Posted September 25, 2018 16:00:54
Photo: Karen Quinlan is moving to Canberra after 18 years heading the Bendigo Art Gallery in central Victoria. (Supplied: National Portrait Gallery) The woman who put a regional Victorian art gallery on the international map is the new head of the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. As director of the Bendigo Art Gallery in central Victoria, Karen Quinlan brought several blockbuster exhibitions to the regional city, including events showcasing the fashions of Grace Kelly and Marilyn Monroe. Ms Quinlan started at the Gallery in 1996 as curator and was then appointed director in 2000, so she was at the helm for nearly 20 years. The success of Ms Quinlan's exhibitions was dubbed 'the Bendigo effect' and inspired other galleries across Australia. Her program attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Australia and revitalised what was a traditional regional gallery of paintings and sculpture. Photo: The 2012 exhibition of dresses worn by Grace Kelly drew more than 100,000 people to the Bendigo Art Gallery. (ABC News) A review of the Grace Kelly: Style Icon exhibition held in 2012 found the event pumped $17 million into the local economy. "I have been encouraged to be ambitious and push the boundaries, and this has seen Bendigo Art Gallery redefine what it means to be a regional gallery," Ms Quinlan said. "I was able to learn on the job, develop an incredible set of skills and foster important relationships with leading art institutions around the world." Photo: Lingerie designed by Robert French in the 1960s on display at the Bendigo Art Gallery's 'Undressed: 350 Years of Underwear in Fashion' Exhibition. (Supplied: Bendigo Art Gallery) Ms Quinlan will take up her new position as director of the National Portrait Gallery in December. "I am drawn to its uniqueness, its narrative and its collection, both visually and philosophically," she said. "It celebrates our success, our inventiveness, our artistry, our cleverness as a nation and our identity. "It must continue to collect works that symbolise the breadth and depth of Australian life." 'Considerable loss' The City of Greater Bendigo credits Ms Quinlan with giving the local gallery an international reputation for high-quality exhibitions. "Under Karen's guidance, the Gallery has undergone a significant period of growth and change, and is widely recognised as one of Australia's largest and most successful regional galleries," the acting chief executive Bernie O'Sullivan said. "Karen's departure is a considerable loss for our organisation, but her appointment to the National Portrait Gallery of Australia reflects the standing of both Karen and Bendigo Art Gallery in Australia's arts industry. Photo: One of the dresses from The White Wedding Dress: 200 Years Of Wedding Fashions from London's Victoria and Albert Museum, which had its world premiere at the Bendigo Art Gallery in 2011. (Supplied: Victoria and Albert Museum) "The National Portrait Gallery is very fortunate to be welcoming such an accomplished, strategic and visionary leader." The Bendigo Art Gallery's chairperson, Garry Quinn, thanked Ms Quinlan for her years of service. "Karen has made an indelible contribution to the Gallery and her vision and drive have elevated this institution beyond all expectations," Mr Quinn said. "Although we are very sorry to see her go, we wish Karen every success with her well-deserved new position as the director of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia and have no doubt she will continue to be very successful." Photo: An exhibition about Marilyn Monroe, including this giant sculpture, was one of the hit events Ms Quinlan brought to Bendigo. (ABC Open: Norman Becker) The National Portrait Gallery has offered a congratulations to Ms Quinlan, while also thanking the outgoing director Angus Trumble for his work over five years in the role. "We are thrilled by Karen's appointment," the Gallery's chairperson Helen Nugent said. "She will build on and deepen the National Portrait Gallery of Australia's commitment to reflecting what it means to be an Australian." The Federal Arts Minister, Mitch Fifield, has also hailed the contribution of Mr Trumble, and described Ms Quinlan as "highly regarded" in the Australian arts community. Topics:visual-art,regional-development,library-museum-and-gallery,painting,bendigo-3550,canberra-2600 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-25/national-portrait-gallery-australia-director-karen-quinlan/10302828
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Posted September 27, 2018 13:35:00
