Reg was born in the Victorian goldfields in 1919. He left school at thirteen to work in a series of jobs in rural Victoria; joined the YMCA and enlisted in the Australian Army in 1941. He served in several theatres of war, including on the Bulldog Road in New Guinea and at Balikpapan in Borneo.
Following his demobilization Reg gained admission to the University of Adelaide under the Commonwealth Reconstruction Scheme. On completion of a Diploma in Social Science he joined the colonial administration in PNG as a junior education officer. In preparation for his colonial service in early 1949 he was admitted to the ASOPA in Sydney. His association with the school lasted for 24 years, both as a student and later as a sometime lecturer.
From the late 1950s until 1973, Reg was chief of the Division of Social Development and Director of Child Welfare within the Papua New Guinea government. This was a time of rapid social and political change, and his responsibilities were many and varied. Specialized offices in his division included child welfare, urban resettlement, training, youth work and women’s activities. His community development officers were based in all districts. Their duties included community development projects and community education including health promotion and political education. Referrals under child welfare and adoption legislation brought them into close contact with courts and legal aid agencies. They worked with government and non government agencies in many activities including case work and counseling, migration referrals, grants in aid, pensions and sports development and the licensing and inspection of child care centres.
Prior to Reg’s arrival there were few written guidelines in many of the areas mentioned above. Child welfare and adoption legislation were relatively new. Reg and his staff produced a wide range of publications which provided a “road map” through unfamiliar territory.
Through the activities and programs and in many other ways, Reg helped build up a number of agencies which became part of a modern social welfare system for PNG. His staff remembers him with respect and affection. And he has been honored by the PNG government for his outstanding contribution.
At the age of 89, Reg recently published his memoir, Looking for a Good Book. Early in his life Reg became an avid book collector. His book is a ‘tale of a gentle madness’, the story of a book collector thrown hither and thither by tumultuous events beyond his control.
Reg is survived by his son Mark, and daughter Julie.
Mark Thomson/Graeme Parry
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Human rights in Australia - commercial media and the fear narrative
Anyone trawling through our major commercial media outlets in recent times will be struck by the constant attempt to whip up fear in the community.
Of course, there is nothing new in this. News editors have pandered to the predilections of various interest groups from time immemorial.
It has got nasty again in the wash up over the Federal budget. Take the case of Sky News. Their editorial line over the last week went a little like this:
Debt, fear, deficit, more fear, loss of business confidence, more fear, swine flu, lots more fear. I wonder whether they ever wonder, in their dark nights of the soul, whether they are a major contributor to fear levels?
They have selectively reported on debt and deficit to whip up the Coalition's fear line on the budget. In the process it seems they have done the country a great disservice.
They have selectively reported on recent polling to underpin their fear story. In fact, the polls suggest people are fairly sanguine about the debt and the budget. The Govt's two party position improved in this week's polls published by Essential Research and Newspoll.
Their regular line on failing business confidence distorts the actual position and does not take account of investment decision trends, the flow through effect of recent budget decisions and other signs of improvement emanating from the various stimulus packages.
And then, of course, we can always rely on swine flu to garner a bit more fear...
Of course, there is nothing new in this. News editors have pandered to the predilections of various interest groups from time immemorial.
It has got nasty again in the wash up over the Federal budget. Take the case of Sky News. Their editorial line over the last week went a little like this:
Debt, fear, deficit, more fear, loss of business confidence, more fear, swine flu, lots more fear. I wonder whether they ever wonder, in their dark nights of the soul, whether they are a major contributor to fear levels?
They have selectively reported on debt and deficit to whip up the Coalition's fear line on the budget. In the process it seems they have done the country a great disservice.
They have selectively reported on recent polling to underpin their fear story. In fact, the polls suggest people are fairly sanguine about the debt and the budget. The Govt's two party position improved in this week's polls published by Essential Research and Newspoll.
Their regular line on failing business confidence distorts the actual position and does not take account of investment decision trends, the flow through effect of recent budget decisions and other signs of improvement emanating from the various stimulus packages.
