Date: Mon, 11 Mar 1996 22:20:43 +1100 (EST) From: leto@werple.net.au (Brendon Wickham) Subject: (Australia) Brother Sister News - 7/3/96 BROTHER SISTER - QUEER NEWS FROM DOWNUNDER Issue 101 - 7/3/96 Including: 1. VAC BOARD QUITS 2. 'WAIT AND SEE' COALITION WIN 3. POLICE POUNCE ON BADGE-WEARING DYKE 4. THWAITES OPPOSES FAIRFIELD SPLIT UP 5. BRIEFS This and previous postings are archived for the QRD. Point your URL to http://werple.net.au/~leto/news/index - or go through the Pacific Region of the QRD at http://www.qrd.org/qrd/world/pacific/ =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ VAC BOARD QUITS *The Victorian AIDS Council board effectively sacked itself on Tuesday night pending a major review into the organisation.* The dramatic move comes in the wake of last week's shock resignation by Council president Joseph O'Reilly over the direction the organisation was taking in response to the Fairfield Hospital crisis. Among its final decisions before suspending itself, the AIDS Council's governing body, the Joint Advisory Committee, agreed to ask the national umbrella group Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations to assist in the review. The AIDS Council also appointed a new president, Barry Janes. Full executive powers for the running of the organisation during the expected three month review have been invested in the general manager Bernard Gardiner and the incoming president. Speaking in support of the review, Janes said there was a widespread view in the community that the Council has not been "as good as we should be". "There is not a lot of trust and faith in this board at the moment and the perception out there is that we are not a well functioning board." Janes claimed the running of the AIDS Council had been under critical scrutiny by the State Government for the past 12 months. "If we don't impose this on ourselves I believe it could be imposed on us," he said. It is widely believed that the Council's main problem is the conflicting factions on the Board not working together. In the midst of this conflict the community's perception is the Council has not responded adequately to the issues surrounding the closure of Fairfield Hospital. The factional dispute has been there for more than 12 months and intensified publicly during last September's Council Election, which resulted in split honours between the two groups. Long standing AIDS activists on the Board, Tom Carter and Tony Keenan - from opposite factions - both spoke on Tuesday of their frustrations that led both to consider resigning. Carter said that in his 10 years involved in AIDS work he had never seen so much animosity in the community towards the Council. Keenan, a past Council and AFAO president accused some Board members of engaging in "emotional blackmail" based on HIV status, adding that the last two Board meeting had been "the nastiest" in his eight years involvement. Outgoing president, Joseph O'Reilly resigned after the Board late last month resolved that St Vincent's Hospital was its preferred site for the relocation of HIV/AIDS services currently provided at Fairfield, having previously resolved to participate in an evaluation process with the State Government involving several hospitals. Bill Calder 'WAIT AND SEE' COALITION WIN *Representatives of the gay and lesbian community are taking a 'wait and see' approach to the Coalition victory in last week's federal election.* Observers believe there is still hope for the Sexual Discrimination Bill, superannuation discrimination and HIV/AIDS issues but there is some concern for gay-related employment disputes under the John Howard-led Coalition Government. Brian Greig, a spokesperson for the Australian Council for Lesbian and Gay Rights, told Brother Sister there will be two major, gay and lesbian related, issues that he will be monitoring closely. Greig: "We're particularly interested in and concerned with industrial relations and Sid Spindler's (Sexual Discrimination) Bill." Greig says that industrial relations is the only area that gays and lesbians have protection against discrimination on a federal level. Currently industrial relation disputes abide by international rules that recognise people's rights not to be discriminated against because of sexual orientation. "Howard wants to abolish the reliance on these international treaties," claims Greig. "He wants to set up a new employment advocate that would be independent from these regulations. If he succeeds there will no longer be any protection Federally for gays and lesbians who are discriminated against in the workplace." Prior to the election the gay rights Council had recommended voting for minor parties. With the Democrats gaining more voter support in the Senate, Greig now feels that Democrat member Sid Spindler will have an increased chance of getting his Sexual Discrimination Bill through. Greig: "With the Democrats increased hold they may be able to prevent the potentially reactionary excesses of the Coalition. Under Labor the Attorney General procrastinated about the (Sexual Discrimination) Bill and although the Coalition have stated they will never support the bill, Labor may now support it in opposition and, with the Democrats, get it through." Greig is also hopeful that the Howard Government will respond to superannuation discrimination against gay and lesbian workers, believing that they had indicated making changes to the superannuation laws in the lead-up to the election. Bernard Gardiner, general manager of the Victorian AIDS Council, also believes that