*ust *ac**t

**.defin**e

*****y

blank** si***c*

**o**g*

burn*** si***c*

****d **o*******. Act.

. .. … …. ….. …… ……… and one for the road so** *round

…

dust jacket

.. dust jacket Auslan description ..

artwork description

Collections shelved, these words
they gather dust.

The three poetry collections contained within these bound pages won a publishing competition.

The resultant book was published without a contract or Intellectual Property arrangement in place. Authors were asked to proceed on the basis of good faith.

Despite authors’ exhaustive attempts, before and after printing, the promised contract was never attained.

Up against the publisher’s refusal to negotiate, and to stop selling unlicensed work, the artist found herself in a strange and unfortunate position; having to fight for this book of prize winning poetry to be removed from sale.

dust jacket explores the decommissioned nature of a work (un)published.

symbology … connective threads

dust … covered … dust cover … protect … look after .. love. songs .. love. red .. thread … red . pen … cross … cross … . wrong . mark it wrong . … I’m cross … you’re cross … we’re all cross … you’re a brick wall … why … you’re a brick wall . why . cross it out . . . close the book . . close sales . . keep . selling … why . . stop . selling . . keep . selling .. why … . stop . selling .. . … red . danger … red . damage … red . protect … protect … protect …
red flag

…

. try to put up bunting .
.. poet, having saved voice, says:
(careful. care.full. carefully) … there’s a fricken’ hole here!

what hole? … carpet is shifted to cover

… worry.worry … others might fall in .. ! please don’t fall in this hole ! .. little poet puts up bunting .. best way she knows how

…

red crosses bind this now covered and closed book . the poet’s collection … edgy* as it ever was … edge again . tense . want to open .. what’s inside … but you can’t
. surprise . .. what a prize!

unpublished … stitched . free.hand . onto the front … . .. independence .. . .. after escape

the artist stresses the seeming . sense.less.ness . of having a printed collection in the world … stuck in a book she and her words wish not to be . can not be . associated with … one that is not good faith … one that is not legal

… the handmade dust jacket .. settled dust grey .. as with the artist’s collection . though used . remains out of use

year: 2015

materials: printed and distributed book containing a collection of the artist’s own unlicensed work (artist’s reading copy, containing a paper print.out of her heartfelt thank you speech), Onkaparinga woollen blanket remnant, freehand text, fossicked threads, found wooden stand

dimensions: book alone H: 26 cm W: 24 cm D: 2 cm, bit higher & deeper on stand

exhibitions:
dust jacket was first exhibited in Blankets re-imagined, inaugural group exhibition by h.ART (now Fabrik) in the old Onkaparinga Woollen Mill, SALA Festival 2015

exhibited as part of the 0.2 hybrid exhibition model simultaneously online and in Flower, Fruit, and Flood, My Dear, group exhibition, Part of Things, during SALA Festival 2023

arty facts

*’If we’re going to use quotes from the judge’s report on the cover or back cover … my preference from my section would be: “edgy…” and/or “a mystical journey” and/or “a compelling work that celebrates the danger and excitement of youthful love”’ source: email to publisher, indigo eli, 10 Apr 2013

in Dec 2012 . the poet . and 2 other word.smitten women . won a competition . the poet felt joy .. her first small collection to be published by a long.time.local community she so cherished … a group she had been a member of for 8 years … a group she had helped .. and held … a group she continued to help .. and stepped up . to hand.hold. … all the poet asked for was a clear and simple contract … including copyright license. one was promised … but that promise . and eventually that poet . broken.**

poet’s summary: the publisher refused . to honour the intended terms .. refused . authors access to books .. refused . to stop selling .. refused . efforts to negotiate . a reasonable agreement . a license . the removal of any implied license … kept selling … the poet refused . kept refusing . to accept this

‘I’d ask all 3 of you to be flexible on this agreement business. …In the interim, I would hope that you can have faith in the board to honour the standard existing agreement, and then any replacement agreement that is drawn up.’ source: email from publisher to poets, 18 May 2013

In Aug came word .. the publisher would be looking to reduce author royalties i.e. change the terms … the poet(s) sought clarity on the publisher’s position. ‘As an author I have got to the point where I feel I need assurance that [the organisation] understands it’s [sic] role and promises as a publisher and the legalities of agreements.’ email to publisher, indigo eli, 13 Aug 2023.

‘After the initial excitement of winning the competition it became evident that [the organisation] had no process or standard documents in place to deliver upon the prize being offered. … There has also been a level of aggression at times which seems disproportionate in response to general queries about the process and the timing of milestones … I do not consider the terms need to be confidential as I do not consider such is necessary. I also do not wish to limit my ability to comment upon my experiences or respond to statements that [the publisher/organisation] have made to people in the industry … I think that [the publisher/org] should apologise publicly and in writing for its conduct in this regard.’ email to publisher, indigo eli, 5 Dec 2013

‘…all conditions of this agreement remain confidential; and … you will not speak ill of [the organisation] or any of its officers in relation to [this] Competition or any other matter…’ source: email from publisher to indigo eli, 18 Dec 2013

‘Your offer is not acceptable to me because it imposes a continuing relationship with [the org], there is no acknowledgement of its conduct, and there is no reciprocal position on statements by [the org]. I consider that the proposal I put on IP arrangements was sensible and the book structure allowed each of us to go our separate ways without the need for continued communication. I would like you to reflect on these points and for my earlier offer to be reconsidered. If there are aspects of the offer that [the org] do not agree with it should say which parts and suggest a different approach. In the meantime while the issue is being sorted I suggest that no further books are sold. Until the licence has been formally granted I advise that [the org] have no legal authority from me to sell further works, and to the extent such has been implied in the past I withdraw such implied authority.’ email to publisher, indigo eli, 20 Dec 2013

.. in reply the publisher refused to negotiate . to offer suggestions . stated they ‘reject[ed the poet’s] attempt to revoke licence’ and . referred to her as ‘having the good fortune of winning the competition’: email 21 Dec 2013. The competition was merit based; collections chosen by a blind judging process. There was no clear statement about the copyright ownership or the licence arrangements for the publisher to publish the book in the draft ‘standard agreement’ . a license for publishing the poet’s work was never attained.

…

the poet was ostracised … personal attack, rumour & community compliance did what they do … she entered rooms that went instantly silent … the poet sat in the heavy silence … sat unspoken . with.in the unspoken . and mis.spoken … sat at stages of broken.ness & bile … til she felt sic .. could bite her tongue no longer … til words like ‘silence’ & ‘condones’ started spewing out her mouth … the poet caught herself
… the poet left .
‘I have had to remove myself from the live poetry scene for my emotional health – a halt to performances and attendance at events (including those run by my organisation)’.
email indigo eli to her lawyer, 10 Mar 2014

the poet tried to negotiate with the publisher . to legitimise this book . until Feb 2014 … In March .. 1 year and 3 months after winning the competition .. she stopped. She and her lawyer offered a different approach.*** … In May 2014 … she was finally free

the poet refused to be silenced . spoke up . shared her story .. advocates for artist rights awareness . and professional conduct .. in the hope of educating … and preventing this type of situation happening to others

the poet still feels rooms shift when she enters poetry or writing events in her home town . eyes look away .. endure . un.comfort.able people . making un.comfort.able comment . no comment . shallow small talk . silence . ……. sigh.length.s…….. . she rarely dares~puts herself through such a thing .