And then, of course, we can always rely on swine flu to garner a bit more fear...
Human rights in Australia - 'punish the victim' still alive & well in Coalition's refugee lexicon
Last night's Insight on SBS again showed up the nastiness inherent to the Coalition's approach to asylum seekers. Stone and Andrews were harking back to the good ole times when TPVs kept refugees in their place. They have a tenuous grasp at best of the humanitarian underpinnings of the Refugee Convention.
The token troglodyte in the audience represented the cheer squad for the 'punish them all' brigade that come out of the woodwork whenever this issue is raised in public fora. Throw in dollops of 'Islam-phobia' and we get a heady concoction of half-truths, sloganeering and open racism over the plight of some of the most desperate people on the planet. Forget the fact that we have contributed militarily to the mess in many of these countries, and have been an active player in conflicts that have led to displacement throughout the region. If you read through some of the comments on the SBS website you'll get the picture!
The walled city shone in the glow of dusk,
and the people closed the gates as visitors arrived,
"This is ours", they said, "you can't have what is ours".
Beyond the city, beyond the refuse dumps, and the hovels of the poor,
Where the roads are dirt tracks and the common tongue is not heard,
Some people sit, around a fire,
wondering whether they should have had walls......
The token troglodyte in the audience represented the cheer squad for the 'punish them all' brigade that come out of the woodwork whenever this issue is raised in public fora. Throw in dollops of 'Islam-phobia' and we get a heady concoction of half-truths, sloganeering and open racism over the plight of some of the most desperate people on the planet. Forget the fact that we have contributed militarily to the mess in many of these countries, and have been an active player in conflicts that have led to displacement throughout the region. If you read through some of the comments on the SBS website you'll get the picture!
The walled city shone in the glow of dusk,
and the people closed the gates as visitors arrived,
"This is ours", they said, "you can't have what is ours".
Beyond the city, beyond the refuse dumps, and the hovels of the poor,
Where the roads are dirt tracks and the common tongue is not heard,
Some people sit, around a fire,
wondering whether they should have had walls......
Monday, May 18, 2009
Human rights in Australia - New film "Samson & Delilah" an anguished cry from the wounded soul of Australia's original custodians
All Australians should see this film! Of course that won't happen but growing numbers will have the experience. It is a visual tone poem that opens eyes, sores, nerves, and ultimately, hearts. I doubt anyone can sit through this film without going through some form of catharsis.
Every so often a film comes along that changes the way things are seen. The dispossessed souls that move through this passion play challenge us to respond with powerful emotions. Self-destructive and self-actualizing forces are competing in the players' outer and inner landscapes, subject to random moments outside their control.
Loss of identity and cultural moorings has left these youngsters on the margins of everything, vulnerable to physical and psychological decay and destruction.
It is an indictment of colonization, cultural misappropriation and systemic failures to engage a dispossessed people with compassion and understanding.
The film has a website.
Every so often a film comes along that changes the way things are seen. The dispossessed souls that move through this passion play challenge us to respond with powerful emotions. Self-destructive and self-actualizing forces are competing in the players' outer and inner landscapes, subject to random moments outside their control.
Loss of identity and cultural moorings has left these youngsters on the margins of everything, vulnerable to physical and psychological decay and destruction.
It is an indictment of colonization, cultural misappropriation and systemic failures to engage a dispossessed people with compassion and understanding.
The film has a website.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Budget heralds more reform of refugee regime but full inquiry into Howard Govt practices still necessary
Changes to the rules for asylum seekers under the Budget is welcome, especially those related to increased working rights.
The Rudd Government has improved the situation for refugees through a series of incremental changes. It has been accused of going soft on border protection by the 'fear perpetual' brigade but slowly but surely Australia is bringing its refugee regime into line with international law and refugee conventions.
However, there remains a need to review previous practices under the Immigration Act to avoid the worst violations of the past. This week it has been revealed that Immigratiuon misled an asylum seeker to facilitate her repatriation to the family's country of origin!