the coalition may have the right person looking after health issues. "The most significant thing," says Gardiner, "is that if we have to have a Coalition Government, Michael Wooldridge is the right person to have dealing with HIV/AIDS issues if he is made Health Minister." Gardiner describes Wooldridge as well-informed on HIV/AIDS and having done a commendable job as shadow health minister. "He will be the best one to handle HIV/AIDS competently," says Gardiner. Openly gay candidates standing for the Democrats in Victorian electorates polled well, without winning seats, in the weekend election. Transgender lesbian Julie Peters doubled first preference votes for the Democrats in Batman while gay Democrat John Davey did the same in Melbourne Ports. There was also a significant increase in first preference votes for the Democrats' gay candidate, Colin Thornby, in the seat of McMillan. Davey says this election has heightened the profile of gays and lesbians in the general community. "It has helped the visibility of the homosexual community and I hope it encourages other openly gay and lesbian candidates to run in the future." Peters' success in the federal election has encouraged her to stand for a seat in the March 30 State Election. Andrew Mast POLICE POUNCE ON BADGE-WEARING DYKE *A lesbian couple alleges that police officers "physically, sexually and verbally" abused them after they were arrested outside the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Party and locked up for four hours.* Louise Cawdron said she was bundled into a paddy-wagon after her partner, Jane McMullen, was arrested for having a police badge on her cap. After spending four hours locked up at Surry Hills police station - during which time they claim they were denied access to their lawyer, water or a toilet - McMullen was charged with possessing the badge and Cawdron with resisting arrest. They were then released. Cawdron alleges the pair received "terrible" bruising from rough handling and were repeatedly referred to by police as "fucking dykes" and "dyke cunts". She said: "We were standing outside the Mardi Gras Party, talking to friends. It was about 11.25[pm]." Cawdron alleges one of two female police officers approached and "snatched" McMullen's vinyl, peaked cap, which she was holding under her arm, and "ripped" the badge off the front. She said the officer told McMullen she was in illegal possession of police property, McMullen responded that she had bought the badge from a reputable dealer in Wynyard station, on the assurance the badge type had been superseded. The women allege the officer responded: "We can take what we like, when we like." Cawdron denied she or McMullen became abusive to the officers, although eye-witness reports gathered by Mardi Gras indicate the disagreement may have become heated. Both women were bundled into a paddy-wagon and taken to Surry Hills, where Cawdron said: "They treated Jane so roughly, I thought they were going to throw her down the stairs." McMullen, who beneath her leather jacket was wearing a harness, alleged her breasts were "fondled" by police as she was being marched through the station. Cawdron alleges what followed was a four-hour ordeal of physical mistreatment and psychological intimidation, including an officer punching the wall beside her head and responding, when she asked for a glass of water: "Get down on your knees and beg." The women also claim they were threatened with strip-searches if they didn't "behave". Co-ordinator of police Mardi Gras operations, Inspector Alan Rugless, yesterday declined to comment on the women's allegations. But he did confirm that possession of police property was an offence. George Street coin dealer, Joss Richardson, said his own shop had been involved with a court case around badge collecting two years ago. He said it was "probably legal ... but a grey area" to collect obsolete or superseded police badges, but it was illegal to wear them or "impersonate a police officer". McMullen said her badge, which cost $250, was a discontinued police cadet badge which she had worn to at least three other Mardi Gras parties. Mardi Gras president, Bev Lange, met with the women at the Showgrounds after they had been released. Lange said: "Our position is .. we don't exactly know what's gone on. We are trying to get clarification from Alan Rugless, we're not questioning [the women's] story but we're just trying to clarify [the situation]." She added: "From my point of view I'm concerned as to why the police bothered with the badge, even though it's illegal, when perhaps they might have been more concerned about issues of violence and things of that nature than whether someone was wearing a badge to a party." Cawdron and McMullen yesterday met with their solicitor, John Marsden, about pursuing legal action against the police force. Cawdron said: "I told [the police], when we left [the station] ... don't think you've heard the last of this, because you haven't." Ben Widdicombe, SSO THWAITES OPPOSES FAIRFIELD SPLIT UP *The State Opposition is backing a call from internationally- renowned scientists to stop Fairfield's HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases and laboratory services being split up.