…

‘A person must not, in trade or commerce, engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive, or is likely to mislead or deceive’. Section 18, Schedule 2, Competition and Consumer Act 2010

The common law tort of ‘passing off’ protects a person’s business reputation and goodwill. It prevents against misrepresentations of connection or association … something that can cause confusion to consumers and the public. source: letter Berg Lawyers, 21 Mar 2014

related documents

.. in.definite Auslan description ..

artwork description

in.definite explores the relationship between the human right to liberty and fair trial … and the laws regulating the treatment of asylum seekers and refugees in Australia. The work contrasts Article 10 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) with Al-Kateb v Godwin & Ors, a High Court case which decided that indefinite detention of a stateless person was lawful under the Australian Constitution.

…

The decision is regarded as controversial . edgy . split .. … 4 of the debating law people argued yes it is lawful … 3 others disagreed .

Ahmed al-Kateb arrived in Australia without a visa … he applied for a temporary visa … was not granted the visa … then he asked to be removed from Australia. Australian authorities tried to remove him from Australia … until then he was put in mandatory detention. Being stateless (no citizenship, belonging to no country), and without international co-operation, there was no where to send him … no solution … no where to go.

On my read, the Migration Act 1958 hadn’t considered what to do with a stateless person … Section 196 doesn’t seem to offer an out … just a test he couldn’t pass … can he be removed, deported or granted a visa … no? … so we must detain him? … until he can tick an impossible box? … can he be removed, deported or granted a visa … no? … and so Al-Kateb . stuck . … in detention … in the migration zone … no end . no relief . in sight.

plainer english: some people who come to Australia are put in detention centres … like prisons . not very nice places … this process is part of the admin … people living through the paper.work of Australia’s migration law … these people can not leave … they have not gone to court and been found guilty … they are just held . locked away .. as part of the paperwork process .. until they are moved one way or another … may be allowed to stay in Australia … may be sent to another country … or back ‘home’ . if they have one .. maybe home is not safe .. not home .. not there anymore … they might not know . when . they will be moved .. or let out .. or where they will go .. or be put . next .

… the universal human rights say that all people have the right to freedom … and to a fair court process to decide on any punishments for any wrong doings

… the court’s decision says that human beings can be held in this stuck situation … held ‘indefinitely’ … for any amount of time .. perhaps . forever. and ever … until they die

. .. some people think that is not right .. not just .. not fair .. not law
. .. … some people argue that thinking in the high court

symbology … connective threads

soft .. here .. in this work .. is subtle … round.ness .. edges .. letter . print .. paper . layers .. tracing . paper … on . which . the human . right . is printed … the hours … so . many . many . hours … thought.full.y spent … care.full.y spent .. trying . re.try.ing . print.ing . stick.ing . re-print.ing . re-fitt.ing . .. re-try.ing to . try to . .. get this . seemingly simple . work .. to look right … to fit right …. to sit right ….. and to stay that way

…

.. gunmetal grey . shadow.box. frame … metal box … black & white .. admin .. process .. paper.work .. stark . contrast .. contra.dict.or.y . doc.u.ments .. what.you.meant.s … unlawful … alien … im.person.al … in.human.ness … unlawful? … lawful? … awful … un.l.awful? … law.full? .. law . fool? … in.alien.able … but … can we do this . no .. can we do this . no .. can we do this . no … ??? … .. . can we do any.thing . but spin

… round & round .. migration . merry.go …. .. no . merry . no round . no . go . … no . mini.stir. tick .. no. tick.able box …

un.tick.able tests .. on a piece . of paper .. paper . law . people . law . paper . people . law . law . people . playing ball .. in the courts .. law . paper .. scrunched . un.scrunched .. read . red . re.read .. which law . this law . that law . nation.al .. inter.nation.al .. yes . no . yeah . nah … in the courts .. playing ball . or . paper . boats . leak.ing . boats . or . playing law .. an oar … heavy going .. going .. not . going … need a break … stop .. relief … when relief … when … released .. from the loop.ing . law .. loop.hole .. mean.while …

human . humans
have fallen
. in .
. to .
a gap
..[are trapped]..

there’s a hole . in the law … which . law . which . or … which justice .. which just.is … paper .. people . purpose . courts. and sorts …

consider
… people .. held .. by paper .. just . paper … just? is it .. our paper … our people .. our purpose …
be.hold .. this . being . held

series of 5

year: 2014

materials: paper, foam, print, text UDHR Article 10: ‘Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him’, legal case citation: Al-Kateb v Godwin & Ors(2004) 219 CLR 562, visual and/or concrete poetry depending on your definitions, metal shadow box frame

dimensions: H 16cm x W 39.75cm x D 4cm

exhibitions:
in.definite was first exhibited in Thirty Rules to Live By, group exhibition by ARTillery SA, SALA Festival 2014

exhibited as part of the 0.2 hybrid exhibition model simultaneously online and at Prompt Creative Centre during SALA Festival 2023

arty facts

‘The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, was the first legal document to set out the fundamental human rights to be universally protected.’ source: ohchr.org

The UDHR has a world record for being the most translated document in the world. It has been translated into several sign languages. Auslan? Not yet! You can submit a translation of the UDHR for consideration … how? here

‘The legal definition of a stateless person is someone who is “not recognised as a national by any state under the operation of its law.” Simply put, this means that a stateless person is someone who does not have the nationality of any country.’ source: unhcr.org

Ahmed al-Kateb was eventually released from Baxter Detention Centre, near Port Augusta in South Australia .. he was later ‘issued a card carrying the words, “Permitted to remain in Australia indefinitely.” … “My thinking is confusing,” he admits. “Wow, I have a country now. I have somewhere to stay. I have a home. But I remember these things that happened to me. These things will not go just because of the paper.” He is too relieved to have this card in his hands to be perturbed – as his lawyers are – by the obvious error on its face: “Nationality: Kuwait.”‘ .. more of his story here, source: The Sydney Morning Herald

‘The Australian Human Rights Commission sought to argue for Al Kateb to be reopened in the high court in 2019 … In its submissions the AHRC argued that the obligation in the Migration Act to remove someone “as soon as reasonably practicable” operates as “a restriction on the duration of detention”, adopting the minority view in Al Kateb that detention is no longer lawful after that time.’ source: The Guardian

“Degree of harm is directly related to length of time spent in detention and so therefore, there is a health obligation to minimise the time spent in detention.”

