INSULA.number #3

RETHINKING FEMINISM. FUNDING LEGAL AID. MEETING UN YOUTH.

A NEW KIND OF POLITICS.

Insula is a new state-wide publication of the Tasmania University Union (TUU), produced by the Student Representative Council. The opinions within are not necessarily those of Insula or the publisher. The copyright in this magazine remains with the publishers. Editor: Liam Carswell liamc0@utas.edu.au

Sub-editor:

Georgia Allen

Cover:

Jack Southwell

Contributors (in no particular order):

Georgia Allen, Alex McKenzie, Ben Armstrong, Campbell Nicol, Jack Southwell, Verity Dawkins

www.facebook.com/insulatuu Insula is printed by UniPrint and is released fortnightly.

Contibute:

Insula welcomes contributions from across the university. Please email your work or ideas to student.observer@tuu.utas.edu.auThe deadline for the Women’s edition is Tuesday, 23 April.

At a recent forum held by the Tasmania

University Union, panelists were asked

whether they believed universities were

turning into salmon farms. Whilst the

question wasn’t conclusively answered,

one point of agreement amongst the

panelists was that universities should

be a place for ideas.

So it is exciting to have another edition of Insula where students are given their own forum to dis-cuss ideas. Even if universities do increasingly seem like businesses, an issue that will only be compounded by the announcement of further cuts to higher education, they should never be a place without ideas.

In this edition of Insula, Georgia Allen con-fronts the emergence of a new kind of femi-nism in Australia following Julia Gillard’s pow-erful speech on sexism and misogyny last year. Alex McKenzie argues that the Legal Aid Com-mission of Tasmania is vastly underfunded and is compromising justice outcomes in the state.

This edition also introduces readers to UN Youth 7DVPDQLD���D�VRFLHW\�DI´OLDWHG�ZLWK�WKH�7DVPD-QLD� 8QLYHUVLW\� 8QLRQ� �� WKH� ´UVW� LQWURGXFWLRQ� LQ�an ongoing feature that will highlight a different society in Insula each fortnight. The calendar of events for the Tasmania University Union and its DI´OLDWHG�VRFLHWLHV�KDV�DOVR�EHHQ�VLJQL´FDQWO\�H[-panded.

Insula’s intrepid photographer Campbell Nicol captured the Tasmania University Union’s par-ticipation in a rally for reproductive rights, which neatly corresponds with Jamila Fontana’s piece on the decriminalisation of abortion featured in the last edition of Insula.

Like many of the subjects that have been cov-ered in Insula, the decriminalisation of abortion is not a black and white issue. As ever, if you want to write about the other side of the story, I’d encourage you to submit your writing to the magazine.

I hope you enjoy Insula #3.

From the Editor.

3

Rethinking Feminismby Georgia Allen

My female consciousness has been sparked, and WKDW�LV�ZKDW�OHG�PH�WR�DWWHQG�WKH�´UVW�PHHWLQJ�of WoMo (Women’s Movement). WoMo, in group founder Angela Wilson’s words, ‘isn’t a group about segregating women. We already have these mindsets and it’s time we forgot about them. We need to concentrate on the things that bring us together’. We were encouraged to bring our grandmother, friends, workmates, children, men and neighbours for champagne, coffee, conversation and cake, to make new friends or reconnect with old ones. I found myself surrounded by a group of brilliant, strong, intelligent women, all of whom have WKH� SRWHQWLDO� WR� EH� OHDGHUV� LQ� WKHLU� ´HOGV�� EXW�unfortunately, with the odds stacked against them.

,W�LV�XQGHQLDEOH�WKDW�WKHUH�KDV�EHHQ�LQVXI´FLHQW�progress in addressing gender inequality in this country. 'HVSLWH� WKH� ´UVW� $XVWUDOLDQ� UDOO\� IRU�equal pay taking place in 1928, the gender pay gap remains around 17.4%. In December 2012, ZRPHQ� ´OOHG� RQO\� ������ RI� ERDUG� SRVLWLRQV� LQ�the top ASX 200 companies; 9.3% of the board positions in ASX 500 companies, and less than 10% of leadership roles in both groups.

