleging that Albanese and other named politicians bear individual criminal responsibility for aiding and abetting Israel's crime of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The submission has been endorsed by more than one hundred Australian lawyers and barristers.// Social researcher Kev Dertadian spoke with us about settler colonialism, criminalisation and drug prohibition as explored in his recent paper, ‘The Coloniality of Drug Prohibition’ (open access). Kev works on unceded Bedagal land and does field-based research with people who use drugs, including both marginalised and structurally advantaged groups. As a member of the Center for Criminology, Law and Justice Kev advocates for non-carceral responses to drug use, with a particular focus on harm reduction.// Megan is a horticultural/environmental educator, disability support worker and former employee of CERES, who quit in February due to concerns about the organisation’s stance on Palestine. She joined us on today’s show to discuss staff censorship of pro-Palestinian support and permaculture.// Jasper Cohen-Hunter spoke with us about the Mirring Yalingwa podcast and the role of Aboriginal cinema and audiovisual storytelling in First Nations survival and ongoing resistance. Jasper is a Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung man with ancestral ties to the Ngurai-Illum people of the Kulin Nation. Listen to Mirring Yalingwa here, and follow the podcast on Instagram here.//