Dr Peter Young, source: The Guardian

Said Imasi, a stateless man with no identity documents, was released from Villawood Detention Centre in May 2023 .. after being detained in Australia since arriving as a teenager in 2010 … for 13 years. ‘It comes after several applications for protection visas, a series of attempts to verify his identity, and a High Court challenge. The circumstances surrounding his release have not been made public, but independent MP Allegra Spender, who broke the news of Mr Imasi’s release in a social media post … suggested it was a ministerial decision.’ source: SBS News

Australia’s immigration detention system has been ‘criticised by the UN as illegal in international law.’ source: The Guardian

Seeking asylum is a human right. source: Article 14 of the UDHR

It is not illegal to seek asylum in Australia, even by boat. I read similar clearly put words in March 2019, in a book by Julian Burnside … .. . while sitting on the ground listening to a session with Ben Quilty at Adelaide Writers Week about a journey (with writer Richard Flanagan) and refugees and children and drawings . and Home: Drawings by Syrian children, a book . .. … a book, which I don’t currently have to hand, so I reference this quote: ‘Asylum seekers do not commit any offence by coming here.’ Julian Burnside, source: The Sydney Morning Herald

‘Refugees are not criminals and to treat them as such is, in itself, contrary to the law’. source: words of Gillian Triggs, President of Aust. Human Rights Commission, Research Gate

Everyone has the right to liberty and a fair trial. source: Article 10 of the UDHR

‘Gillian Triggs, in a speech on the Australian Human Rights Commission’s report on the immigration detention of children, stated: Australia’s immigration laws are exceptional. No country in the world … mandates the indefinite detention of children as the first policy option and then denies them effective access to the courts to challenge the necessity of their detention over months and even years. … Under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, a child may be detained only as a last resort.’ source: Research Gate

‘Indefinite detention, in poor conditions without effective access to appropriate medical care, education or supervision by the courts, amounts to arbitrary detention contrary to the most ancient common laws that prohibit detention without trial, including the Magna Carta signed 800 years ago this year [2014]. source: Gillian Triggs words, Research Gate

The last refugee being held by Australia on Nauru was evacuated on Sat 24 June 2023. People may have shifted. Policies have not. source: The Guardian

‘At least 12 children born in immigration detention are stateless, and may be denied their right to nationality and protection.’ Source: Gillian Triggs, 2014

update:

In Oct 2023, a new group of asylum seekers were sent to Nauru. This marked the first transfer there in 9 years. source: The Guardian

in Nov 2023, nearly 20 years after the precedent set by Al-Kateb, a High Court challenge saw indefinite immigration detention ruled unlawful.

source: Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law

related documents

What are Human Rights, OHCHR
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), OHCHR
British Sign Language translation, Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), youtube
Article 10 timestamp: 8:54

case: Al-Kateb v Godwin [2004] HCA 37; 219 CLR 562 (6 August 2004), AustLII
The Australian Constitution, (Ch III The Judicature, was of interest to the case), AustLII
Migration Act 1958 … Section 196 Duration of Detention, AustLII
update: Indefinite immigration detention unlawful: High Court Rules, UNSW Kaldor Centre, Nov 2023
case: NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs [2023] HCA 37 (28 November 2023), AustLII

Peter Young praised for revealing detention’s toll on asylum seekers, 2014, The Guardian
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, unicef Australia
The Forgotten Children: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention 2014 report (includes children’s voices), Australian Human Rights Commission
Forward, President of Australian Human Rights Commission Gillian Triggs, The Forgotten Children
Regulation of Australian Medical Professionals and National Security, Journal of Law and Medicine, Research Gate
Opinions adopted by the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, United Nations
Australian Human Rights Commission Submission to the High Court, Jan 2019

UN Conventions on Statelessness, UNHCR
Cate Blanchett: What is statelessness? video, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, youtube
Asylum Seekers and Refugees, (who, what, how) Australian Human Rights Commission

…
index

…

luxury

.. luxury Auslan description ..

artwork description

a playful, literal interpretation of Australian GST legislation

Sanitary products are were classified as luxury items and as such incur incurred a 10% tax payable by the consumer

100% luxury!

Individually hand felted cashmere tampons with silk thread. Presented in gilt frame and an assortment of unique handstitched satin purses.

Not for internal use.

symbology … connective threads

.. think cashmere … expensive … hand . made … hand . felted . ooo eer … lovely … lux … luxury ..

.. think . pink . satin . slippers . purses . private . precious . pocketed . provisions ..

do I need to say .. more?

how about we let an Aussie youngin’ offer some commentary … je présente (I present) … anony-mouse in conversation with the artist indi-mouse .. audio recorded upon them first seeing the work

transcript

luxury in gilt frame
series of 5 each in a unique travel purse

year: 2016 … updated in 2023

materials: cashmere fibre, vintage silk thread, satin blanket edge (Onkaparinga Mill artefact), gilt (gold) shadow box frame, red velvet, piece of text: print on paper .. hand stitched in place

dimensions: Framed: H 28 cm W 22 cm … loose: W 8cm D 5cm ish (varies)

exhibitions:
luxury was first exhibited in Threads of Industry, group exhibition by h.ART (now Fabrik) in the old Onkaparinga Woollen Mill, SALA Festival 2016

exhibited as part of the 0.2 hybrid exhibition model simultaneously online and at Prompt Creative Centre during SALA Festival 2023

arty facts

with legislation . law . paperwork . put in place in 1999 … the GST (the Australian Goods and Services Tax) came into effect . started to do its thing . have people paying tax on goods and services .. in the year 2000

sanitary items such as pads and tampons were taxed as ‘luxury items’ … this became known as ‘the Tampon Tax’

this law instantly became a gendered issue … women’s rights* campaigns and petitions popped up .. like aunty Flo .. pretty regular … and many menstruating folk .. made fun . and art . amid . the fury

*it must be mentioned, not all people who menstruate identify as women

‘health goods’ weren’t considered luxuries … products like sunscreen . toothpaste . condoms .. and viagra

Lots of strange and interesting things were said about the incoming Tampon Tax. ‘Michael Woolridge, the then health minister was forced to apologise after likening tampons to shaving cream .. When put to him that condoms were exempt from GST, Dr Wooldridge also added: “Well, condoms prevent illness. I wasn’t aware that menstruation was an illness.” … De-anne Kelly, a Queensland Liberal described the campaign against taxing tampons as a “Barbie doll issue to intimidate a largely conservative male cabinet”.’ source: ABC News

‘In a major speech on the eve of International Women’s Day [2018], [Tanya] Plibersek described the GST on tampons as a “dumb decision”. … just hours later Tony Abbott said ‘removing the GST from tampons would be a “politically correct” mistake’.’ source: ABC News

update: what became known as Australia’s ‘tampon tax’, which was in place from July 2000, ended in 2018 … 18 years, did our new law finally grow up?