The Immigration Department has admitted that the case of a detainee whose daughter was deported to Iran without his knowledge was clearly unacceptable.
Departmental officials lied to the man and misled the child in an operation to get the girl out of Australia.
He also found that the department had acted against its own legal advice.
The Ombudsman's report on the case has found that they might have breached the Public Service Code of Conduct by doing so.
I expect this is the case and that there are many other examples lurking in the annals of Immigration's management of refugees.
Having been involved in the administration of aspects of the Pacific Solution, and having been shocked by the callous disregard of human rights that characterized the management of refugees during the Howard years, I have lobbied the current Minister to initiate a full inquiry into the asylum seeker policies and practices of the previous government. As you would expect, I have been fobbed off! However, until we have a transparent review of this period we run the risk of violations happening in the future.
An interesting discussion of the previous TPV regime can be read here. Some of the comments reveal the extent of ignorance on refugee matters. I would have thought refugees from an arena of war where we are an active combatant would have a strong case to be accepted by Australia, even for those who can't stomach the universal right of refugees to seek asylum in a country that is a signatory to the Refugee Conventions.
The Rudd Government has improved the situation for refugees through a series of incremental changes. It has been accused of going soft on border protection by the 'fear perpetual' brigade but slowly but surely Australia is bringing its refugee regime into line with international law and refugee conventions.
However, there remains a need to review previous practices under the Immigration Act to avoid the worst violations of the past. This week it has been revealed that Immigratiuon misled an asylum seeker to facilitate her repatriation to the family's country of origin!
The Immigration Department has admitted that the case of a detainee whose daughter was deported to Iran without his knowledge was clearly unacceptable.
Departmental officials lied to the man and misled the child in an operation to get the girl out of Australia.
He also found that the department had acted against its own legal advice.
The Ombudsman's report on the case has found that they might have breached the Public Service Code of Conduct by doing so.
I expect this is the case and that there are many other examples lurking in the annals of Immigration's management of refugees.
Having been involved in the administration of aspects of the Pacific Solution, and having been shocked by the callous disregard of human rights that characterized the management of refugees during the Howard years, I have lobbied the current Minister to initiate a full inquiry into the asylum seeker policies and practices of the previous government. As you would expect, I have been fobbed off! However, until we have a transparent review of this period we run the risk of violations happening in the future.
An interesting discussion of the previous TPV regime can be read here. Some of the comments reveal the extent of ignorance on refugee matters. I would have thought refugees from an arena of war where we are an active combatant would have a strong case to be accepted by Australia, even for those who can't stomach the universal right of refugees to seek asylum in a country that is a signatory to the Refugee Conventions.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Australia - still xenophobic and easily influenced by refugee fear campaign
The sudden fall in Labor's primary vote is not due to concerns over the GFC but is solely due to fears whipped up by the Coalition and media outlets.
It is a sad commentary on our insular body politic that small numbers of vulnerable asylum seekers can have such an impact on public opinion. For those of us who have tracked the politics of division and fear associated with border protection postures this will come as no surprise. The primary vote numbers identified by Newspoll are probably a little inaccurate, but they still tell a story of xenophobic knee jerk reactions to fear mongering by Turnbull et al.
I don't believe Coalition apologists who claim the fall is a response to Labor's deficit budgeting. That is patently wishful thinking by the permanently credulous crowd who don't seem to understand that there has to be a shift away from the notion that surplus budgeting is always clever. In an economic climate that will see the ranks of the disadvantaged rise, it is essential that governments invest in human capital and essential infrastructure.
Beware of the propaganda machine that paints a more humane approach to asylum seekers as weak and soft on border protection. This is a lie and is motivated by political opportunists prepared to play to xenophobic and racist tendencies in the Australian electorate.