Photo: There were concerns for Marcus Rappel's safety in a Canberra jail. (Photo: Facebook) Convicted axe murderer Marcus Rappel will have at least three months added to his jail sentence, after taking responsibility for the bashing of two brothers at Canberra's jail. Key points:Marcus Rappel was sentenced to 32 years in prison for the 2015 murder of Tara CostiganHe was recently transferred from a Canberra's Alexander Maconochie Centre to GoulburnFive men went on trial for the attack, but charges against three of them were abandoned Rappel was already serving 32 years and two months over the 2015 murder of ex-partner Tara Costigan. He was recently transferred to Goulburn jail because of concerns about his safety at Canberra's Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). The prison attack by several people was caught on the AMC's CCTV system. Both victims of the bashing were so badly hurt they were taken to hospital. A group of five men went on trial this week charged over the assaults, but on day two of the trial, Rappel pleaded guilty to two charges of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm. A second man, 28-year-old Daniel Grech, also pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault. Both were sentenced by Justice Michael Elkaim, who noted one of the brothers had suffered a fractured rib, punctured lung, a fractured eye socket and significant bruising. The second brother suffered a cut to the head, which has left a scar. Justice Elkaim noted the brothers were in prison and not in a position to remove themselves from danger. "I do however note that in the case of [one of brothers] the evidence he gave during the trial would suggest that his own approach to the situation would have concentrated on fight rather than flight," he said. "The attacks had the hallmark of, if only for a short time, a premeditated assault." But he did question whether Rappel should take the full responsibility, but did describe him as "a substantial contributor to the injuries". Justice Elkaim has added six months to his overall sentence, with a further three months to his non-parole period. Grech has been given a one-month suspended sentence. Charges against three other men were abandoned. Topics:prisons-and-punishment,goulburn-2580,nsw,canberra-2600,act,australia http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-27/marcus-rappel-sentence-added-years-after-prison-bashing/10312090 Posted September 27, 2018 13:35:00
Photo: There were concerns for Marcus Rappel's safety in a Canberra jail. (Photo: Facebook) Convicted axe murderer Marcus Rappel will have at least three months added to his jail sentence, after taking responsibility for the bashing of two brothers at Canberra's jail. Key points:Marcus Rappel was sentenced to 32 years in prison for the 2015 murder of Tara CostiganHe was recently transferred from a Canberra's Alexander Maconochie Centre to GoulburnFive men went on trial for the attack, but charges against three of them were abandoned Rappel was already serving 32 years and two months over the 2015 murder of ex-partner Tara Costigan. He was recently transferred to Goulburn jail because of concerns about his safety at Canberra's Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC). The prison attack by several people was caught on the AMC's CCTV system. Both victims of the bashing were so badly hurt they were taken to hospital. A group of five men went on trial this week charged over the assaults, but on day two of the trial, Rappel pleaded guilty to two charges of intentionally inflicting grievous bodily harm. A second man, 28-year-old Daniel Grech, also pleaded guilty to a charge of common assault. Both were sentenced by Justice Michael Elkaim, who noted one of the brothers had suffered a fractured rib, punctured lung, a fractured eye socket and significant bruising. The second brother suffered a cut to the head, which has left a scar. Justice Elkaim noted the brothers were in prison and not in a position to remove themselves from danger. "I do however note that in the case of [one of brothers] the evidence he gave during the trial would suggest that his own approach to the situation would have concentrated on fight rather than flight," he said. "The attacks had the hallmark of, if only for a short time, a premeditated assault." But he did question whether Rappel should take the full responsibility, but did describe him as "a substantial contributor to the injuries". Justice Elkaim has added six months to his overall sentence, with a further three months to his non-parole period. Grech has been given a one-month suspended sentence. Charges against three other men were abandoned. Topics:prisons-and-punishment,goulburn-2580,nsw,canberra-2600,act,australia http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-27/marcus-rappel-sentence-added-years-after-prison-bashing/10312090 Updated September 26, 2018 15:16:01