(too cheeky? … then the free bleeding movement might shock … but should it? is your face red red read?)

from 1 Jan 2019, sanitary products have been tax free

‘Federal Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer announced that prolonged endeavours to remove the 10% tax, one of the highest taxes on menstrual products in the world, have been “tortured”’. source: Global Citizen

now an historical artefact, the framed piece, updated in 2023, displays the dates when tampons were considered luxury under Australian law

haw haw law … very funny

related documents

A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999, Federal Register of Legislation
Tampon Tax: Key Quotes from the 2000 Debate, ABC News
Tampon tax to go, with states and territories agreeing to remove GST from sanitary products, ABC news
Tampon Tax Finally Axed in Australia, Global Citizen
Finally! Australia Has Abolished the Tampon Tax … It only took 18 years, Marie Claire
Removing GST on feminine hygiene products, Parliament of Australia
Health Goods, Australian Taxation Office, Aust Govt
Tampon tax gets the chop but GST remains on breastfeeding aids, ABC News

…

blanket silence

.. blanket silence Auslan description ..

artwork description

blanket silence is a wearable document

Lovingly hand stitched and embroidered, blanket silence addresses the secrecy provisions in Australia’s 2015 Border Force Act … and the responses.

The reporting of abuse suffered by those in detention centres became a punishable offence, with health care professionals and other workers potentially facing up to 2 years imprisonment if found guilty. This work explores professional duty of care, ethical tension and legislated silence.

…

over to our art correspondent anony-mouse, in conversation …

transcript

symbology … connective threads

¿¡…? que ?…¡¿

… shhhhh … .silence.

… on what . . on that …

¡¿…! que !…¿¡

. .. … doctors . and . medical . professionals … .. . doctors . and . medical . … professionals .. are protesting . on the paper . in the paper . in the street … .. .

their person .. their practice ~~~< torn >~~~ .. between .. hippocratic . hippo.sized. oath and .~!!!~. new law .. ~~~< torn >~~~ . between . mandatory . must . mandatory . must . report . here . in this place … and yet … (t)here . in that place . mandatory . man.da.tore.e . sigh.lence . sigh.length .. legislated . legi.slated . … [silence] … shh! shh! … silence . our silence . this silence . does not . call. does not . calm

… mask … muffle … gag … some.thing . not feel right . in our belly .. the law . our law . has been [sic]? … applied? on the ties . that bind . the law is wanting to tie silence to mouths . muffle . muzzle . medical . masks … medical .. medic … help … help .. hell.p … heal … doctors . health . workers . support? staff . heal . ~< heel >~ . heel.ed .. silence . as mandatory . as detention .. meant to be help.ing .. in some little . big . human way .. doctors . meant to say … when . un.healthy . when … meant to say . when … they see it .. meant to say .. meant to say … meant to say
not okay

year: 2015

materials: textiles: grey woollen blanket (Onkaparinga Mill artefact), pillowcase (artist’s own, op shopped, worn, torn, used for other uses), gauze, thread, text (on ties): source Australian Border Force Act 2015 (NO. 40, 2015) – Sect 42 secrecy provision ‘Secrecy (1)  A person commits an offence if: (a) the person is, or has been, an entrusted person; and (b) the person makes a record of, or discloses, information; and (c) the information is protected information. Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.’, surgical scissors (as found), text (on mask): concrete poetry, the artist

dimensions: H: 25 cm W: 97 cm D: 5 cm (on wall)

exhibitions:
blanket silence was first exhibited in Blankets re-imagined, inaugural group exhibition by h.ART (now Fabrik) in the old Onkaparinga Woollen Mill, SALA Festival 2015

exhibited as part of the 0.2 hybrid exhibition model simultaneously online and in Remake, group exhibition, Pepper Street Arts Centre, during SALA Festival 2023

arty facts

The Border Force Act, which came into effect in 2015, made it ‘a criminal offence for anyone working for the Immigration Department to reveal publicly anything that happened in a detention centre’. source: ABC News … It included a section entitled ‘Secrecy’. source: Section 42, Border Force Act 2015

‘This legislation is antithetical to a society that professes to be a liberal democracy where independent scrutiny of, and protection for those who lift the veil on human rights abuses ought be the norm.’ source: Greg Barns and George Newhouse, ABC

doctors and health professionals were protesting … in action …

‘We have advocated, and will continue to advocate, for the health of those for whom we have a duty of care, despite the threats of imprisonment, because standing by and watching sub-standard and harmful care, child abuse and gross violations of human rights is not ethically justifiable.

If we witness child abuse in Australia we are legally obliged to report it to child protection authorities. If we witness child abuse in detention centres, we can go to prison for attempting to advocate for them effectively. Internal reporting mechanisms such as they are have failed to remove children from detention; a situation that is itself recognised as a form of systematic child abuse.’ open letter, detention centre staff

‘Psychiatrist Peter Young said public interest disclosure laws were limited in scope. “What this act does is prevents any health workers who are working in detention centres from carrying out their normal professional activities, such as collecting data and presenting it at academic and professional forums – it criminalises it,” source: The Guardian

… on paper …

‘As organisations representing Australia’s health professionals, it is inconceivable to us that the Government should seek to gag our ability to advocate strongly for our patients.’ source: co-signed media release

… on the streets … some with tape stuck . or hands held . over their mouths …

‘Psychologist Nicholas O’Dwyer ​said he did not usually attend protests but the the law was “draconian” and stopped health workers doing their jobs properly. “It’s a gag law,” he said. “It seems to me it contradicts The Hippocratic Oath of medicos not to be able to report on the welfare of their patients. It’s unbelievable in the 21st century.”‘ source: Sydney Morning Herald

The Medical Board of Australia’s code of conduct contains a health advocacy clause, which requires doctors to “protect and advance the health and wellbeing of individual patients, communities and populations”.

…

first in the silence makes [sic] series, blanket silence was made at a time when masks were overtly medical … before the pandemic that re.fashion.ed our faces

#Silence, as mandatory as detention., indigo eli, tweet 30 Jun 2015
having to hold back tears so as to keep making art with this pointed needle #silencemakesmesic, indigo eli, tweet 12 Jul 2015

… aside, RIP Twitter and the little blue bird …
indy100 (& the artist) give a hat-tip to WWF’s creative response July 2023

…

sic or [sic] comes from Latin, meaning ‘thus’, ‘just as’ … ‘just as’ it was written . or produced .. in the source text. [sic] ‘indicates that the quoted matter has been transcribed or translated exactly as found, complete with any erroneous, archaic, or otherwise non.standard spelling, punctuation, or grammar. It also applies to any surprising assertion, faulty reasoning, or other matter that might be interpreted as an error of transcription.’ source: Wikipedia

‘it’s not unusual to see [sic] in research papers. It is also fairly common in academic journal articles.’
source: YourDictionary

sic is, also, a Scottish word meaning ‘such’, source: grammarly

que is a word that can mean many things .. sometimes has an accent .. on the é
.. to my mouth~my ear, que is an aural question mark … when I say it it sounds like a shortened ‘care’ with an upward lift … qu-e? … k-air?

