Comments for Right Now Inc.

Comment on Enabling or Disabling: Imprisoning People with Mental and Cognitive Disability by Enabling or Disabling: Imprisoning People with Mental and Cognitive Disability » disabilitydirectory.net.au

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:06:51 +0000

[...] See article here. [...]

Comment on Theatre – Namatjira by 2011 Reviews | Namatjira

2011 Reviews | Namatjira — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:08:42 +0000

[...] Play: Namatjira [...]

Comment on The Other Side of the Fence by Prof Martin Ries

Prof Martin Ries — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 20:48:46 +0000

Very impressive!

Comment on This Week’s Human Rights News by disgusted

disgusted — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 07:36:15 +0000

Why is everyone so frightened to name the restaurants/hotel. If that had of been Coles or Mcdonalds it would have been splahsed all over the media and Nick Xenhophon would have been on tv crying his eyes out calling for large corporations to be closed or some stupid thing.
I can never understand why he loves small business unless he is paid to promote them. The owners/staff should be charged and gaoled.

Comment on What Rights Should Prisons Deny? by Hanne M Watkins

Hanne M Watkins — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 23:25:30 +0000

Thanks for such an insightful article James!
I’ve often wondered what exactly incarceration is supposed to *do*, and this made me all the more baffled.

Yet at the same time, I somewhat understand the resentment that could grow out of a sense that criminals have a “cushy life” behind bars (paid for by “honest taxpayers”) – even if that is a mistaken idea that has only come about due to the tabloid media shows that you mention…

Comment on Overcrowding in Western Australia’s Prisons by Dispatch from our intern « Overland literary journal

Dispatch from our intern « Overland literary journal — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:46:54 +0000

[...] While over at Right Now, Rose Carnes writes about overcrowding in Western Australia’s prisons. [...]

Comment on Art & Prisons in Queensland by Queensland legislation | Kedewang

Queensland legislation | Kedewang — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:33:32 +0000

[...] Art & Prisons in Queensland | Human Rights in Australia | Right Now [...]

Comment on Art & Prisons in Queensland by catherine

catherine — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 23:55:37 +0000

In contrast, Confined IV is currently showing via St Kilda Festival, a visual arts exhibition featuring contemporary works by Indigenous artists in custody in Victoria.

http://www.stkildafestival.com.au/2012-s2/band.php?id=657

Comment on Prison Realities and the Need for Change by Kate Barker

Kate Barker — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:45:03 +0000

Great article Peter. Any article like this always brings up so much for me to say and write.

However, I will just touch on a couple of points. It so true that most of society believes that prisoners have no rights or are less than human. From what I have seen, once someone knows you are or have been inside, their perception of you changes. People are extremely quick to forget they were your friend.

When the protest occurred at Fullham around a month ago, I read the personal comments of those who read newspaper articles on the protest (not surprisingly called a ‘riot’ by the newspapers). People were so quick to judge and make assumptions about all prisoners based on the actions of a few. Some even suggested that prisoners shouldn’t even be allowed to complain because they already have it too easy. What I also found surprising is that some advocated a return to more archaic forms of punishment.

Another issue I wish to touch on briefly is the cycle of incarceration. In my opinion, this is an example that incarceration doesn’t work and is not a deterrent like it is theoretically supposed to be. What is also pertinent is there is not the necessary support for people who come out of prison. Most times if there is some form of funding, it is limited or has been cut. Basically ex-prisoners are left to their own devices to acclimatise back into the world and this is extremely difficult for some.

Comment on This Week’s Human Rights News by Gavin R. Putland

Gavin R. Putland — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 10:20:29 +0000

The Australian Government does not have, and cannot have, the power to detain refugees indefinitely on the basis of non-reviewable “security” assessments.

The legislative power is limited to the making of law, which by definition must be compatible with the rule of law. The existence of a court presupposes the rule of law and therefore precludes the court from entertaining any proposition incompatible with the rule of law. The existence of a constitution, written or unwritten, presupposes the rule of law and therefore renders unconstitutional any attempt – by any means, legislative or otherwise – to circumvent the rule of law.

And the rule of law cannot abide a situation in which the freedom of one person depends on the arbitrary will of another, without appeal to the judicial branch on questions of law and fact.

Civil libertarians need to stop writing polite letters and start serving writs. They need to stop campaigning for a bill of rights and start enforcing the one we already have: the rule of law.