Photo: The ANMF Facebook post called for immediate action to protect nurses in the ACT. (Facebook: ANMF ACT) Canberra nurses have again expressed concern for their safety inside mental health wards, after graphic photos of another alleged assault on a nurse were posted on social media. The nurses union shared the photos of injuries sustained by a nurse during an assault at Canberra Hospital's adult mental health unit with a call for "action now". The photos show cuts, bite marks and bruising allegedly made on a nurse at the mental health unit. The ACT Government confirmed the incident happened on Monday night. External Link:ANMF ACT Facebook post alleging another nurse was assaulted The union says there have also been ongoing issues of assaults on nurses at Canberra's secure Dhulwa facility. In a letter to ACT Health in August, union secretary Matthew Daniel expressed several concerns over safety and cultural issues at the facility raised by nurses at an August meeting. "Nurses injured or witness to reported assaults state that post-incident follow-up and care has been inadequate," Mr Daniel wrote. "Nurses state that they face the decision to either physically withdraw from the area, which leaves other consumers vulnerable to assault, or remain to protect consumers and other staff and risk being assaulted." Mr Daniel wrote that staff are fearful and resigned to further attacks, calling for better violence management training for staff. 'Very distressing' images: Minister Mental Health Minister Shane Rattenbury said the incident would be thoroughly reviewed. "[The photos] are very distressing," he said. "Our staff should not go home at the end of the day having been assaulted like that." Mr Rattenbury insisted staff safety was high on his priority list, with the Government currently developing a nurse safety strategy with an emphasis on mental health workers. He said security staff were placed in Canberra's mental health facilities as a "back-up", adding that clinical approaches, including medication, were most effective at managing patients. "It's quite early days in looking into what happened here and obviously the circumstances around that will need to be reviewed," he said. "Our job is to make sure that it's as safe as possible for our staff and our consumers and that our staff are not being assaulted." Topics:mental-health,health-administration,workplace,healthcare-facilities,canberra-2600,act,australia First posted September 26, 2018 13:58:12 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-26/nurse-allegedly-assaulted-at-canberra-mental-health-unit/10306604 Updated September 24, 2018 19:22:42
A Year 5 student attempted suicide due to stress caused by the NAPLAN test, a Canberra principal has told an inquiry. Key pointsYear 5 student attempted suicide several years ago on grounds of Canberra school, principal claimedPrincipal spoke at inquiry into the efficiency and impact of standardised testing, including NAPLANInquiry heard the child left halfway through test to try to take his life, after leaving note Wanniassa School principal Shane Gorman said a teacher found the student attempting suicide on school grounds after walking out of class during a NAPLAN test several years ago. "People don't realise the stress it puts on kids," Mr Gorman told an ACT inquiry into standardised testing. The ACT Government established the inquiry into standardised testing to examine its effectiveness and how it affects the mental health of students as well as the morale of teachers, as part of a push to change how data from those tests is reported. If you or someone you know needs help, call: Mr Gorman said he was "likely to get emotional" retelling the incident, but revealed it to illustrate the effects of testing on students. He noted the case was extreme, but also particularly alarming as he makes an effort to reduce the stress of NAPLAN testing on students and teachers. "So in my school where I'm trying to create no stress about NAPLAN, that happened," he said. "I hate to think what happens in other schools where it's high stakes." The inquiry heard the child was a "well below-average" performing student with mental health issues, whose mother wanted him to take the test. "She wanted to understand where he fits with everybody else. I actually tried to talk her out of doing the test, as we're not supposed to do," Mr Gorman said. "I would lose my job over that." Mr Gorman said the student walked out halfway through the test leaving a note and then went to take his own life. "He was going to end it," Mr Gorman said. Mr Gorman appeared alongside ACT secretary of the education union Glenn Fowler, who told the inquiry public reporting of NAPLAN data causes stress for students. "If doctors said, in near unanimity, that a practice did more harm than good for their patients, would they be ignored for nine years?" Mr Fowler said. "NAPLAN data should be removed from the My School website now and in perpetuity." The Education Directorate has been contacted for comment. Topics:suicide,mental-health,health,educational-resources,community-and-society,canberra-2600,act,australia First posted September 24, 2018 16:25:17 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-24/naplan-principal-says-year-five-student-attempted-suicide/10299004 9/18/2018 0 Comments Great Barrier Reef Foundation to spend $7.3m of its federal funding on admin this financial yearUpdated September 18, 2018 19:00:01