.. most likely I’ve absorbed it into my spoken vocabulary from somewhere . French lessons perhaps . .. I can’t seem to find an exact audio on the interweb, the closest I hear is a Latin American Spanish one .. . perhaps my mouth has . shifted it somewhat

after playfully adding to my symbology script what I could only form into word~letters as ‘que’, I looked it up for us …

que can mean: ‘that’ ‘which’ ‘what’ ‘who’ (French, Portugese, Spanish), the musical note C .. (?) .. and the universal quantifier symbol (∀) .. (?) … which interestingly means ‘for all ‘ or ‘for every’, source: Definitions.net . which includes a summary of definitions . from chatbot GPT . so make of that what you will. I cross-referenced: … the musical note C .. led me not to any clearly sign.posted connection, but to Doris Day · Frank DeVol & His Orchestra, With a Smile and a Song, on: youtube (no need to not read the comments .. perhaps* the opposite), … the universal quantifier ∀, via: Brittanica and more, for my future reading it seems, no explicit ‘que’ connection from my skim and further searchings .. for now . we note it . and the *’latin for lovers‘ reference … what is que in latin . ? . i wonder .. look up for later .. save . shift back . carry on … 31.7.23

que from my mouth, I’ve realised, sounds like the start of the French qu’est-ce que c’est … ‘A phrase that can be literally translated as, “What is this that it is?”’ source: FluentU … I may have shortened it … what my mouth might be offering is ‘ qu’e…..? ’ 10.8.23

…

The United Nations postponed a planned visit to Australia because the federal government could not guarantee legal immunity to detention centre workers who discuss asylum seekers and migrants. source: Sydney Morning Herald

‘The trauma of offshore detention does not discriminate … All who exist in that environment, as jailed or jailer, are scarred.’

words of hired trauma expert Paul Stevenson source: The Guardian (content care)

update: Australian doctors launched a High Court challenge to the secrecy provisions in the Border Force Act in 2016

‘Meghan Fitzgerald, a lawyer with the Fitzroy Legal Service, said the case would question whether the act’s secrecy provisions breached a health professional’s constitutional freedom to engage in political communication. source: Pro Bono Australia

‘Australia may not have a bill of rights which upholds freedom of speech but lawyer Meghan Fitzgerald, from the Fitzroy Legal Service says that right is implied in the Constitution.’ source: ABC

‘The heads of the Immigration Department and the Australian Border Force say it’s incorrect and misleading to suggest the Act prevents individuals speaking out on public interest issues related to immigration detention centres. They reject claims the Act criminalises whistleblowing. But [Doctors for Refugees convenor] Dr Phatarfod says the Act still discourages doctors from speaking out.’ source: ABC News

“Australians have a right to know the damage that is being inflicted in their name on innocent people, including children.” Dr Phatarfod

‘The Australian Association of Social Workers welcomed the High Court challenge. National president Professor Karen Healy AM said … “Social workers are professionally, ethically and morally committed to advocating for the human rights of the people for whom they work. This legislation not only undermines this but is also in direct breach of our duty of care.” source (this and previous paragraph): Pro Bono Australia

‘No one has yet been prosecuted under the Border Force Act, though some medical professionals have been investigated … Others (like Paul Stevenson) have been summarily sacked for voicing concerns publicly.

‘Anecdotally, the law has had a chilling effect on people being prepared to speak out.’ source: The Guardian

update: ‘Doctors for Refugees’ case … response …

The Immigration Dept ‘removed restrictions on health care workers speaking out’ in Sept 2016  source: Sydney Morning Herald. The case by Doctors for Refugees was withdrawn. source: Kaldor Centre

This ‘means the secrecy and disclosure provisions of the Border Force Act no longer apply to a comprehensive list of health professionals including doctors, nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors, midwives, pharmacists and dentists. Other professionals working in onshore and offshore immigration detention, including teachers, lawyers, security staff, social workers and other staff, have not been exempted from speaking out. They still face a jail term of up to two years for any “unauthorised disclosure”.’ source: The Guardian

In Oct 2017, an amendment limited the scope of the offence by replacing the broad definition of ‘protected information’ with specific categories. source: Kaldor Centre

‘That the Government, with its massive legal and financial resources, could be forced to back down on its dearly held policy by a group of politically naïve doctors, armed only with our AHPRA Code of Conduct and assisted by a community legal centre, speaks volumes as to the paper tiger it really is. … It also reinforces the power that doctors hold when we stick to our core tenets. … so now we face a choice: step up together, or be part of the shameful history that did and said nothing.’

source: Doctors for Refugees , Australian Medical Association NSW

…

related documents

secrecy provision (Section 42) of Australian Border Force Act 2015 (NO. 40, 2015)
What are the secrecy provisions of the Border Force Act?, ABC news
Border Force Act: Detention Secrecy just got worse, ABC
Border Force Act entrenches secrecy around Australia’s asylum seeker regime, The Conversation,

Good medical practice: a code of conduct for doctors in Australia, Medical Board Aphra
Open letter on the Border Force Act: ‘We challenge the department to prosecute’, co-signed open letter,The Guardian, 1 July 2015
Hundreds of doctors and health workers rally in Sydney against Border Force Act secrecy provisions, Sydney Morning Herald
As the pictures show, the Border Force Act has opened a new health front for the Government, MEDAXS
Australia’s health groups call for Australian Border Force Act to be amended, co-signed media release 15 June 2015, source: Australian Psychological Society
Australian Border Force Act Conflicts with Code Of Professional Conduct for Nurses and Midwives, media release 19June 2015, Australian College of Nursing
Psychologists call for a bipartisan approach to end off-shore processing, media release Feb 2016, Australian Psychological Society

Doctors for Refugees, Australian Medical Association (NSW)
case notes: ‘Doctors for Refugees‘, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney
Doctors High Court Challenge to Border Force Secrecy, July 2016, Pro Bono Australia
Doctors freed to speak about Australia’s detention regime after U-turn, The Guardian
Australian Border Force Amendment (Protected Information) Bill 2017, Parliament of Aust

Serious allegations of abuse, self-harm and neglect of asylum seekers in relation to the Nauru Regional Processing Centre, and any like allegations in relation to the Manus Regional Processing Centre, April 2017, Parliament of Australia

This is Abyan’s story, and it is Australia’s story, Oct 2015, The Guardian
flowers for ‘Abyan’, 19 Oct 2015, indigo eli
People power for Abyan shows how to stop refugee cruelty, Nov 2015, Solidarity
There are still questions about pregnant refugee Abyan’s treatment. It’s time for an inquiry (includes Abyan’s written statement), 2016, The Guardian

