Examining Labor's Migration Amendment Bill, reflections on Trans Day of Visibility, and NSW's Conversion Practices Bill

Monday, 1 April 2024 - 7:00am to 8:30am

Welcome to another episode of the Monday Breakfast show, coming to you live from the studios of 3CR in so-called Fitzroy. 

Following the Federal Government’s attempt to rush through the Migration Amendment Bill last week, Rob conducted two interviews to understand as much as possible about what it means for refugees across so-called Australia. Among other things, the bill would give a minister ‘God-like’ powers to force people to comply with their deportation orders or face a minimum of 12 months in jail. The first interview is with Dr Graham Thom, Refugee Advisor for Amnesty International. We spoke about the bill’s timing, and what it means for Australia’s already-tarnished international reputation surrounding refugee rights. We then hear Rob’s conversation with Laura John, Senior Lawyer for the Human Rights Law Centre in which the pair discussed the spate of news surrounding refugee rights in so-called Australia in recent months and how the Labor Party’s position on refugees has changed since it came to power.

After that we hear James McKenzie of In Ya Face speak with Queer policy expert Alastair Lawrie about the conversion practices' bill introduced in Parliament by the NSW Government in mid-March. The segment aired is an excerpt of a longer conversation, which you can listen to here. You can catch In Ya Face live from 4 till 5pm on Friday nights or listen to it anytime on the 3CR website. 

Following that interview Rob briefly speaks about their reflections and thoughts on Trans Day of Visibility as a proud Non-binary person.  

Finally, we hear a segment from the Yeah Nah Pasaran show in which Andy and Cam speak with Dr Claudia Leeb about their book Contesting The Far-Right: A Psychoanalytic & Feminist Critical Theory Approach. This segment is also an excerpt of a longer conversation, you can listen to the full interview here. Yeah Nah Pasaran airs on Thursdays from 4:30 to 5pm. 

Community Announcements: 

Today at 6:30PM Melbourne For Palestine will be hosting an Iftar at the North Melbourne Mosque

At 6:45 The Sit Intifada will also be hosting an iftar at Parliament Gardens for those who participate in Ramadan. 

On Tuesday the 2nd of April there will be a community protest to shut down AW Bell, a weapons manufacturer complicit in the genocide of Palestinians. The protest will be held at 145 Abbotts Rd, Dandenong South from 9:30AM. 

On Thursday there will be a snap vigil for Palestinian Children in Hobsons Bay from 6:30PM at 15 Civic Parade in Altona. 

Friday will see a snap rally for no deportations from 5pm on the steps of Flinders Street Station. 

Of course Camp Sovereignty is ongoing and people are encouraged to attend to show support. Events will be held throughout the week, the info for which can be found on the Old Country Calling Instagram account (@Old.Country.Calling). 

Alongside that the weekly protest for a Free Palestine will resume once again this Sunday at 12pm at the State Library. 

Songs played:

Notion - Tash Sultana 
Babylon - David Gray 
Wishful Thinking - Grentperez
The Only Version of You - Alice Skye