Concerns about human rights in Queensland

For some time (going back to my experiences in high school in the 1970s) I have been concerned about human rights in Queensland - or, more precisely, the lack of, and opposition to, human rights.

In high school, I argued with teachers over racism, corporal punishment (I was never subjected to that), sexism, etc. 

I also chose not to transition then because I knew I wouldn’t cope with the abuse of other students - and the death by suicide caused by bullying of a trans student in south east Queensland a year or so ago shows that problem still exists. 

The problems with majority views is also shown by the nature of politicians Queensland keeps electing - Katter, George  Christensen (a perfect example of the conspiracy fantasies, amathia and hate that influenced my decision in the 70s), Peter  Dutton - and, back in the 70s, Joh  Bjelke-Petersen, one of Australia’s unquestionably evil politicians, in my opinion. 

What also was apparent back then was the abusive nature of police - physically violent, including sexual assault against female protestors, violently racist, and corrupt. 

In fact, it was  the Fitzgerald  Inquiry into police corruption (which I’ve been told “didn't get all the bent coppers”) that ultimately brought Bjelke-Petersen undone. 

And now, more than three decades later, we have this: 

“Advocates call for an end to children being kept in adult watch houses after latest shocking footage”   https://nit.com.au/10-07-2024/12471/advocates-call-for-an-end-to-children-being-kept-in-adult-watch-houses-after-latest-shocking-footage   “...   Ms Hayes disagrees.   “When you look at it, he [Jason] was complying with their instructions, and they went in with the baton ready to hit him,” she said. “There was no de-escalation.”   Queensland has been heavily criticised for allowing children to be kept in adult watch houses, with the government suspending the state's Human Rights Act last year in order to do so.”   Queensland’s decision has resulted in violence against children, including sexual assault, and deaths of children. Queensland is a sick, sick, sick state that has lost the capacity for governance, and warrants some form of intervention.     

 

 

PS - see also: 

“How Queensland’s youth crime crackdown is forcing vulnerable kids into ‘brutal’ detention system”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/15/queensland-youth-crime-crackdown-watch-house-detention-system-law-changes-ntwnfb   “Concerns grow over police arresting children – some as young as 11 – accused of low-level crimes or bail breaches”       

“Screaming, freezing, struggling to breathe: confronting Queensland watch house footage exposes anguish of children locked in isolation cells | Queensland | The Guardian”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/17/queensland-youth-crime-watch-house-footage-police-treatment-ntwnfb      

“Queensland government perpetrating “industrial scale child abuse" by housing children in adult watchhouses”   https://nit.com.au/18-07-2024/12607/queensland-government-perpetrating-industrial-scale-child-abuse-in-housing-children-in-adult-watchhouses      

“Inhumane treatment of kids in custody won’t make Queenslanders safer. Empathy must triumph over fear”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/article/2024/jul/19/inhumane-treatment-of-kids-in-custody-wont-make-queenslanders-safer-courage-and-empathy-will-ntwnfb   “The rights of children and victims of crime are not mutually exclusive. A just outcome repairs harm instead of creating it”      

a The Guardian exclusive reports:   “‘Harrowing’ footage sparks calls for Queensland government to remove children from police watch houses”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/19/queensland-children-police-watch-houses-investigation-ntwnfb   “Exclusive: Labor MP Jonty Bush among those speaking out about state’s youth justice policies after Guardian Australia investigation”      

Not in Qld, but should be noted:   “Crime and nourishment: the Koori court giving help and hope to traumatised kids | New South Wales | The Guardian”   https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/jul/20/koori-court-system-magistrate-sue-duncombe      

“Social workers urge national reform to child protection after damning NSW report”   https://nit.com.au/18-07-2024/12604/social-workers-urge-reforms-to-child-protection-system     

 

 

Assumptions / basis 

In writing this, I have assumed / started from the following: 

• this blog states quite clearly that it is about political and human rights matters, including lived experience of problems, and thus I will assume readers are reasonable people who have noted the content warning in the post header;

Possible flaws 

Where I can, I will try to highlight possible flaws / issues you should consider:

• there may be flawed logical arguments in the above: to find out more about such flaws and thinking generally, I recommend Brendan  Myers’ free online course “Clear and Present Thinking”; 
  
• I could be wrong - so keep your thinking caps on, and make up your own minds for yourself.
  

 

If they are of any use of interest, the activism information links from my former news posts are available in this post. 

 

If you appreciated this post, please consider promoting it - there are some links below. 

Note that, as with my main blog [see here], I am cutting back on aspects of my posts.

Remember: we need to be more human being rather than human doing, and all misgendering is an act of active transphobia/transmisia that puts trans+ lives at risk & accept that all insistence on the use of “trans” as a descriptor comes with commensurate use of “cis” as a descriptor to prevent “othering”.

Copyright © Kayleen White 2016-2024     NO AI   I do not consent to any machine learning aka Artificial Intelligence (AI), generative AI, large language model, machine learning, chatbot, or other automated analysis, generative process, or replication program to reproduce, mimic, remix, summarise, or otherwise  replicate any part of this post or other posts on this blog via any means. Typo’s may be inserrted deliberately to demonstrate this is not an AI product.     Otherwise, fair and reasonable use is accepted under Creative Commons 4.0 on an Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike basis   https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/