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apology

.. apology Auslan description ..

artwork description

from the you that is me

Lovingly handfolded from an award-winning poetry collection, the work explores conduct, artist rights, interconnectedness and empathetic exchange

A reflection on relationships, a gesture composed from words that deserved to receive it … apology attempts to transform a bunch of love poems into a sorry that was never said

poetic symbology … connective threads

the work considers a book … a physical mistake of a thing . that should not exist . and yet does .. an object that is un.author.ised … and transforms it into the material of an apology

love letters . re.formed . become . a symbol . of empathetic exchange . from . a universal perspective

as usual with a bunch of sorry flowers . a tag . is attached . offering a note .. the word sorry is collaged together . letter . by . in.div.id.ual . letter … from within the book

on the other side . of the tag … a cutting . from the back . cover … a note . about the chosen . collection.s .. from the competition judge .. ‘The writing shows rather than tells. The poems plant a seed which gives rise to emotion and a new way of looking at the world. A poetry that strips away layers until you recognize [sic] something you have known deeply but not found reason to articulate.’

this passage . now reflected . in new context … suggests . the need for apology . is something ‘deeply known’ . but something . the publisher . has ‘not found reason to articulate’ … .. . again . in object . as with . her . written . love songs .. the poet plants a seed .. a new way . of looking . at the world .. of … doing the thing . poetry does … the thing . the poetry . was chosen . for doing

this work articulates . .. in new form

…

… good . will . wrong . doing … gesture .. apology … apologise … bunch . of people … little poet .. punch . drunk … fist . full … bunch . of poems . flowers … friend .. friends … why you . mean .. what you . mean .. why say wrong . things .. why dig in … why won’t you say .. any.thing .. to me .. but
..no..

why .. not .. why . not . say .. sorry … say .. care . you … care . our behaviour … acknowledge . mistake . a long wait .. a long long … weight … not even . hollow one . to save . face … to face . it … community . con.fused . comm.fused .. torn .. tear.ing me .. t.ear.ing me .. why . you . won’t say . you . wrong.ed

.. … empathetic shift
… poor you … how sad … you dig in . you . try to . tear me down … how sad . you … don’t know … don’t care .. what you have done … what . have . you . done … you . do not . know … you . do not . want . to know … the harm .. the deep … how to . not . status quo … how to . do . better … how to . do . business … how to . friend … how to . care … you . do not . know … how to . be . sorry
… poor you … poor we .

. why . down .. why not . choose up .. choose together . to.gather .. choose .. to say .

. .. … … perceptual shift

. .. one . ness .. one.ness … oneness .. .

I . say … .. . k.no.w . .. …

I say .. I am you & you are me … playing . in the star matter … I . ruminate … I . role reverse … we . are . one … and . I . am . you … and I .. up high . up here . up hear . I .  ..   … fold .. enfold . care

… .. . ‘I am the enemy you killed, my friend’ * . .. …

( … sorry)

* Wilfred Owen, from Strange Meeting

year: 2016

materials: pages of poetry collection ‘writing love songs to the moon’ (printed unlicensed, artist’s own words), cutting of book cover including text, source: judge’s speech/report about the 3 chosen collections, wooden dobcross loom bobbin (Onkaparinga Mill artefact), flower wire, natural twine, red woollen thread, blue buttons, poetic perceptions and handiwork

dimensions: H: 46cm W: 23cm D: 23cm

exhibitions:
apology was first exhibited in Threads of Industry, group exhibition by h.ART (now Fabrik) in the old Onkaparinga Woollen Mill, SALA Festival 2016

exhibited as part of the 0.2 hybrid exhibition model simultaneously online and in Flower, Fruit, and Flood, My Dear, group exhibition, Part of Things, during SALA Festival 2023

arty facts

[sic] has been used because the American spelling of ‘recognise’ appeared on the book . not . in the judge’s report

the publisher/organisation has the word ‘friendly’ in their name

*cough* *giggle~snort*

status quo is Latin, it means the way things currently are. It is opposite to: the way things could be.
… some people try to keep things the same … some people push for change

…

the poet asked the publisher for an apology . during negotiations .
then removed the request from official askings … believing it to be the only possible contentious one
the publisher did not respond to the request for an apology
nor have they … .. . the community . or . individuals involved . .. … offered

the poet however … is a crafty one

related documents

NP18 ‘divorce papers’ , signed undertakings
breaking up, indigo eli
Falling without Floundering: an artist’s guide to conflict resolution, indigo eli, Aust. Society of Authors

little.big poet’s manifesto

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burning silence

.. burning silence Auslan description ..

artwork description

burning silence is a wearable document

Lovingly hand stitched and embroidered, this work responds to Australia’s Black Summer, is informed by language and messaging from parliamentarians and the public.

It documents a time when questions such as: where is leader? went unanswered by official offices. A time when, for a country in flames, the recycled tourism slogan ‘Where the bloody hell are you?’ became a burning question.

A quote (originally Bono’s words) from the then PM’s maiden speech to parliament is etched by pressure and a little carbon onto the mask’s lining: 

“ … when the history books are written, our age will be remembered for … what we did – or did not do to put the fire out …”.

Cinders from a property (home & artist studios) lost in the Cuddly Creek~Lobethal fires are re-imagined as a charcoal filter.

poetic symbology … connective threads

. .. … … .. .

ric rac red . alert . red hearts start racing .. tracing … roaring red . .. … flames … .. . red burn .. red blister .. red black

… the pull in . the holding …

cough . cough. choke … who.what.when.where.why . nothing said … where is . spoke.s.person … where is . lead.er??? … why so quiet … [respond . re.spite] .. shh…
shhh…

spoke.n . quest.ions . woken . words . warnings . warmings . working co..umm..unity . respond . pull together . pull the hoses out . pool together . hold together . hope together . soften . hold . find . donate . bate . breath . hold . breath . cry . choke .. ash.air.every.where .. choke . hold . prepare . every little . good think . good do . good plan .. every little make.ship . make.shift . solution .. every little . help . watch . keep watch . leave . stay . leave . grieve . pass . the bucket . the bowl . the hose . the mask . the pow.er . is out . how-err? .. pool .. beach … run … pull . gather . bucket .. buckle … bloody hell!

there’s a hole . in the bucket . dear . .. a hole. in the words .. . a hole . in the plan . .. a hole . in the sky

there is know plan be … how to . be .. doe . ray . me . we . need .. to pluck.up . some . pick.up . some . truck.in . some … pick up the slack . watch back . think back . mind our toes . our woes . grieve. gather
listen . shift

.. hold ..
every . little … helping . singing . singeing . saddening . watch . and keep . watch . do . and keep . do . is doing … we are do.ing … we are finding the lead .. we are . the lead … re.connecting . turning the power back on

we are . hand on broken heart . holding red . h.owl.ing together . weather.ing . whether.ing . learning …

and hold . hold . lean in .. fold in … learn in .. re.make . re.write . re.stitch . re.fashion . re.form

land . care.fully

when stories full the air .. we absorb .. the loss . this loss . our loss .. together