4

In 1993, a young Devonport girl wrote

to a celebrity, asking for a copy of her

favourite recipe for a primary school

cookbook. She asked herself who was

the most famous woman she could think

of, and naturally, the answer was For-

mer Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Six weeks later, despite her mother gen-

tly telling her Mrs Thatcher is very busy

and won’t reply, Angela Wilson received

D�UHFLSH�IRU�RUDQJH�DQG�OHPRQ�µDQ�DORQJ�with a letter and signed photograph

from the Iron Lady herself.

Recently, we’ve seen the re-emergence of feminism nationwide, with young privileged women such as P\VHOI�´QDOO\�XQGHUVWDQGLQJ�WKH�UHOHYDQFH�RI�WKH�¬I�ZRUG­��:KLOH�ZH�KDYH�WKH�́ UVW�IHPDOH�3ULPH�0LQLVWHU��Governor-General, Tasmanian Premier, and a record number of female Ministers in Federal Parliament, ZH�NQRZ� WKDW� WKH�´JKW� IRU�JHQGHU�HTXDOLW\� LV�QRW�yet over. Our women in politics, however, are proud to be women, and proud to pave the way for future generations of female leaders. This is a distinct and necessary change from the likes of Mrs Thatcher, a Prime Minister who just happened to be a female.

5

Recent calls for boardroom quotas, or initiatives to in-crease the number of women in leadership positions, have been met with indignation by an overwhelming number of the population. Perhaps most horrifying is the number of women who continue to experience sexual harassment in the work place, with a study by WKH� 6H[� 'LVFULPLQDWLRQ� &RPPLVVLRQ� LQ� ����� ´QGLQJ�that 22% of women had been sexually harassed in the workplace, with only 16% of that number actually re-porting the incident. As the Commissioner said, ‘just because you’re not hearing about sexual harassment doesn’t mean it’s not happening’. Every woman and man in the room could relate to Angela when she spoke about sexism in the work-place, and the old boys club. Angela went to work for the then Minister for Women, Paula Wriedt as a 22 year old Women’s Adviser after graduating from the University of Tasmania with an Honours degree in Gender Studies. In her own words, she has always ‘loved and celebrated all things female’, but in her ex-perience it has not always been easy being a woman in the workforce, particularly a young woman. Of course, Angela wouldn’t swap it for anything. As we’ve seen a past UTAS student go out and make her mark on the female experience in Hobart, our cur-UHQW�:RPHQ­V�2I´FHU�(PLO\�5RELQVRQ�LV�ZRUNLQJ�KDUG�to do the same on campus. Emily believes wholeheartedly that ‘women deserve and should be able to expect equity in every aspect of their lives’. Like Angela, Emily wants to create an environment in which females and female identifying persons can band together and feel totally comfort-able with their gender. Emily is already starting the conversation surrounding the largely hidden chal-lenges modern women face on campus, while simul-taneously giving students avenues to celebrate femi-ninity.

Following the success of her International Women’s Day Brunch earlier in the semester, Emily relaunched the Women’s Collective with a ‘Chat and Cuppa’ event. Through the Collective Emily wants to get the conversation started, and ensure gender inequalities are no longer unspoken realities. For Blue Stockings Week, April 29-May 3, Emily has planned a barbecue lunch on the Monday, a Blue Party with guest speak-ers on the Wednesday, and a ladies brunch on the Thursday. Blue Stockings Week celebrates women in higher education, by recognising the achievements RI�ZRPHQ�DQG�HPSRZHULQJ�WKRVH�ZKR�DUH�VWLOO�´JKW-ing.

How Mrs. Thatcher overcame the old boy network to become the leader of the Conservative Party and Prime Minister of a class-ridden country is almost un-fathomable.

Her singular success does not mean, howev-er, that in her time women were equal, with her refusal to aid the rise of other women ev-idence of an entrenchment of the exact op-posite. It has been twenty-three years since Margaret Thatcher moved out of 10 Down-ing Street and the reality is society hasn’t FORVHG�WKH�JHQGHU�JDS�VLQFH�VKH�OHIW�RI´FH��

While a Prime Minister’s impassioned speech against misogyny is described as self-serv-ing, while we need to create quotas for fe-male representation in boardrooms and while women who dress however they like are ‘asking for it’, we do not have equality.

