On making Online Culture more Inclusive
Lyndal Rowlands explains the how and why of the ghettoisation of voices online, and the need for an inclusive cyberculture.
Opinion – Page 41
Forging Links
In recent times, Victoria Police have faced multiple allegations of institutional racism. Sara Maher looks at Victoria Police’s response, and the effectiveness of community engagement.
Editorial: Cultural Shift
When it comes to significant shifts in culture, law and society are poised in an agonising “chicken or egg” scenario. Does the law change from above, trickling down to alter a culture? Or does a movement rise up, demand, fight, lobby for a change to which the law eventually concedes? It’s a dynamic relationship that doesn’t obey a strict rule of cause and effect.
Security vs human rights – lessons from Israel
Are “security” concerns enough to justify the Federal Government’s lack of transparency over asylum seekers? Marika Sosnowski looks at innovative decisions by the Israeli High Court that attempt to balance security and human rights as possible leads for Australia.
Passing the buck on international students
The Australian Government and education providers make a nice profit from international students, but fail to protect them from being exploited in the workplace, writes Alexandra Hurley.
Scapegoating the “Bolt laws”: What media and politics missed
With the Coalition set to change racial discrimination laws, John Alizzi explains why the whole debate misses the mark.
Queensland Political Culture: Executive Dominance Trumps Civil Liberties
Queensland has over recent weeks passed a number of laws declaring guilt by association for those who are members of or associate with “criminal” bikie gangs. Kate Galloway looks at the culture of executive domination in politics in Queensland.
Regional detention centres still without independent medical oversight
As more asylum seekers are being processed outside of the public eye there is a clear need for an independent medical panel to ensure that each person’s human right to sufficient physical and mental health care is being met, writes Chloe Potvin.
Smiling Assassins
John Bartlett explores the conflicts of being homosexual and religious, reflecting on his own experiences, as well as the perspectives of a gay Muslim man, an Imam and a Catholic theologian.
Asylum Seekers Around the World – turning back the political tides
Kellie Tranter suggests WikiLeaks cables help to explain the rising global political tide against “illegal” asylum seekers.
Shedding Light on Closed Institutions: Why OPCAT is needed now more than ever
Rebecca Minty and Amy Rogers examine the implications of the Optional Protocal to the UN Conventional Against Torture OPCAT and call for Australia to ratify the treaty.
A call to disarm
Gun violence is seemingly far removed from Australia, but by investing in the weapons industry and indulging in recreational drugs, we fuel ongoing drug wars in Mexico. Disarm, by Pedro Reyes, creatively calls arms companies to account, writes Erin Handley.