. .. … … .. .

year: 2020

materials: mask: found and repurposed fabric: blue Hawaiian rayon shirt, white cotton industrial offcut, red vintage ric rac trim, interfacing, threads, disposable mask nose wire, text: pressure-etched quote from S.Morrison’s maiden speech to parliament itself a quote, markings from poet’s pen and carbon paper facing the wrong(?) way

charcoal filter: wound dressing pad (outer and lining), charcoal remains from fellow artists’ home and studio lost in the Cuddly Creek~Lobethal fire, threads, symbolic stitches honouring the lost

dimensions: H 12 cm W 80 cm (at full stretch) D 5 cm or dependant on viewer

exhibitions:
burning silence was first exhibited as part of 0.2 hybrid exhibition model, simultaneously online and in Remake, group exhibition, Pepper Street Arts Centre, during SALA Festival 2023

arty facts

‘2019 was Australia’s hottest and driest year on record’ source: open letter from 446 scientists … ‘In October and November, days of dangerous fire weather conditions affected all States and Territories’ source: BOM report

Bushfires raged across the country … people in capital cities were consuming the hazardous smoke … by December the air in Sydney held levels of pollution so bad they exceeded levels normally experienced in Beijing, and New Delhi. source: ABC

‘Several Australian cities have already been blanketed with smoke during the bushfire crisis in the past few weeks, including Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney, where air quality was rated at its “worst ever” in mid-December. source: ABC

‘the toxicity of the air in some parts of Sydney has gone from smoking half a cigarette, to between four and 10 per day. On Tuesday, the AQI (Air Quality Index) hit 669 — the equivalent of smoking 30 cigarettes.’ source: ABC

second in the silence makes [sic] series, burning silence was made at a time when masks were in high demand . and . short supply .. across the country . because of bushfires

…

‘Scott Morrison has staged a great escape from Sydney’s bushfire-related air pollution for a family holiday, but his office is tight-lipped on exactly where he is – insisting his whereabouts are “not a story.” … Mr Morrison’s office insists that claims he is holidaying in Hawaii are “wrong” while refusing to disclose his location or for how long he is on leave.’ source: The New Daily

The deputy, saying on Tues he will be acting as the country’s prime minister from Wagga Wagga until Thurs, claimed the regional New South Wales town as the “nation’s capital”. source: The Guardian

‘The prime minister’s office will not confirm whether or not Morrison is in Hawaii. The lack of information or confirmation starts a story hunt.’ … #Wherethebloodyhellareyou and #wheresScotty trends on Twitter in relation to Morrison, including missing posters, as the PMO and McCormack, who holds a press conference, refuses to say where the prime minister is, or even if he is in the country. source: The Guardian

‘No-one begrudges the fellow going on holiday … Where he goes for a family holiday isn’t particularly important but confirming he’s clocked off, when he’s coming back on duty and who’s taken his place is important.’

“I don’t hold a hose, mate, and I don’t sit in a control room,” Morrison told 2GB radio … from Hawaii.

‘Morrison will return to Sydney on Saturday, his office says, two days before the scheduled end of his holiday. His job will not be to hold a hose, but to empathise, to thank emergency staff and to offer any practical help required’. source: ABC News

“I express my sincere condolences and sympathies to the families of the firefighters who have so tragically been killed overnight,” Mr Morrison said in a statement.

“They were bravely defending their communities with an unmatched spirit and a dedication that will forever set them apart amongst our most courageous Australians.’ source: The New Daily

‘“We are completely isolated,” community radio broadcaster Francesca Winterson told ABC Breakfast … “We’ve been broadcasting for 48 hours without a break and we’re all very tired,” she said. “Now we are here in the station and I’m just watching my town burn.” source: The Guardian

‘The escalating fire situation across NSW has prompted a group of former fire chiefs to call for a national summit on bushfire management and climate change, accusing the federal government of being “missing in action”. … “We hope they’ll come, we hope they’ll contribute, we hope they’ll take away the findings and act on them,” Mullins said’. source: The Guardian

‘Part of the reason for the slow commonwealth response is perhaps that no single minister or department, with the possible exception of the Department of Home Affairs, has ownership of planning for a natural disaster on a national scale’. source: The Guardian

…

In South Australia, The Cudlee Creek blaze in the Adelaide Hills started in catastrophic conditions, killed one person and destroyed more than 80 homes .. at the same time around 5000 homes in the area had no access to electricity. source: ABC … fires burnt almost half of Kangaroo Island and killed two people, source: ABC

Across the nation, the fires scorched more than 24 million hectares, directly killed 33 people, and almost 450 more lost their lives from the effects of smoke inhalation, source: ABC News … one billion animals were killed .. and around 21% of the country’s temperate broadleaf and mixed forests was burnt. source: Climate council

‘The temperature in the stratosphere rose by 0.7 degrees Celsius. Above Australia, it rose by 3C’. source: a study published in Scientific Reports, ABC News … ‘UK researchers have revealed Australia’s Black Summer bushfires likely damaged the ozone layer and caused the highest temperatures in the stratosphere in 30 years’, source: ABC News

‘NASA is predicting smoke from the country’s devastating bushfires will make it all the way around the world’

2019 ‘was the Earth’s second hottest since records began, and the world should brace itself for more extreme weather events …

“We can raise a red flag now.”‘

World Meteorological Organisation scientist Omar Baddour, source: ABC News

…

‘One in ten infants and children affected by the fires is Indigenous … Many non-Indigenous land-owners in the fire-affected areas face the difficult decision of whether to stay and rebuild, or sell and move on. Traditional owners, on the other hand, are in a far more complex and unending situation. … Clearly, Aboriginal people have unique experiences with bushfire disasters, but Aboriginal voices have seldom been heard in the recovery processes that follow. … Aboriginal people need to be part of the broad conversation that bushfire decision-makers, researchers, and the public sector are having.’ The Conversation

…

Communications about bushfire preparedness are often not in accessible formats. source: The Conversation

“English is a second language for most Deaf people and in a stressful emergency situation the likelihood of miscommunication is compounded” Deaf Australia President Ann Darwin. source: Deaf Australia

‘During emergencies, Deaf people often miss out on information because there is no interpreter on TV or the TV station crops the interpreter out.’ … said Ms Darwin, “All state governments need to get ready now and make sure that lives are not lost as a result of poor communication.”’ source: Deaf Australia

‘Advocates say news organisations frequently crop interpreters out of shot which can put the deaf community in danger’ source: ABC News

‘For hearing people, figuring out the seriousness of a situation is as easy as turning on the radio or TV, but [Gavin] Balharrie and his wife Trisha didn’t have that option.’ They were in Mallacoota ‘with a bushfire raging towards the town, and no idea if they should stay or leave.’ … ‘I don’t think we were quite cognisant of how serious the situation was until we got that information in Auslan.”’ source: The Guardian