“EMILY BELIEVES WHOLEHEART-EDLY THAT ‘WOMEN DESERVE AND SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXPECT EQUITY IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR LIVES’. LIKE ANGELA, EMILY WANTS TO CREATE AN EN-VIRONMENT IN WHICH FEMALES AND FEMALE IDENTIFYING PER-SONS CAN BAND TOGETHER AND FEEL TOTALLY COMFORTABLE WITH THEIR GENDER. ”

Australia Deserves the Best. by Ben Armstrong

“WHAT AUSTRALIA NEEDS IS A SAVIOUR. A SAVIOUR THAT CAN ONLY COME IN THE FORM OF A JOKE PARTY.”

“SURELY SOMETHING THAT GETS PEOPLE GENUINELY INTERESTED IN POLITICS AND THE POLITICAL SYSTEM, REGARDLESS OF ITS INTENTION, IS BETTER THAN THE STATE OF APATHY AND CYNI-CISM THAT IS CURRENTLY BEING FOSTERED?”

6

Uninspiring. This seems to be the go-to

word to describe the current political cli-

mate. In the scheme of things we are not

doing too badly; Neo-Nazis aren’t using

parliament to tighten up their left jab a la

Greece, and we are free to protest with-

out fearing retribution from a half-naked,

animal riding, gun toting Putin. However,

even the most partisan voter would strug-

JOH�WR�´OO�RXW�WKH�EDOORW�IRUP�ZLWK�DQ\�HQ-

thusiasm this September.

Do we prefer the self-hating, compromising, train wreck of the ALP, or would we rather surrender to Mr Rabbit’s nefarious designs? Are the self-righteous, cherry picking, sideline sniping ideals of the Greens any better? Or should we have a laugh and give the Democrats or Family First a go? What Australia needs is a saviour. A saviour that can only come in the form of a joke party.

What voter, frustrated, disgusted or just bored would not vote for the United Kingdom’s Church of Militant (OYLV�3DUW\"�:KDW�´UHDUPV�DQG�PDULMXDQD�HQWKXVLDVW�would turn their nose up at the United States’ Guns and Dope Party? The Polish Beer-Lover’s Party be-came so powerful after winning 16 federal seats that it was unable to reconcile its warring Small Beer and Large Beer factions and soon collapsed.

The joke party represents something more than just a novelty protest vote. In a world where politicians take themselves too seriously, despite the inherent ridiculousness of the media driven theatrics, photo-ops and, in Craig Emerson’s case, singing, of the modern political process, there is something refresh-ing, even rejuvenating about a party that can rise above this through satire. Surely something that gets people genuinely interested in politics and the politi-cal system, regardless of its intention, is better than the state of apathy and cynicism that is currently be-ing fostered? And if enough of the vote goes to such a party our leaders might actually take a hint. I think there is such a thing as a constructive piss-take and nothing demonstrates this better then the astonish-ing rise to power of Iceland’s Best Party.

After the Global Financial Crisis, Iceland’s economy was considerably rooted. The es-tablished parties were corrupt, ineffective and universally loathed. Jon Gnarr, Iceland’s favour-ite anarcho-surrealist comedian (and the man endowed with the world’s most frightening laugh) decided to create a party that no-one could disagree with, due to the simple fact that they were the best. He proclaimed that he was running for Mayor of Reykjavik just for the sal-ary and that his party would be openly corrupt, promising to break every election promise they made. These promises included free towels in all public swimming pools, a polar bear for the Reykjavik zoo, all kinds of things for the un-fortunates and of course, “topnotch stuff as a general rule”. Gnarr has been Mayor since 2010. Could Australia have its own Best Party - a party that can take the piss and make a differ-ence? There have been some noble attempts. The Imperial British Conservative Party tried to restore the might of the British Empire. The Sun Ripened Warm Tomato Party had arguably the greatest name ever. The Party! Party! Party! Party was fairly self-explanatory. But I think our UHDO�KRSH�OLHV�LQ�D�µHGJOLQJ�VDWLULFDO�SDUW\�FDOOHG�“Katter’s Australian Party”. It’s led by a larger than life character called Bob Katter who wears wacky costumes, advocates hilarious policies and has some classic lines such as “There are no homosexuals in my electorate”. The only risk is that his caricature of an ultra-conservative poli-tician might be a bit too unbelievable.