It is a sad commentary on our insular body politic that small numbers of vulnerable asylum seekers can have such an impact on public opinion. For those of us who have tracked the politics of division and fear associated with border protection postures this will come as no surprise. The primary vote numbers identified by Newspoll are probably a little inaccurate, but they still tell a story of xenophobic knee jerk reactions to fear mongering by Turnbull et al.
I don't believe Coalition apologists who claim the fall is a response to Labor's deficit budgeting. That is patently wishful thinking by the permanently credulous crowd who don't seem to understand that there has to be a shift away from the notion that surplus budgeting is always clever. In an economic climate that will see the ranks of the disadvantaged rise, it is essential that governments invest in human capital and essential infrastructure.
Beware of the propaganda machine that paints a more humane approach to asylum seekers as weak and soft on border protection. This is a lie and is motivated by political opportunists prepared to play to xenophobic and racist tendencies in the Australian electorate.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT FOR AUSTRALIA CAMPAIGN (HRAAC)
I have received the following update from Susan Ryan, AO, Chair HRAAC inc:
"Dear Human Rights Act Supporter,
I have been greatly encouraged by the community response to the Brennan Panel.
Over 10000 submissions have already been received by the Panel and I am sure they are in no doubt that most Australians, from all backgrounds, care greatly about human rights and want significantly better protection.
We are presently reviewing our Model Bill and plan to make this the core of the HRAAC submission to the Brennan Panel, illustrating how Australia can enjoy the protection of effective laws while still leaving parliamentary lawmaking powers intact.
The HRAAC continues its advocacy work, started back in 2005, by addressing forums, collecting and publishing relevant material and making the parliament aware of our shared views. I have remained actively engaged in this public debate, in person and over the the media.
We have joined with over 70 other organisations to form a national network, the Australian Human Rights Group, (AHRG) thus greatly multiplying the numbers of supporting individuals and bodies, and growing our information base.
The HRAAC’s web-site facilitates access and links to a broad range of human rights information from Australia and overseas. It highlights important developments and lists key human rights events being organized around Australia. There are also links to our youth portal, humanrightsact-TV and to the AHRG page.
I do urge all of you who may have not yet done so, to make your submissions to the Brennan panel and to encourage your friends and acquaintances to do the same. Please check the Get Involved section of the our web-site if you need help on how to do this.
I also encourage you to write letters to the newspapers and to call talk back radio. Our opponents, few as they are, are becoming increasingly vocal and have unlimited access to the media to repeat their wrong headed and misleading claims.
Progress has been good but we cannot slow down at this crucial time. Thank you for your support thus far and please let me know what more we can do to achieve our objective, a Human Rights Act for Australia."
If you are interested in human rights please get involved with this campaign.
"Dear Human Rights Act Supporter,
I have been greatly encouraged by the community response to the Brennan Panel.
Over 10000 submissions have already been received by the Panel and I am sure they are in no doubt that most Australians, from all backgrounds, care greatly about human rights and want significantly better protection.
We are presently reviewing our Model Bill and plan to make this the core of the HRAAC submission to the Brennan Panel, illustrating how Australia can enjoy the protection of effective laws while still leaving parliamentary lawmaking powers intact.
The HRAAC continues its advocacy work, started back in 2005, by addressing forums, collecting and publishing relevant material and making the parliament aware of our shared views. I have remained actively engaged in this public debate, in person and over the the media.
We have joined with over 70 other organisations to form a national network, the Australian Human Rights Group, (AHRG) thus greatly multiplying the numbers of supporting individuals and bodies, and growing our information base.
The HRAAC’s web-site facilitates access and links to a broad range of human rights information from Australia and overseas. It highlights important developments and lists key human rights events being organized around Australia. There are also links to our youth portal, humanrightsact-TV and to the AHRG page.
I do urge all of you who may have not yet done so, to make your submissions to the Brennan panel and to encourage your friends and acquaintances to do the same. Please check the Get Involved section of the our web-site if you need help on how to do this.
I also encourage you to write letters to the newspapers and to call talk back radio. Our opponents, few as they are, are becoming increasingly vocal and have unlimited access to the media to repeat their wrong headed and misleading claims.
