Mr Maqsood Alshams,
Honorary National Co-ordinator, Coalition for Justice for Refugees and
Migrants
Maqsood Alshams is a former journalist from Bangladesh currently seeking
asylum in Australia. He spent 16 months in the Villawood Immigration
Detention Centre before his release in April 2000. Since then he has
been campaigning for a human policy on asylum seekers and is presently
a full-time volunteer with the Coalition for Justice for Refugees, Global
Concerns Research Centre and Ausnews Global Network.
Professor
Ien Ang, Director, Institute of Cultural Research, University Western
Sydney
Ien
Ang is also a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and
Professor of Cultural Studies at UWS. She is internationally recognised
as an expert in race, ethnicity and multiculturalism, about which she
has published widely. Her latest book is On Not Speaking Chinese:
Living Between Asia and the West (2001).
Abstract: Racism is widespread in Australia today. It is also a complex phenomenon.
Education is often mentioned as one of the key strategies to combat
racism, but how does one educate people to stop being racist? Does it
have to take the form of Jane Elliott's confrontational blue-eye/brown-eye
exercise. This keynote places doubt on the effectiveness of punishing
methods of anti-racist strategies. Instead, it calls for an ethical
exploration of the possibilities of increasing interracial trust.
Senator Andrew
Bartlett
Andrew Bartlett, Australian Democrats, was chosen by the Queensland
Parliament in October 1997 to fill the casual vacancy created in the
Senate by Cheryl Kernot's resignation. A social worker by training,
Andrew was Queensland Democrats President in 1996-97 and has been the
Democrats National Campaign Director since 1998.
Ms Sharan
Burrow, President, ACTU
Sharan
Burrow was elected President of the ACTU in 2000. Previously she was
Senior Vice-President of the NSW Teachers' Federation and was elected
President of the Australian Education Union in 1992.
Mr Geoff
Clark, Chairman, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission
Geoff
Clark is a Tjapwuurong man from western Victoria. Geoff was elected
in 1999 for a second term as ATSIC Commissioner for Victoria and is
ATSIC's first elected national Chairman. He is a member of the National
Indigenous Working Group on Native Title, Indigenous Peoples Organisations
on International Issues and is Vice Chairperson of the Aboriginal Provisional
Government.
Ms Sandie
Cornish, Australia Catholic Social Justice Council
Sandie
Cornish is a member of the Steering Group of the Australian NGO Working
Group for the World Conference Against Racism and attended the World
Conference in Durban, South Africa. She is active in the NGO community's
follow-up actions to combat racism in Australia.
Ms Amrita
Dasvarma, Women's Rights Action Network Australia
Amrita
Dasvarma initiated and is still involved with an Australia-wide project
on the intersections of gender and racism through WRANA. She is also
an active participant in the NGO Working Group for the UN World Conference
Against Racism and attended the World Conference as a youth delegate.
Her many interests include issues of racism, feminism, human rights
and justice.
Abstract: This presentation will focus on the intersections of gender and race,
especially as they are manifested in the lives of women in Australia.
Using examples from an Australia-wide consultative project and with
reference to the World Conference Declaration and Programme of Action,
Amrita will attempt to give an overview of intersectionality within
a domestic and international context.
Maria Dimopoulos,
Principal Consultant, Myriad Consultants Pty Ltd
Maria
Dimopoulos incorporates her legal knowledge as an anti-discrimination
and diversity trainer. She has worked extensively with immigrant and
refugee communities and also has experience in policy formulation for
the government sector, in research for social planning and in community
education. Her current PhD program examines concepts of race and racism
in international law and their application in Australia.
Ms Elizabeth
Drozd, Director, Australian-Polish Community Services Victoria
Elizabeth
Drozd returned as Director to Australian-Polish Community Services based
in the western suburbs of Melbourne in 1999 following five years with
the City of Brimbank. During 1996 she conducted research on Polish residents
in aged care facilities throughout Victoria. She has recently finalised
a 10 year Polish Aged Care Plan.
Abstract: The Polish community has the third largest number of older persons from
all ethnic groups in Australia. One of the biggest challenges facing
the Polish community in Australia is adequate and culturally and linguistically
appropriate care of our elders. In this presentation, I will provide
actual examples of inappropriateness and inequity in service provision
that exists for older Australians of various ethnic backgrounds including
Polish older persons.
Ms Farah
Farouke, The Age
Farah
Farouque has been a journalist for 10 years with the The Age, reporting
on politics, business, the law, arts, ethnic and religious affairs.
Born in Sri Lanka, she maintains a strong interest in cultural issues
and has written a number of articles about the Muslim community in Victoria.
In 2000 she spent three months working for the Jakarta-based Indonesian
news magazine Tempo.