The Great Barrier Reef Foundation has revealed it has spent $800,000 on "project management" since receiving a $440 million grant in June, and expects to spend more than $7 million on administration this financial year. Key points:Foundation will raise "hundreds of millions" with co-investment strategy, inquiry toldDirector says every Australian business has a role in reef protectionFoundation chairman defends taking money from fossil fuel companies The foundation only had six full-time staff when it was given the funding by former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull. A Senate inquiry has been questioning how the grant was awarded and how the foundation plans to use the money. Labor has said it would claw back the funding if it won the next election and warned the foundation not to spend the money quickly. Foundation managing director Anna Marsden said they were planning to spend $25 million this financial year on projects and $7.3 million on administration. Ms Marsden admitted the foundation had already spent $800,000 on non-project costs since the money landed in their accounts in June, but would not elaborate on what it was spent on. Photo: Senator Sarah Hanson-Young asked about the foundation's links with fossil fuel companies. (ABC News) "That's operational and project management costs, it's a range of things. I would be happy to take that question on notice and give you more a fulsome [response] but yes, $800,000 to date." Ms Marsden said she was confident the foundation could raise "hundreds of millions" for the reef using its co-investment strategy and confirmed the Government did not set a benchmark for fundraising when the grant was offered. She also confirmed the foundation would accept funding from fossil fuel companies. "Our view is there is a role for every Australian business to play a role in reef protection activities," she said. "We have a range of iconic Australia businesses that support us from a range of industries and some of these are resource companies. "These organisations have a first-hand experience on the impacts of climate change and other pressures on the reef." 'I flew here in a plane' Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young argued the foundation did not seem to acknowledge the impact fossil fuel companies were having on climate change and the reef. "You don't see a contradiction between half a billion dollars of public money going to an organisation that has been created to deal with the problem created by climate change, taking money from fossil fuel companies?" Senator Hanson-Young asked. Foundation chairman John Schubert replied: "We are all the cause of climate change, it is not just fossil fuel companies," he said. "Fossil fuel companies are basically reacting to the demand of us. I flew here in a plane." Photo: Dr Schubert said he believed the reef foundation was chosen for the $440 million grant due to its "track record". (Supplied: Queensland Museum - Gary Cranitch) He also elaborated on the April meeting with Mr Turnbull and then environment minister Josh Frydenberg, at which the decision to donate the money was discussed. Mr Schubert said he had no idea about the grant offer prior and he was not told in advance what the meeting was about. He said Mr Turnbull took charge of the meeting and there was no agenda nor minutes taken by the two staffers present. "You asked 'was I surprised?' but my overwhelming initial reaction was, 'This is fabulous news for the Great Barrier Reef, this is what is needed'," Dr Schubert said. Foundation 'focused on practical outcomes' Dr Schubert said he had not spoken to Mr Turnbull since the April meeting and that he believed the foundation was chosen for the grant because of its "track record" and its focus on "practical outcomes". The foundation also confirmed its scientific committee had met only once since the grant was awarded, and that funding priorities were not discussed in detail. Ms Marsden said the foundation had only provided two years' worth of financial records to the Government in May, a month after the grant was offered. She said she was unaware the Government's solicitor had been conducting due diligence on the