Progress has been good but we cannot slow down at this crucial time. Thank you for your support thus far and please let me know what more we can do to achieve our objective, a Human Rights Act for Australia."
If you are interested in human rights please get involved with this campaign.
The Forum - 'Desperate Measures' by Susan Metcalfe
On Line Opinion has published this article on asylum seekers.
I have posted the following comment:
"The Howard govt turned itself inside out to excise huge slices of the migration zone as part of its manic determination to repel 'boat people'. The Pacific Solution fiasco underpinned the 'illegal boat people' wedge Howard launched in 2001. I was part of the PM's task force that worked on these issues.
Sadly, the 'dog whistle' has been sounded loud and clear by Turnbull et al, and the 'xenophobe' crowd have responded with alacrity. Within their simple-minded construct it's all the Rudd government's fault! Labor instigated a more humane approach to refugees, although it could be improved by taking the Christmas Island stopover out of the equation. Rudd abolished the egregious TPV regime, which was a violation of refugee rights and a nasty scar on our human rights landscape.
Some of the comments here explain why the Coalition politicizes refugees. The posture is so effective - and is'nt it great to hear back from that bastion of 'multilateralism', erstwhile FM Downer on how his mates would have handled this situation? How can anyone forget the Libs' response to Tampa and kids overboard?
Yes, blame the victims for their own plight, extract as much sensationalism out of the role of people smugglers, put words in the mouth of ADF personnel who cannot answer for themselves, and then whip up public sentiment against refugees. Throw in dollops of confected outrage over your political opponents complete lack of preparedness to face down the 'threat' and you have your stock in trade 'dog whistle' response to the terrible plight of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.
Oh, I forgot - then you can set about making weak neighbouring countries complicit in policies that violate human rights!
The cruel stupidity of the Howard Govt saw asylum seekers ending up in an excised area, unable to access the same legal rights as those who reach our migration zone. The recent case of 29 asylum seekers deposited on an offshore rig brought the small-mindedness of the previous regime back into sharp focus. Labor must align our Migration Act with international law and refugee conventions."
The more things change, the more they remain the same!
I have posted the following comment:
"The Howard govt turned itself inside out to excise huge slices of the migration zone as part of its manic determination to repel 'boat people'. The Pacific Solution fiasco underpinned the 'illegal boat people' wedge Howard launched in 2001. I was part of the PM's task force that worked on these issues.
Sadly, the 'dog whistle' has been sounded loud and clear by Turnbull et al, and the 'xenophobe' crowd have responded with alacrity. Within their simple-minded construct it's all the Rudd government's fault! Labor instigated a more humane approach to refugees, although it could be improved by taking the Christmas Island stopover out of the equation. Rudd abolished the egregious TPV regime, which was a violation of refugee rights and a nasty scar on our human rights landscape.
Some of the comments here explain why the Coalition politicizes refugees. The posture is so effective - and is'nt it great to hear back from that bastion of 'multilateralism', erstwhile FM Downer on how his mates would have handled this situation? How can anyone forget the Libs' response to Tampa and kids overboard?
Yes, blame the victims for their own plight, extract as much sensationalism out of the role of people smugglers, put words in the mouth of ADF personnel who cannot answer for themselves, and then whip up public sentiment against refugees. Throw in dollops of confected outrage over your political opponents complete lack of preparedness to face down the 'threat' and you have your stock in trade 'dog whistle' response to the terrible plight of some of the most vulnerable people on the planet.
Oh, I forgot - then you can set about making weak neighbouring countries complicit in policies that violate human rights!
The cruel stupidity of the Howard Govt saw asylum seekers ending up in an excised area, unable to access the same legal rights as those who reach our migration zone. The recent case of 29 asylum seekers deposited on an offshore rig brought the small-mindedness of the previous regime back into sharp focus. Labor must align our Migration Act with international law and refugee conventions."
The more things change, the more they remain the same!
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