“COULD AUSTRALIA HAVE ITS OWN BEST PARTY - A PARTY THAT CAN TAKE THE PISS AND MAKE A DIFFER-ENCE?”

Funding Legal Aid. by Alex McKenzie

Legal aid funding is manifestly inade-

quate. It is abundantly clear that access

to justice is not at the forefront of gov-

ernment policy and concern. It should

be. Funding should not be siphoned

away from legal aid bodies that are at

the coalface representing disadvan-

taged people in the courts.

The Legal Aid Commission is Tasmania’s main pub-lic access legal services provider. It assists people who can’t afford legal representation, dealing pri-marily in criminal courts, with some civil and family cases. These vulnerable people are either against WKH�VWDWH�RU�´JKWLQJ�IRU�WKHLU�IDPLOLHV�RU�XS�DJDLQVW�it in a civil case. There are currently Australians liv-ing below the poverty line that do not qualify for legal aid because they earn too much. The system is both broken and unfair, society must accept re-sponsibility to better fund this essential part of the justice system. It’s a combined effort.

8

Money gets you a long way in the law. Legal battles can drag on and on, and corporations or other wealthy parties can grind opposition into the ground, aware that their funding allows them to. Forget equality or fairness: the greater your bank balance, the greater your access to justice.

The President of the Law Council of Australia recently lamented:

‘The stark reality is we have a justice system that is less accessible to the people that genuinely need it.’

Legal aid bodies and community legal centres, even when inadequately resourced, provide PHDVXUDEOH�EHQH´WV� WR� VRFLHW\��$� UHFHQW� UHSRUW�by Price Waterhouse Coopers found that every dollar invested saves approximately two. Further, a report by Judith Stubbs and Associates puts WKH� EHQH´W� WR� VRFLHW\� DW� HLJKWHHQ� WLPHV� WKH�investment cost.

Increased pro-bono work by the profession is the oft-quoted solution to any problem in rela-tion to access to justice in Australia. Some ar-gue as the profession makes the money from WKH�ODZ��WKH�SURIHVVLRQ�VKRXOG�´[�LW���7KLV�LV�DE-solutely part of the responsibility for the legal profession. The reality is that lawyers, particu-ODUO\�ODZ\HUV�LQ�VPDOOHU�´UPV��GR�D�JUHDW�GHDO�RI�pro-bono work. Not enough, but a great deal nonetheless.

7KLV��KRZHYHU��LV�QRW�HQRXJK�WR�´[�WKH�V\VWHPLF�issues. The solution of “lawyers should do more for free!” fails to acknowledge the harsh reper-cussions if we do not provide adequate access to justice for those people that need our help. Access to justice is not a luxury item that is optional, for some to enjoy in times of plenty. It shouldn’t be seen as something that can be cut from government programs in years of eco-nomic downturn and struggle.

We must instead consider the responsibilities we, as a community, have towards each other. It’s all very well to think legal aid is someone else’s problem. Many think they will never be WURXEOHG� E\� WKH� SROLFH�� RU� ´QG� WKHPVHOYHV� LQ�need of representation when they can not af-ford it. And then, all of a sudden, they’ve misun-derstood a cop, they’ve been arrested, they’re before a magistrate and their job is on the line.

Consider, for example, recent changes to the Legal Aid Commission of Tasmania eligibility policy mean that if a person has used violence against the other party, they cannot access funding in a family law dispute. Obviously, do-mestic violence is an appalling act. However, a central tenet of our justice system is that all are equal before the law, regardless of their back-ground. Denying access to legal aid is denying legal representation, which is denying justice. It is not how our legal system should operate, even in disputes between individuals.