foundation prior to the grant offer, and that no documentation was requested from the foundation until after the offer. The inquiry also questioned former Origin Energy managing director Grant King about his motivations for becoming a director of the foundation. Mr King, who is also the Business Council of Australia president, said he took on a directorship at the foundation in a personal capacity because of his passion for the Barrier Reef. The inquiry asked if the organisation should be pushing for higher emissions reduction targets than the Paris agreement. "Australia's commitment is clearly the 26 to 28 per cent which was the Paris commitment, and in whatever capacity I'm in I fully support that commitment," Mr King said. "I believe it's essential Australia meets that commitment, and my view is that we've got to get there before we can get to any higher number. "But if you mean 45 per cent reduction on 2005 levels by 2030, which is obviously significantly higher than the Paris commitment then at the end of the day I see very little analysis here in Australia of the effect of that on the economy." Mr Schubert said it was not the foundation's role to be advocating on climate change policy. "The field of advocacy on the environmental issues and climate change specially is very crowded. There is a huge number of organisations and people involved in that, trying to get more momentum," he said. Topics:federal-government,federal---state-issues,great-barrier-reef,budget,environmental-management,environmental-policy,canberra-2600,act,brisbane-4000,qld,townsville-4810,cairns-4870,rockhampton-4700 First posted September 18, 2018 16:53:03 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-18/reef-foundation-spending-7-million-annual-operational-costs/10264844 Updated September 15, 2018 16:15:22
Map: Orbost 3888 Victoria Police is pleading with the public to obey the road rules after one of their own was killed in a charity motorcycle ride in honour of officers killed in the line of duty. Key points:Victor Kostiuk, 59, was killed in a collision with a car near Orbost, in eastern VictoriaHe was praised as a respected member of the force who worked in the domestic violence sectorFour people were killed and four others airlifted to hospital in a 24-hour period Detective Senior Sergeant Victor Kostiuk, 59, was riding alongside his son, also a police officer, in the Wall to Wall charity ride from Melbourne to Canberra when he was killed. A car driving in the opposite direction on the Princes Highway east of Orbost, in far eastern Victoria, veered onto the wrong side of the road and collided with Detective Senior Sergeant Kostiuk's motorcycle. He and his son had been travelling about 10 minutes ahead of the main group of 300 riders. Photo: Mr Kostiuk had been in the police force for 40 years, recently working in domestic violence. (Supplied) The driver of the other car sustained minor injuries and is speaking with police. Victoria Police Acting Chief Commissioner Shane Patton started the ride in Melbourne on Friday and told them to go safely. He went through the police academy with the dead officer's wife and said the family was in mourning. "Clearly they're shattered," he said. "Victor was a fantastic member of this organisation, a member for nearly 40 years. "He was really chuffed just the other day to have been recently appointed back to the rank of detective senior sergeant, something he was particularly proud of. "It's a tremendous loss for Victoria Police." Four dead in 24-hour period Photo: Over 300 riders took part in the charity ride. (ABC News: James Oaten) Detective Senior Sergeant Kostiuk was working as the officer in charge of the Family Violence unit at Frankston. "He's been committed to, in the latter stages of his career, combatting family violence," Acting Chief Commissioner Patton said. "[He's] become somewhat of an expert in that field and very well respected with the innovative things he was doing." The other officers taking part in the charity ride were "sullen but determined" to complete the ride, Acting Chief Commissioner Patton said. "So they're determined to do that. That was a choice they made [and one that] Victor's son contributed to," he said. "And that's what they've done." Victor Kostiuk's death was one of four in a 24-hour period on Victorian roads and prompted a warning from police to all road users. "This isn't just about the Victoria Police force losing a member. This is about a tragic loss of life," Acting Commissioner Patton said. "Four people died yesterday. Four others have been airlifted to hospital. "We as a community need to make sure that we all focus when we're using the road on driving as safely and as sensibly as we can." Topics:police,crime,law-crime-and-justice,orbost-3888,vic,canberra-2600,melbourne-3000 First posted September 15, 2018 11:19:32 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-15/victorian-police-officer-killed-in-motorbike-crash-charity-ride/10250924 9/16/2018 0 Comments Girl grabbed on street in latest child approach being investigated by ACT taskforceUpdated September 14, 2018 16:38:26
