Speaking of Social Justice

Dr Julie Macken is back this week to discuss two major announcements that made headlines over the past couple of weeks: 1) the statement made by Australia's Deputy Prime Minister announcing that spending on Australia's defence is set to double to $100 billion by 2034 and 2) Labour's ongoing attempt to pass a Migration Amendment Act that would force thousands fleeing persecution based on sexual ori...

This week, Cailey Sharp is back to discuss the South Sudanese youth crisis in Australia. With South Sudanese teens younger than 15 filling juvenile detention centres at disproportionately higher rates compared to other immigrant groups in Queensland, Cailey calls for intervention, education, and advocacy to keep young teens and children out of the system. Yet, there is a debate about removing the...

This week, Dr Julie Macken recaps two primary historic moments that took place this week in Australia: having no submarines for at least a decade and breaching treating obligations. In this episode, Julie discusses how the billions spent in the AUKUS deal and toward 3 submarines could have perhaps been put to better use, such as housing 4 million Australians. Julie also reflects on how labour camp...

On this week's edition of Speaking of Social Justice, Dr Michael Walker walks us through NSW's current challenges when it comes to public housing and how it might be Australia's biggest issue alongside the cost of living. Michael discusses how those with mortgages spend more than half of their disposable income on housing, how a significant proportion of the general public will never be able to bu...

This week, JPO's Cailey Sharp discusses the concept of a community drop-in centre and reflects on the launch of Curious Grace. With some of the struggles and barriers seeking professional mental health support bring, a drop-in centre such as Curious Grace offers immediate, peer-support nestled in your local parish. If you are interested in booking training for your parish or becoming a certified v...

To launch Season 3, Dr Julie Macken discusses how the JPO is honouring International Women's Day with a panel discussion of inspirational women discussing Immigration Detention and "the casual cruelty that has now become public policy." Each woman on the panel comes with a story on what it was like to come to Australia, seeking protection and refuge in Villawood. With a 25 year difference, one gro...

This week, Dr Julie Macken brings us the final episode of the year. It is time to shine a light into the darkness of Australia’s immigration detention regime. Between 2001 and present day, tens of thousands of people seeking Australia’s protection have been held in immigration camps that are now privatised, offshore, and beyond the reach of Australia’s courts and most media. There have been at lea...

In light of recent headlines and controversial choices, Dr Julie Macken is back this week to discuss public spaces and places and who gets to decide what gets screened as well as using public spaces as a form of community communication. Julie also reflects on the 2018 Everest Cup controversy and backlash whereby the Sydney Opera House was used as a gambling pitch. Our host goes on to speak about h...

Dr Julie Macken is back to speak about social justice; specifically, dealing with and resolving conflict in a non-violent fashion. Today, Julie reflects on boycotts and sanctions in relation to other countries. Though, it is not always legal to use the non-violent option, we need to find non-violent and legitimate ways of conflict resolution.

This week, Dr Julie Macken offers one final encouragement to vote YES by discussing what voting no means for the Australian population - both Indigenous and non-Indigenous. For a better Australia and to take a step closer to reconciliation, vote YES on Saturday, October 14th .

Due to popular demand, Dr Julie Macken is back to discuss yet again the Indigenous Voice to Parliament. However, Julie now offers us a different perspective by discussing the historical 'No Campaign' that argued against Women's Right to Vote in Australia. Specifically, the Petticoat Rule. Nothing bad happened, in fact, it resulted in a much better Australia - sound familiar?

Today, Julie Macken discusses the topic that is "dividing" Australians and that is, the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, As a White Australian, Julie discusses what saying YES to the Voice means to her. In this, we are able to reflect on why we should vote YES and the 'what ifs' associated. https://justiceandpeace.org.au/the-voice-to-parliament/ https://www.yes23.com.au/pledge

Our host Julie Macken is back to discuss with us again campaigning for a Royal Commission into Immigration Detention. Specifically, making direct mention of Minister Andrew Giles announcing yet another Parliamentary Inquiry into Immigration Detention. Julie then discusses how a Parliamentary Inquiry does not necessarily have the powers of a Royal Commission. A Royal Commission has the power to com...