Left to self-representation, with a record for an appalling offence – violence at home - defend-DQWV�ZLOO�´QG�WKHPVHOYHV�LQ�D�VLWXDWLRQ�ZKLFK�LV�confusing, and they will be less able to deal with the multifaceted problems they clearly already face. If we are to be sure our justice system works, even those charged with appalling of-fences, must have access to proper legal repre-sentation that can put their cases across for the facts to be determined by the court.

We should move towards a system, which rec-ognise the vital importance of access to justice. The equity of our legal system will affect all of us at some point. We should think of legal aid more like medicare: a fundamental necessity for a fair and equal society. Justice and equality before the law is a central promise of Australian citizenship, and it is obligation to each other we are failing to meet. It must change.

“IF WE ARE TO BE SURE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM WORKS, EVEN THOSE CHARGED WITH APPALL-ING OFFENCES, MUST HAVE ACCESS TO PROPER LEGAL REPRESENTATION THAT CAN PUT THEIR CASES ACROSS FOR THE FACTS TO BE DETERMINED BY THE COURT. ”

9

Meeting UN Youth. by Verity Dawkins

“IT WAS AN INTENSE, EXHAUSTING WEEKEND - WE HAD FIVE HOURS SLEEP EACH NIGHT AND SPENT THE DAYS RUNNING MODEL UN, LEAD-ING WORKSHOPS OR ENCOURAGING GAMES.”

How did you spend your weekend?

I spent mine with thirty of Tasmania’s

best and brightest college students,

educating them on the United Nations,

laughing at their jokes and opening

their eyes to global issues.

Tasmania’s 2013 State Conference is a four day residential event open to all students between year ten and twelve. Run entirely by young peo-ple for young people, State Conference provides an eye opening and powerful experience. This year it was convened by Gordon Luckman, and timed for National Youth Week and World Health Day, the theme was ‘Health For All’. It was an in-WHQVH�� H[KDXVWLQJ�ZHHNHQG� ��ZH� KDG� ´YH� KRXUV�sleep each night and spent the days running Mod-el UN, leading workshops or encouraging games.

The thirteen member organising committee, most of whom are studying at UTAS, were re-sponsible for everything from food to fun, work-shops to welfare and recruitment to venues. My role on the committee was to write and run an interactive workshop in which delegates have to act as two cabinets and negotiate to solve an in-ternational crisis.

This was my second state conference as a facili-WDWRU��,�́ QG�EHLQJ�D�IDFLOLWDWRU�DW�81�<RXWK�HYHQWV��whether divisionally or nationally, amazingly re-warding. It’s a bizarre state of affairs being a facili-tator to delegates so near my own age, and some of whom I have attended a conference with, and to feel pride in what they achieve. I was happy to ´QG�WKLV�\HDU� WKDW� ,�ZDV�H[SHULHQFHG�DQG�UHOLHG�upon in my role. The growth that is possible in this organisation and the responsibility that was given to me, age 19, is one of the reasons these facilitation experiences are so valuable.

UN Youth Tasmania meets fortnightly on a Thurs-day evening. We visit schools both in the north and south of the state, model United Nations events at a tertiary level and three major events, State Conference, the Evatt Trophy Competi-tion and a Junior Public Speaking Competition. Nationally, UN Youth Australia holds a National Conference, the National Finals of the Evatt Tro-phy and National Council for tertiary students. Internationally, UN Youth Australia sends school students to Europe for THIMUN, New Zealand for New Zealand Model UN and East Timor to see the work of the UNDP. University students can apply to visit the US for Harvard MUN and get articles published in Perspective, UN Youth Australia’s journal. UTAS students have been se-lected for StatesMUN and have been published in Perspective.

To get involved, contact: jamila.fontana@un-youth.org.au

“THE THIRTEEN MEMBER ORGANIS-ING COMMITTEE, MOST OF WHOM ARE STUDYING AT UTAS, WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING FROM FOOD TO FUN, WORKSHOPS TO WELFARE AND RECRUITMENT TO VENUES.”

“THE GROWTH THAT IS POSSIBLE IN THIS ORGANISATION AND THE RE-SPONSIBILITY THAT WAS GIVEN TO ME, AGE 19, IS ONE OF THE REASONS THESE FACILITATION EXPERIENCES ARE SO VALUABLE.”