Photo: These images created from victims' descriptions of the men have been released in the past. (Supplied) Related Story: Police treating spate of child approaches across Canberra as single investigation Map: Canberra 2600 A young girl who was grabbed while riding her bike in Canberra is the most recent case being investigated by a new police taskforce, set up to investigate more than a dozen child approaches in the city's suburbs since the start of the year. Key points:Police set up taskforce after 14 children approachedTwo children made reports yesterdayParents urged to remind children of "stranger danger" Earlier this week the ABC revealed police had launched a centralised investigation into what was then 12 child approaches across the ACT. On Thursday two more children reported being targeted. A girl in Wright was grabbed by a man and pushed to the ground while she rode her bike on James McAuley Crescent in Wright about 5:10pm. About an hour earlier in the southern suburb of Banks, a child reported being followed by a car. Another incident in Queanbeyan two weeks ago bears several similarities to the approaches in Canberra. Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said there would now be dedicated ACT Policing resources under the banner of Taskforce Tydeus to catch the person or people behind the approaches. "Over these 14 incidents, we've had the children approached. Some of the children have been spoken to, some have been touched," he said. "We're unsure of the motive, but bringing this taskforce together will determine what the motive was and the investigation strategies for us." He said it was unclear whether the two most recent incidents were linked. "At this point in time there is no evidence to suggest that these two incidents are linked, however these incidents are only recent, and the investigation is evolving," he said. Police are expected to release computer generated images of the suspects in the most recent approaches. "Due to the victims that we're dealing with, the age of the victims, it is difficult to identify particular features," Detective Moller said. Police are urging parents and community members to remind children of "stranger danger", and to report suspicious activity. Topics:police,crime,law-crime-and-justice,canberra-2600,act,australia First posted September 14, 2018 16:12:18 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-14/canberra-child-approaches-taskforce/10248592 Updated September 12, 2018 07:31:57
Insiders in the Liberal National Party have confirmed Queensland president Gary Spence has been pressured to resign by some within his own party, over his role in the leadership spill. Photo: It is understood Mr Spence advised MPs who contacted him to back Mr Dutton in the event of a leadership challenge. (Supplied: lnp.org.au) Mr Spence's private conversations about a preference to elect Peter Dutton to the prime ministership, had some party members claiming he'd "overstepped" boundaries between party and parliamentary business. It is understood Mr Spence advised MPs who contacted him to back Mr Dutton in the event of a leadership challenge against Malcolm Turnbull though he never directly advocated for the spill motion. Far north Queensland MP, Warren Entsch, was a high profile voice scathing of Mr Spence's involvement. "We had the president of the LNP in Queensland out there wanting to be a politician," he said earlier this week. "I mean that was a disgrace. "And my branch, my branch in my area, actually put in a motion demanding that he resign from his position because of it. That is not his role." Pressure to reform the leadership was sparked in Queensland in the weeks following the Longman by-election, where the LNP's primary voted dropped below 30 per cent. Party insiders who spoke to the ABC said the "shocking" result spooked the Queensland branch, which formed a view Malcolm Turnbull failed to resonate with voters outside of Brisbane. Thirteen Queensland MPs signed the petition asking for the spill motion just under a third of all the signatures required. During the week of the spill, Mr Spence was sighted in the halls of Queensland's Parliament House, but played-down his involvement in the Canberra chaos. "A party president has private conversations with members of parliament all the time, " he said at the time. He told reporters; "everybody has their own view. My view is my view," and "it's up to the MPs and senators choose the leader". It is