Dr Kath Gelber,
School of Politics and International Relations, University of NSW
Kath
Gelber teaches Australian Politics and human rights at the University
of New South Wales. She has recently published Speaking Back: the
free speech versus hate speech debate, and has also published several
journal and newspaper articles on the topics of hate speech and hate
crimes.
Abstract: Ideas for hate speech policy can be explained as deriving from three
different policy objectives: punishment, restriction or empowerment.
I will argue that an empowerment approach is more effective than punitive
or restrictive approaches because it addresses the harms caused. I will
compare this approach with a range of new and original perspectives
on policy dealing with hate speech which have emerged around the world.
Mr Alan Gold,
President, Anti-Defamation Unit of B'nai B'rith
Alan
Gold has written 10 books and was the Year 2000 Human Rights Orator.
He is a member of the Sydney Institute, on the Board of Directors of
Varuna Writers' Centre and an internationally published novelist.
Abstract: Racial vilification is a part of every human society. But now that vilifiers
are using the internet to propagate their hatred, they have for the
first time in history the ability to reach a truly global audience.
Laws prohibiting racial and other vilification are woefully inadequate
and outmoded to deal with new methods of transmission. Law-makers are
still tinkering around the ends of legislation, unsure and unwilling
to tackle issues of freedom of expression head on.
Ms
Pru Goward, Sex Discrimination Commissioner
Pru
Goward was appointed Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner in July
2001 following a career as a journalist, broadcaster and commentator.
She headed the Office of the Status of Women from 1997 to 1999 and in
1999-2000 was responsible for promoting the Commonwealth's involvement
in the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Mr John Highfield,
ABC
John
Highfield currently co-hosts 'The World Today' on Radio National and
regional stations. He is an experienced ABC reporter, presenter and
former foreign correspondent.
The Right
Reverend Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBE, Governor-General
Peter
Hollingworth became Australia's 23rd Governor-General in June 2001.
He was previously Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane having worked for
the Brotherhood of St Lawrence in Melbourne for 25 years, initially
as Chaplain and ultimately as Executive Director. During this time he
wrote several books based on his experiences working with the poor and
disadvantaged.
Professor
Andrew Jakubowicz, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University
of Technology Sydney
Andrew
Jakubowicz teaches Australian politics and sociology, and social science
and new media. His research covers areas of communication, social inequality
and cultural diversity. Currently he is working on a web project on
Jewish refugees in China, The menorah of Fang Bang Lu, and the
online resource The Remaking of Multicultural Australia in the 21st
century. He has written on Australian racism, racism and the internet,
and the media in multicultural societies.
Abstract: Racist attitudes become activated as racial vilification under circumstances
that can be identified and analysed. What are the conditions that increase
the likelihood of vilification becoming widespread, and what strategies
might be feasible to respond to and minimise the harm created by vilification?
What role does formal and informal leadership play in group communication
processes? Examples to be discussed include the mid-1980s national land
rights legislation debacle, the Auburn diversity mural confrontation
in the mid 1990s, and the Lebanese rape gang moral panic of 2001.
Emeritus
Professor Laksiri Jayasuriya AM, Hon. Senior Research Fellow, University
of Western Australia
Until
his retirement Laki Jayasuriya held the Foundation Chair of Social Work
and Social Administration at UWA. He has played a major role in multiculturalism
and ethnic affairs policy developments in Australia, both at State and
national levels. He recently received the WA Ethnic Communities Council's Multicultural Award for his contributions.
Dr
William Jonas AM, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
Commissioner and Acting Race Discrimination Commissioner
Bill
Jonas is a Worimi man from the Karuah River area of NSW. Prior to his
appointment to HREOC he was Director of the National Museum of Australia.
From 1991-96 he was Principal of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Studies and he served as a Commissioner on
the Royal Commission into British Nuclear Tests ('Maralinga') in Australia
during the 1980s.
Mr Jeremy
Jones, President, Executive Council of Australian Jewry
Jeremy Jones is also the Chair of Faith Communities for
Aboriginal Reconciliation, Vice President of the Commonwealth Jewish
Council, Co-Chair of the Jewish Community Dialogue Groups with the Catholic
and Uniting Churches. He represented Australian NGOs on the government
delegation to the UN World Conference Against Racism.
Ms Mary Jones,
CEO, Replay Group (Australian Centre for Discrimination Risk Management
in Sport)
Mary
Jones founded the Replay Group in 1996. She has expertise in discrimination
law and conflict resolution and has advised a range of organisations
on race, gender, disability, sexual harassment, religious and pregnancy
discrimination. In 2001 Replay worked with the Australian Football League
in its campaign to eliminate racial and religious vilification.
Dr James
Jupp, Director, Centre for Immigration and Multicultural Studies, Australian
National University
James
Jupp has been Director of the CIMS since 1988. He edited The Australian
People published in 2001 for the Centenary of Federation by Cambridge
University Press. James has been a member of the Advisory Council on
Multicultural Affairs, Chairman of the Review of Migrant and Multicultural
Programs and Services and Chairman of the ACT Multicultural Advisory
Council.