Wednesday 24 April

UNI GAMES INFO SESSION

If you are interested in competing at this years Uni Games come along to a informal lunchtime information session from 12 noon.

Location: Activities Room Cradle Coast CampusHosted by: TUUWhen: 12 noon

Resource Share

With prac just around the corner this is the time to share and add to your own folio of resources to use in the class-room!

Location: Hytten Hall, Rm 329A (pri-mary) & Rm405 (secondary)Hosted by: Tasmanian Education Soci-ety - TEDSWhen: 5-6pm

Federal Election Debate

The election has been called. The lead-ership is settled (maybe). The policies are being released (well broadband anyway). But what are the major politi-cal parties offering university students?

Location: Dechaineux Lecture Theatre Hosted by: TUUWhen: 7 - 8.30pm

Friday 26 April

MOONLIGHT CINEMA

We are very excited to announce TUU SRC’s innaugral Moonlight Cinema! FREE outdoor entertainment doesn’t get any better than this!!

Location: Central Mall- Sandy Bay Cam-pus 5.00 onwardsHosted by: TUUWhen: 5pm-

MAMAK NIGHT 2013

MSA proudly brings you MAMAK NIGHT 2013 We are bringing it back@! Experi-HQFH�0DOD\VLDQ�VWUHHW�IRRG�DW�LWV�´QHVW��We’ve got food We’ve got music.

Location: Uni Bar Launceston 6.00pmHosted by: TUUWhen: 6pm-

Monday 29 April

Bluestocking Week

Come along to an array of free events to celebrate women›s participation in higher education!

MONDAY: BBQ 12-2 on the Ref StepsWEDNESDAY: (Blue) Themed party from 6-9pm with guest speakersTHURSDAY: Toast, Bluestockings Edition 8:30-10:30am on the Ref Steps

Hosted by: TUU

Wednesday 1 May

TAS GIFTED PD

Lynne Maher (President of Tasmanian Association for the Gifted) will present a professional development session on ‘Why Cater for the Gifted?’

Location: Hytten Hall, Rm 405Hosted by: Tasmanian Education Society When: 5-6.30pm

Wednesday 8 May

Bouncers and Shakers

Tickets will be available at the door. For more information contact: info@plot.org.au

Location: Theatre Royal BackspaceHosted by: PLoT (Produces Lots of Thea-tre)When: 8-10 May

Upcoming Events

The Uni (Food) Review. by Anon.

You’re a student. You’re poor. If you’re

going to splash out on food you want

to know it’s worth it. Let us be your

guide.

Eating on Campus

Crispy Tofu and Vegetable Stir Fry

The tofu was crispy, as per the title. Excellent start. Except it was only the one piece at the top that was actually crispy. The rest was fat, luke-warm, watery chunks that hadn’t been allowed to DEVRUE�PXFK�µDYRXU�LQ�WKH�SDQ��DQG�WKH�RFFDVLRQ-al meant-to-be-crispy-but-more-like-a-prawn-cracker-has-fallen-in-your-stir-fry piece.

Also as per the title, there were vegetables. Here, the meal performed better. A generous veg to noodle ratio, with zucchini, beans, red capsci-cum, carot, celery all cooked nicely with a touch of crunch. There was a light touch of chilli that built as I ate, but precious little other evidence of sauce. Manu would not have been happy!

For food on campus, I would have been pretty pleased with this: vegetarian, healthy, quick: tick-ing all the boxes – but not price and service! With few other customers around, one of the kitchen staff had to stop rolling pizza dough to serve me (because none of his colleagues felt like it), and the girls at the counter were much more inter-ested in talking to each other.

Then I had to pay $7.50 for my little box of noo-dles. Hobart food tends to be expensive. I deal with that. However, vegetarian noodles aren’t the most challenging or costly to produce, and I’m pretty sure I could have got moar food for ma dolla at any number of places around town. I was

still hungry afterwards.

Compass: it’s time to work with your market. We’re captive, but we’re students. Be nice.

Two and a half stars.

The RefUTAS Sandy Bay CampusMon – Thurs 8:30am – 4:00pm; Fridays 8:30am – 3:00pm

Rally For Reproductive Rights. by Campbell Nicol