understood Mr Spence had a small number of private conversations, and when asked for his advice, advocated for Mr Dutton as a suitable leader. Mr Dutton was seen as a parochial and home grown choice, but he stunningly miscalculated his support, and handed the job to Scott Morrison. Local LNP members have backed Mr Morrison's appointment. State LNP leader, Deb Frecklington, refused to answer media questions about her preferred leader during the week of spill discussions in Canberra. But when asked this week whether she thought Mr Spence's actions were appropriate, Ms Frecklington responded in a statement; "I am focused on my plan to bust congestion, reduce electricity prices and deliver better health and education services not recriminations about federal party matters". Popular and powerful party-man So with several sources confirming to the ABC their discontent with the party president, will the voices in the LNP grow louder? In reality it's unlikely. The largely popular and powerful party-man was recently re-elected to the president's position, unopposed. At a party meeting following the change of federal leader, senior LNP MPs again overwhelmingly backed support for Mr Spence to stay in the position. And Mr Morrison, although not Mr Spence's first choice, made an immediate mark on Queensland, and chose the state for his first road-trip as Prime Minister. The gamble for the LNP is whether Mr Morrison is popular enough to turnaround the LNP's chances of success before a federal election, where they hold seven seats on a margin of less than 4 per cent in the crucial state of Queensland. Topics:political-parties,government-and-politics,liberal-national-party-queensland,liberals,federal-parliament,parliament,federal-government,federal---state-issues,brisbane-4000,qld,australia,canberra-2600,act,cairns-4870,torres-strait-islands First posted September 12, 2018 06:01:45 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-12/gary-spence-lnp-president-fallout-after-dutton-pm-coup/10222642 Updated September 12, 2018 09:47:34
Photo: Lisa Cunningham could face the death penalty over charges relating to her stepdaughter's death. (Supplied: Maricopa County Sheriff's Office) It has been more than 50 years since the last person was executed on Australian soil, but the Federal Government is being urged to do more to stop the death penalty in other countries. Key points:Melbourne lawyer says Australia needs to do more to seek an end to the death penaltyForeign Minister Marise Payne due to launch new Government strategy this weekFamily of an Australian woman who could end up on death row say they feel "helpless" Ronald Ryan was hanged in Victoria in 1967 for the fatal shooting of a prison officer during an escape from Pentridge Prison, but since then, at least eight Australians have been executed by foreign governments. Former Adelaide woman Lisa Cunningham is now potentially facing the death penalty in the south-western US state of Arizona over the death of her seven-year-old stepdaughter Sanaa. Melbourne lawyer Nicholas Harrington, who established Reprieve Australia, a group that provides legal representation to people at risk of execution, said that while Australia had become much better at pushing for an end to the death penalty, there was "a lot more work that needs to be done". "It's difficult to know how effective we are, as it all happens behind closed doors," Mr Harrington said. "It would be a very dangerous thing for Australia in its region to stand on a soap box, so it's a long, slow road. "Courts and litigation are an instrument but the change needs to happen at a political level." Furthering Australia's diplomatic push, Foreign Minister Marise Payne is due to formally launch the Government's Strategy for Abolition of the Death Penalty in Canberra on Thursday. The strategy a main element of Australia's pitch to join the UN Human Rights Council is designed to formalise the nation's diplomatic approach to advocacy but does not look at police cooperation or the support provided for Australians on death row. Photo: Julian McMahon (right) in 2015. The lawyer said the execution of his client, Bali Nine member Myuran Sukumaran, was a turning point for Australia's advocacy against the death penalty. (AAP: Roni Bintang) Australia has steadily improved Melbourne lawyer Julian McMahon represented Bali Nine duo Andrew Chan and Myuran Sukumaran, who were executed by the Indonesian Government in April 2015 after serving 10 years in jail for trafficking heroin. He said Australia was at a "low point" in the first decade of this century, pointing to the Australian Federal Police's communications with the Indonesian police about the Bali Nine drug smugglers, as well as a lack of opposition to the execution of Saddam Hussain and the Bali bombers. "In