Abstract: While Australia is free of the organised racism and periodic racial
violence experienced by many other immigrant societies, the current
situation is more tense than it was a decade ago. Domestic and international
events have contributed to the tension now evident in our communities,
including the irresponsible handling of the asylum seekers crisis, the
denigration of Indigenous rights, multiculturalism and immigration and
adverse public opinion on the political situations in several Muslim
states.
Ms Randa
Kattan, Executive Director, Australian Arabic Communities Council
Randa
Kattan has been an active community leader for the past 15 years and
has been vocal on promoting the status of women and social justice principles.
She has worked in the areas of settlement, employment, youth, women
and has initiated a range of anti-racist strategies, cultural and community
development initiatives.
Mr Steve
Kinmond, NSW Assistant Ombudsman (Police)
Steve
Kinmond has been responsible for the police jurisdiction of the NSW
Ombudsman's Office for over five years. His responsibilities include
overseeing the Police Service's handling of complaints, working closely
with Aboriginal communities to forge more productive relationships with
police and conducting legislative reviews of a range of new police powers.
Ms Licia
Kokocinski, Director, Action on Disabilities in Ethnic Communities Victoria
Licia
Kokocinski has worked for many years on multicultural issues at both
community and policy levels, in related to ageing, education and people
with disabilities. She has been a Member of the Victorian Parliament
and a consultant, practitioner and activist at the local level. She
has been ADEC Executive Director since June 2000.
Abstract: It is recognised that people from immigrant cultures who also have a
disability experience 'double discrimination'. Some might even say triple
discrimination. Much work remains to be done to change the attitudes
and behaviours of the community, employers and service providers. The
paper describes some strategies that can be used, at both system-wide
and individual levels, to ensure that full citizenship is achieved.
Dr Srechko
Kontelj, Mayor, City of Greater Geelong
Elected
to Council in 1998, Srechko Kontelj was elected Mayor in 2001. He has
a long history of community involvement particularly supporting ethnic
communities. He has 16 years experience as a lawyer and received his
Doctorate in Juridical Sciences from Deakin University in 1999.
Professor
Marcia Langton, School of Anthropology, Geography and Environmental
Studies, University of Melbourne
Marcia
Langton is one of Australia's leading authorities on contemporary social
issues in Aboriginal affairs. She has published extensively on Aboriginal
affairs issues including land, resource and social impact issues, indigenous
dispute processing, policing and substance abuse, gender, identity processing,
art, film and cultural studies. Marcia is Foundation Professor of Australian
Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne.
Abstract: This presentation partly surveys reports on Australian Government
compliance with human rights laws, the views of Indigenous people on
non-compliance, and assesses the problem of 'special rights' in relation
to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interests.
Dr Carmen
Lawrence MP, Shadow Minister for Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Affairs
Carmen
Lawrence is also Shadow Minister for the Arts and for the Status of
Women. She served in the WA Legislative Assembly between 1986 and 1994
when she resigned to stand for the House of Representatives. She was
WA Premier from February 1990 until February 1993.
Mr Alan Madden,
Chair, Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council
Alan
Madden is the Cultural and Education Officer for the Land Council. He
is also on the SBS Management Board and the Sydney Harbour Management
Board. He has worked for the Aboriginal Dance Theatre, Aboriginal Legal
Service, Aboriginal Medical Service, Aboriginal Children's Service and
the City of South Sydney Council. He is a life member of the Redfern
All Blacks Rugby League Club. He is married and has 10 children.
Professor
Andrew Markus, Director, Australian Centre for the Study of Jewish Civilisation,
Monash University
Andrew
Markus has been head of the Department of History at Monash University
and was appointed to his current position in 2001. His field of research
encompasses Australian race relations, immigration history, racial thought
and the Holocaust. He is the author of several books including the recent John Howard and the Remaking of Australia.
Abstract: The last years have seen a fundamental shift in the way racial issues
are handled within the Australian political system. They are years that
have witnessed the phenomenon of Hansonism, allied to the fierce public
debate over immigration policy and land rights, the response to the
Stolen Generations and most recently the treatment of asylum seekers.
That these are also the years of the Howard prime ministership is not
a matter of chance or coincidence.
Ms Winsome
Matthews, Chair, NSW Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council
The
Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council is a council of Aboriginal people
established to provide advice to the NSW Government on law and justice
issues effecting Aboriginal people in the state. The Council is made
up of a chairperson, six community representatives and an executive
officer.
Ms Monica
Morgan, Yorta Yorta People, Murray River
Monica
is manager of the Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation and has
coordinated the Elder and community participation in the Yorta Yorta
Native Title application in the High Court. Monica attended the UN World
Conference Against Racism where she was invited to give testimony for
her people's struggles in the Voices Forum.