‘Auslan interpreters and captioning, they must go hand in hand.’ source: The Rebuttal

…

the fires were un.expected and un.fathom.able … but not completely …

‘Despite a scientific assessment in August warning of a dire outlook … There appears to have been little appreciation at the executive level of just how horrific the bushfire season was predicted to be. source: The Guardian

‘some who sought to warn the federal government early, such as the former NSW fire chief Greg Mullins, felt they were fobbed off by the federal government.’ source: The Guardian

‘Mr Mullins … renewed his calls for the government to take urgent action to address climate change and stop Australia’s rising emissions.‘ source: ABC News

the community responded … the world responded …

Celeste Barber encouraged donations that reached a record breaking $51 million. source: ABC

‘Devastated … and determined to do something to help, actor and writer Magda Szubanski joined forces with an unlikely partner, teenager Will ‘Egg Boy’ Connolly. Together the odd couple raised nearly $200,000 which after careful research they directed into art therapy classes for bushfire survivors in the Snowy Mountains region.’ source: Australian Story

“It’s that deep need to connect. It’s that moment when all human pretence just drops away and you’re just of a couple of people, one who’s been through something really hard, and another who hopes they can do something to help.” words of Magda Szubanski, ABC

…

The phrase ‘I don’t hold a hose mate’, coined by our then PM, has entered the Urban Dictionary

‘”Certainly, that wasn’t a comment at the time that was helpful, of course,” he said.’, source: ABC

Smoke from the Black Summer bushfires … affected 80 per cent of Australia’s population, source: ABC News

Supplies of masks capable of filtering the dangerous smoke particles in the air … ran low . ran out … community efforts were made to get forgotten masks from people’s sheds and cupboards into the fire zones .. to the faces of those people facing the worst

P2 masks were accessed from the National stockpile to help cope with the need. source: then Minister for Health and Aged Care

At the time of the Cuddly Creek~Lobethal fires, the artist was 30-40 km away, West of the city, choking on the smoke that had crept in unopened doors .. while endlessly watching the fires creep across the CFS incidents & warnings page … watching .. hoping .. that the weather did not shift toward people she knew might be in its potential path .. people who might get stuck

Australia is part of the Paris Agreement we have ‘a commitment to pursue efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, which would significantly reduce the intensification of Australia’s bushfire risk along with many other climate change risks. The current emission reduction targets of Australia and the world are insufficient’, source: open letter from 446 scientists

related documents

Life in the Big Smoke, ABC News , 11 Dec 2019
‘Where’s the Prime Minister?’: Mystery surrounds Scott Morrison as he takes a holiday, The New Daily, 16 Dec 2019
PM issues ‘deep regret’ and will return to Australia from Hawaiian holiday, The New Daily, 20 Dec 2019
Prime Minister Scott Morrison pulls pin on Hawaii family holiday, but the damage is already done, ABC News, 20 Dec 2019
VIDEO (with Auslan): Scott Morrison apologises for Hawaii holiday during bushfire crisis, ABC News, 22 Dec 2019

Adelaide Hills bushfire kills person at Charleston, 15 houses destroyed, ABC News, 21 Dec
Kangaroo Island scorched with ‘unprecedented’ ferocity by bushfires as CFS saves township, 10 Jan ABC News

Mallacoota fire: images of ‘mayhem’ and ‘armageddon’ as bushfires rage, 31 Dec , The Guardian
Where the bloody hell was he? How Scott Morrison spent the past week of the bushfire crisis, 3 Jan 2020, The Guardian
Morrison’s government on the bushfires: from attacking climate ‘lunatics’ to calling in the troops, 4 Jan 2020 The Guardian

‘This crisis has been unfolding for years’: 4 photos of Australia from space, before and after the bushfires, The Conversation
State of the Climate reports, CSIRO

Morrison Maiden Speech to Parliament
which just happens to be the same day as the apology to the Stolen Generations
Bono’s speech, National Prayer Breakfast, Washington DC
So where the bloody hell are you? Tourism Australia advert with transcript

Ten impacts of the Australian bushfires, The United Nations Environment Programme, Jan 2020
There is no strong, resilient Australia without deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions An open letter on the scientific basis for the links between climate change and bushfires in Australia, 446 co-signatories, Feb 2020
The Summer of Crisis report, Climate Council, Mar 2020
Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements … final report Oct, Aust Govt
Bushfire royal commission’s final report issues warning to Australia over climate change, ABC News

Deaf community encourages Australians to learn basics of Auslan amid dangerous fire season, ABC News
Auslan interpreters save lives in bushfires, but only if they make the TV screen, ABC News
What About Me!??, The Rebuttal
Bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic put Auslan interpreters in the spotlight, ABC listen (audio with transcript)
Deaf and hearing-impaired welcome moves to inclusiveness but say more is needed, SBS News

Emergency Management Diversity and Inclusion Framework, Emergency Management Victoria

First all-Indigenous NSW firefighting crews protecting sacred sites, remote communities, 13 Jan 2020, ABC News
Aboriginal Community Governance on the Frontlines and Faultlines in the Black Summer Bushfires, Bhiamie Williamson, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, 2022
seminar video with captions
Bushfires disproportionately impact Indigenous Australians, Aust National University
1 in 10 children affected by bushfires is Indigenous. We’ve been ignoring them for too long, The Conversation
Fire management needs to ‘build from Aboriginal knowledge’: author, The Age
‘We could have helped’: report exposes racism during Black Summer bushfires, National Indigenous Times

The Paris Agreement, our legally binding international climate treaty to substantially reduce global carbon emissions, 194 signatories, United Nations
Climate Action Fast Facts, United Nations
17 Goals to Transform our world: Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations

Unlikely partnership between Magda Szubanski and ‘Egg Boy’ helping to heal bushfire-hit communities, ABC News
VIDEO: An Unlikely Match | Magda Szubanski + ‘Egg Boy’, Australian Story, ABC video & transcript
Celeste Barber on $51m bushfire fundraiser: ‘It broke my heart that it didn’t fix everything’, ABC News
Two years on, bushfire victims are still recovering and rebuilding, ABC News

Creative Recovery: After Bushfire, Fabrik (in the former Onkaparinga Woollen Mill, Lobethal)
charcoal drawing with no name, Belinda Broughton
echidnas don’t live here anymore: poems of loss and recovery since the Black Summer Bushfires, Belinda Broughton
The Arts Can Help us Recover from Disasters – Creatively, Pursuit, University of Melbourne

and a Loren Kate track indi woke up singing in her head and played on repeat, from the morning of 6.8.23 … a line of which she kept singing .. over & over .. in the car .. on the couch .. in the shower … where she performed it … with voice .. hand .. body .. and tile .. in the morning of 7.8.23

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