* The Shadow Minister for Health, John Thwaites, claims that leaked documents reveal that even the hospitals tendering for the services believe they should remain as one unit. Earlier in the week an open letter protesting the suspected break-up of services was sent to media and was signed by a group of this country's most respected AIDS experts and doctors. The letter warned that any plan to dismember the Fairfield services would destroy this state's international reputation for research into, and treatment of, HIV/AIDS. A spokesperson for the Australian Medical Association also called on the State Health Minister, Marie Tehan, to keep the services together and not put 90 years of infectious disease experience at risk. Thwaites insists Tehan is trying to break the unit down completely: "She is tendering out HIV/AIDS and infectious diseases while leaving the future of the Victorian Infectious Diseases Laboratories uncertain for 12 months." He says documents from St Vincent's show they back up the scientists' plea to keep the services as one. Thwaites: "The hospital argues that it would be logical for the laboratories to be relocated to the hospital which takes the major clinical services from Fairfield." He also claims a submission from the Alfred Hospital supported the services staying together. The Alfred submission expressed concern the separate relocation of Fairfield services would seriously damage the work of the laboratory. "Not only the hospitals but all the medical experts say Fairfield services must not be carved up," says Thwaites. "But the Kennett Government is more interested in cutting costs than providing a world centre of excellence in infectious diseases and caring for patients." Andrew Mast BRIEFS *Free vote is key* According to the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, a Liberal Party conscience vote on gay law reform could be the key to endorsement of the reform by the Upper House. The Group has written to Premier Ray Groom asking for a meeting on homosexual decriminalisation following Groom's announcement that the Party will review its opposition to the reform in the wake of the election swing against the Government. According to Rights Group spokesperson, Rodney Croome, gay law reform is certain to be passed by the Lower House following the election of a majority of Labor and Green members at Saturday's State poll. However the reform still faces strong opposition in the Upper House. "We believe that the State election result gives Parliament a mandate to repeal our anti-gay laws because the continued existence of these laws was such a prominent election issue. "The Upper House has always opposed gay law reform but a Liberal Party conscience vote may change this because it would allow Upper House members with Liberal links to vote according to their consciences." *Youth suicide grants* The Federal Government is seeking funding proposals from gay and lesbian community organisations and services which deal with gay and lesbian clients for projects which aim to reduce suicide rates amongst the youth of our community. $400,000 is available to fund a national demonstration project which will determine best practice for future programs. Coordinator of 2010, Ross Bennett, who sits on the initiative's working party encourages gay and lesbian community groups to submit for funding. "Many within our community have long suspected that gay and lesbian youth are over represented in suicide and attempted suicide statistics. "The Federal Department of Human Services and Health deserves praise for recognising our concerns. But all the work to date will be lost if submissions from gay and lesbian community groups are not forthcoming." *Escort sponsor* In something of a first, this year's Queer Film and Video Festival has an escort agency, Global Escorts, amongst its sponsors. =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ BOTTOM LINE *Records fall at Mardi Gras* Records fell like Labor MPs on Saturday, with 650,000 people turning out to watch the most participants ever to take part in a Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. More than 5,000 people marched, rode, danced and strutted past the onlookers, who easily exceeded 1994's previous record of 600,000. Registered entries were bolstered by impromptu singles and couples who turned up in costume, just to take part. Mardi Gras president, Bev Lange, said "it was a very successful night - both the parade and the party went off very, very well." She praised the "skill of the volunteers" as well as Mardi Gras staff and board members in "bringing everything together". Lange said she felt this year's parade restored some of the brashness and wit which some critics say had been lacking in previous years. She also said that "after a gradual process of talking to people about the issues," the party had been "more gay and lesbian" than in recent years. "And I think there were more lesbians there, too" she said. Co-ordinator of police Mardi Gras operations, Inspector Alan Rugless, said despite record crowds the parade was "almost incident-free". "Injury-wise, arrest-wise and reduction of homophobia- wise...it was about the best we've ever had," he said. Police negotiators were called in at 11pm when a potentially suicidal jumper climbed to the top of the four storey-high ABC television scaffolding on Taylor Square. Rugless said he had spent 12 hours with the same man at the top of a construction site last July. Ben Widdicombe, SSO =+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+ Brother Sister is a fortnightly newspaper published in Melbourne, VIC and Brisbane, QLD, Australia. I have selected the main news stories as well as items of interest. Overseas media who utilise any or all of the above material please credit Brother Sister as your source (and by-line if it is listed). Thank you. Brendon Wickham