Abstract: In recent years the effectiveness of the reconciliation movement has
diminished within the Indigenous community and among grassroots activists
as well as the wider community. Meanwhile the struggle for real recognition
of land rights continues. Justice, its process and theory, are intimately
connected to human rights and how an individual develops a sense of
connection and place in the world. The process of justice needs to be
stretched beyond its current boundaries and definitions. The Yorta Yorta
People of the Murray region challenge to the High Court later this year
highlights the need not only for recognition but for validation of oral
evidence and history.
Mr Paul Murray,
Radio 6PR
Paul
Murray was the longest serving daily newspaper editor in Australia when
he resigned from The West Australian in 2000. He is currently
a presenter and talk-back host at 6PR in Perth.
Professor
Martin Nakata, Director, Aboriginal Research Institute, University of
South Australia
Martin
Nakata is the first Torres Strait Islander to be awarded a PhD from
any Australian University. His research interest is in the formal education
processes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and he is
widely published in this field.
Senator-elect
Kerry Nettle
Kerry
Nettle will take up her Senate seat for The Greens as Senator for NSW
in July 2002. Kerry has studied Environmental Science, participated
in the Jabiluka Uranium Mine Blockade in Kakadu and is a passionate
campaigner for human rights, peace in Central Asia and better funding
of public services.
Cr Thang
Ngo, Fairfield City Council
Thang Ngo serves on Fairfield City Council - probably the
most multicultural local government area in Australia - for the Unity
Party. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UNSW and moved permanently
to Australia in 1996. In 2001 he was awarded a Winston Churchill Trust
Fellowship.
Ms Julie
Nimmo, SBS
Julie
Nimmo has been a producer and reporter for ICAM, SBS's Indigenous program,
since it began in 1996. She is particularly interested in social justice
issues and has covered stories about police violence towards Aborigines,
Redfern's Indigenous community and the Stolen Generations.
Dr
Sev Ozdowski OAM, Human Rights Commissioner and Acting Disability Discrimination
Commissioner
Immediately
before taking up his current appointment in December 2001, Sev Ozdowski
was CEO of South Australia's Office of Multicultural and International
Affairs. Since arriving in Australia in 1975, Sev has also held senior
positions in the federal portfolios of Prime Minister and Cabinet, A-G
and Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Mr Neville
Roach AO, Chairman, Fujitsu Australia Ltd
Neville
Roach was appointed to the Commonwealth's Council for Multicultural
Australia and Business (Migration) Advisory Panel in 1996. He resigned
early in 2002 in protest at the Commonwealth's refugee policies and
approaches to multiculturalism and reconciliation.
Ms Vivian
Schenker, current affairs presenter, ABC
Vivian
Schenker presents ABC Radio National's 'Breakfast' program on weekday
mornings. Vivian began her career in journalism with the ABC as a news
cadet before joining the 'World News' team on SBS in 1985. She went
on to present 'Issues', the 'Tonight' program, 'Dateline' and 'Insight'
before leaving SBS in 2000 to take up her current post with Radio National.
Professor
Alice Tay AM, President, Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
HREOC
President since April 1998, Alice Tay has authored many books and articles
on socialist legal systems, legal culture, comparative law, legal theory
and philosophy, jurisprudence and human rights. She is Director of the
Centre for Asian and Pacific Law at the University of Sydney.
Ms Kerrie
Tim, former Acting Executive Director, Office for Women, Department
of Premier and Cabinet
Kerrie
is currently on sabbatical. Prior to joining the Office for Women, she
was Executive Director of the Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Policy (Qld). Kerrie has also worked in the Public Service
and Merit Protection Commission, Department of the Prime Minister and
Cabinet and ATSIC.
Mr Keysar
Trad, Vice President Lebanese Muslims Association
Keysar
Trad came to Australia from Lebanon in 1976 and worked in the Australian
public service for 14 years. He has translated several books and has
accompanied and translated for Islamic scholars including the Mufty
of Australia. Keysar translates and delivers in English the weekly sermon
at Australia's largest mosque - in Lakemba, Sydney.
Abstract: Religion states that all races are related and all have the same origin.
It also says that differences in language, colour or ethnicity among
people are signs of the greatness of the Creator, serving to enhance
culture and civilisation. Differences are among the greatest blessings
for a civilisation. Harnessing them peacefully and justly without exploitation
is among the greatest challenges facing humanity today.
Dr Gianni
Zappalà, Research Manager, Smith Family Australia
Gianni
Zappalà has held several teaching and research positions at the
Universities of Sydney, Cambridge, Wollongong, the ANU and in the Commonwealth
Parliament. He has published widely on immigration and citizenship and
political representation.
