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Stop trying to shoot the messenger about the plight of children in detention
Appalled at the Prime Minister’s response to Gillian Triggs’ report, former County Court judge, John Hassett writes that this amounts to an attack on the rule of law, and diverts attention from the urgent issue of large numbers of children still being held in harmful conditions in detention. Read this article in full.
Photo Where’s my Freedom? by Mohamed Adel, flickr cc.
Malcolm Fraser “Enough is enough!”
In this press release, Mr Fraser said, “The government’s response is a disgrace. It is based on a lie”. There are much more humane ways to manage asylum seekers than are currently in place, in cooperation with other countries in our region. Read this article in full.
Photo The Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, by Jim, flickr cc.
A future PM will have to apologise
Speaking from extensive experience, the president of the Refugee Council of Australia said the Children in Detention Report rightly exposed the acute mental and physical abuse inflicted on some hundreds of women and children still in detention centres in Australia, Manus Island, and Nauru. Read this article in full.
States, markets, & civil society
John Cain Foundation Inaugural Conference
Maurice Glasman British MP
With
John Langmore, Professor Janet McCalman,
George Wright, and Maxine McKew
Saturday 21 March 2015 10am-5pm
University of Melbourne Faculty of Economics & Business
Building 105 Ground Floor 111 Barry Street Carlton
Shock cuts to Department of Social Services
will hit vulnerable groups
Community service organisations are shocked that the federal government plans to cut $270 million from the budget of the Department of Social Services over four years. Colleen O’Sullivan says that the impact will be particularly severe on organisations working for the homeless and people with disabilities, and victims of domestic violence, along with legal services for Aboriginal and other groups. Read this article in full. Photo 18Months, by A McLin, flickr cc.
Casualties of a ‘lock-em-up’ mentality
Gillian Triggs’ report draws attention to the fact that hundreds of children are in mandatory indefinite detention, with “no pathway to protection or settlement”. The wellbeing of children on Manus and Nauru continues to be compromised, with many suffering mental illness. Tony French writes that, regrettably, Australia is the only country which detains children indefinitely. Both political parties are to blame for our gross breach of basic obligations under the ICCPR (International Covenant on Civil & Political Rights). Read this article in full. Photo Human Lives are not political pawns – Refugee Action protest 27 July 2013 Melbourne, by Takver, flickr cc
The moral dimension behind
The Forgotten Children
In its treatment of children of asylum seekers, Australia is not only violating its international treaty obligations, but also its duty of care of highly vulnerable people. Brian Johnstone considers the need to recognise and sustain the dignity of human beings. Read this article in full. Photo Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by Jordan Lewin, flickr cc.
Tribute to Faith Bandler AC
Pat Dodson
Hers was a life of activism in Australia, whether for equal wages for Aboriginal workers, the rights of those who had been stolen into slavery from the islands of her father, or the recognition of Indigenous people in the Constitution of the nation. Read further. Photo Wacvie By Faith Bandler, by Krishna Nahow aKa KastomK, flickr cc.
Books available at SPC
Social Justice & the Churches: Challenges & Responsibilities Edited by John D’Arcy May $25 + $5 postage and handling.
A World United or a World Exploited? Christian Perspectives on Globalisation Edited by Peter Price $20+$5 postage & handling.
Social Justice: Fuller Life in a Fairer World Bruce Duncan $25+$5 postage & handling.
Sufficient for the Day: Towards a Sustainable Culture Geoff Lacey $20+$5 postage & handling.
Young People, Faith, & Social Justice Joan Daw $20+$5 postage & handling.
Towards a Better World Arthur Gibbs $10+$5 postage & handling.
Social Policy Connections
featured videos
Phil Glendenning at
the SPC Forum 19 February 2015
The human cost of Australia’s refugee policy
Phil Glendenning: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
10 point plan for an effective & compassionate asylum seeker policy