Our host Julie Macken welcomes Dr Robbie Lloyd back for a Q&A follow-up regarding the Curious Grace Model. Specifically, Robbie discusses the main reasoning and need for a Curious Grace drop-in centre and how to get parishes and their communities more hands on and involved in supporting vulnerable people. Community and familiar support are central to wellness and prosperity. Robbie reminds us...

Our host, Julie Macken, is back and is joined by JPO's Dr Michael Walker to discuss Peace in terms of security or tranquility. As Michael discusses further, peace as a notion of tranquilly suggests people are free to live their lives independently and optimistically. Contrastingly, peace in a sense of security is inherently regressive in that to be nationally secure, other people have to suffer. M...

This week, we present to you the audio from our most recent event - 'Calling for a Peaceful Pacific' co-hosted by the Justice and Peace Office and the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN). Focusing on renewing our solidarity for a Nuclear-Free Independent Peaceful Pacific and Australia's need to have a position of armed neutrality, the discussion panel featured two keynote speakers In...

Our host Julie Macken is back to discuss the endemic that is Family & Domestic Violence with direct mention to JPO's Tri-Diocesan Event surrounding the topic. Julie reviews the 2022-2023 Social Justice Statement - Respect: Confronting Violence & Abuse with particular attention drawn to Rose Batty, 2015 Australian of the Year, and her personal experiences and report on Family & Domestic...

Our host Julie Macken is back to discuss two major topics that are currently circulating global media; the last asylum seeker to leave Naru and Australia facing the International Criminal Court for its war crimes. Firstly, our attention is drawn to Naru, home of some of Australia’s most horrific acts of humiliation, degradation and neglect. Despite the need for a Royal Commission into Australia's...

Our host Julie Macken is joined yet again by JPO's Dr Robbie Lloyd to explore the recent draft of the National Care & Economy Support Strategy surrounding areas of Mental Health, Ageing, Disability, and Childcare. Julie and Robbie discuss how care has previously been monetised whereby NGOs have been corporatised and how individuals have been understood only as investment opportunities. Our hos...

Our host Julie Macken talks us through the widening split between the world's perception of Australia and the country's own fantasies of reality. Specifically regarding Australia breaching the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), the Brereton Report and Australia's war crimes causing a divide with the United States, the EU-Australia Agreement regarding Climate Change, and h...

Our host Julie Macken passes the mic to JPO's very own Dr Michael Walker to discuss non-government organisations' (NGOs) current struggles regarding the aftermath of COVID-19, the cost of living, diminishing wages, and their harmful effects on civil society and the current volunteer shortage. Dr Walker draws further attention to the burden of compliance and over-reporting that redirects NGO attent...

Our host Julie Macken guides us through a recent major event - Australia failing to meet its human rights obligations and becoming the first OECD ( Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ) member nation on the United Nation's non-compliance list; Article 17. Julie discusses how Australia failed to abide by and implement OPCAT ( Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture an...

Out host Julie Macken is back to discuss the idea of armed neutrality in the context of Australia and its defence. Julie explores what this may mean for peace, sovereignty, and how Australia is one of the only countries that has the capacity to be neutral.

This week, we bring to you the audio from JPO's 'No More Just War' event with guest speakers including JPO's very own Fr Peter Smith, Senator Deborah O'Neill, Sr Susan Connelly and Fr Claude Mostowik. Our esteemed guest panel discusses Just War Theory on whether war can be morally permissible, the destructive power of modern weaponry in the arms industry, and our right to safety and security. Disc...

Our host Julie Macken discusses the impacts of the upcoming Federal Budget and what it means for Australians; particularly, its under 40s. Julie brings our attention further to how a Federal Budget may determine what the government values as a fair distribution of funding regarding the cost of living, unemployment, and homelessness.