the decade since 2008, Australia has definitely steadily and now very positively and strongly improved our position," he said. He attributed some of this change to the fight to save Chan and Sukumaran from the death penalty, with a strong sense of injustice felt by senior public servants who had worked hard to keep them alive. Limited resources created gaps The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not provide information to the ABC on dedicated operational funds that were provided for DFAT's new death penalty strategy. In response to questions, a departmental spokeswoman instead said Australia opposed the death penalty "in all circumstances for all people". "Australian ministers and officials regularly raise the abolition of the death penalty as a priority human rights issue with relevant countries," she said. A DFAT submission to an inquiry into Australia's work on the death penalty said that over the 18 months to September 2015 there were no representations made to the US Government on the death penalty, despite the country ranking fifth internationally for executions carried out. Kim Beazley, Australia's Ambassador to the US, instead wrote letters to two state governors regarding two specific cases, the submission said. It also noted there were gaps in Australia's bilateral advocacy against the death penalty, with restricted resources meaning advocacy was generally limited to a response to a request from Canberra or if a case attracted media attention. Australian mother could face death penalty In December, former Adelaide resident Lisa Cunningham, 44, and her husband Germayne, 39, were indicted in an Arizona county court each on 10 child abuse charges and a first degree murder charge over the death of Mr Cunningham's daughter Sanaa. Sanaa died on February 12, 2017, with an autopsy finding the cause of death to be sepsis related to a chest infection, an abscess in her right foot, multiple skin ulcers and unspecified schizophrenia spectrum disorder. In August, the Maricopa County Court ruled that both adults were eligible for the death penalty, remanding them in jail. Court documents allege the couple shut Sanaa in their backyard, laundry and garage, forced her to sleep outside, restrained her with cable ties and failed to seek medical care. The young child had special needs, with multiple psychiatric and behavioural issues, including a severe eating disorder. A December statement from the Arizona Department of Child Safety confirmed that Sanaa was known to the department, with multiple reports made alleging that she was neglected since March 2016. An investigation following the first report in March that year found the allegations were unsubstantiated, noting that the Cunninghams made specialist appointments for Sanaa over the course of the investigation. An October 2016 allegation of possible sexual abuse was investigated and found to be unsubstantiated. A third report was made in December that year, alleging neglect and physical abuse. After an investigation, the allegations were "proposed for substantiation", with the case still open at the time of Sanaa's death. The statement from the department said there was not sufficient evidence in each of the three investigations to legally justify removal from the home or to mandate court ordered services. Family in disbelief Cunningham's uncle Rob Topsfield who lives near Mannum in South Australia's Murraylands region told the ABC the family did not believe the news at first. "At first we just thought it was a joke, someone trying to be silly on Facebook, or a scam," he said. "We didn't really believe it until I rang one of my great nephews and he confirmed [it]. "She was a very loving-natured girl. She's spent most of her life helping others. "She was like a mother to her older brothers. "It's been a bit rough." He said he and other family members felt helpless. "I've got lung cancer, I'm 70," he said. "I don't think there's any way I could possibly go to America with the lungs the way they are, so we just feel so helpless. "It's frightening and disturbing we can't do any more for her. "There's nothing we can do from this side of the earth. We don't even get newspapers out where we live." A spokeswoman from DFAT told the ABC it was "providing consular assistance to an Australian in the United States, in accordance with the Consular Services Charter" and "for privacy reasons" were unable to provide further details. Topics:government-and-politics,federal-government,foreign-affairs,foreign-aid,human-rights,australia,canberra-2600,sa,adelaide-5000 First posted September 12, 2018 04:53:20 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-09-12/calls-for-australia-to-do-more-against-death-penalty/10221370 |
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