Thread by @iMusing

Rodney Croome is such a veteran legend activist. He finds it easier to work with lawyers who can see whats possible instead of whats impossible🔥#RebLawAus

example is the case he took to the UN Human Rights Committee (Toonen v Australia 1991). I’ve been writing up some HR content for first years around this case, which is still so incredibly unusual, for an Aust case to get up. #RebLawAus

the marriage equality campaign strategy via states and territories, to test the Commonwealth Marriage Act 1961, was a success in the sense that ACT Civil Unions made formal same sex partnerships visible and “the sky didn’t fall in”. #RebLawAus

Rawan Arraf argues for global solidarity and points to shortcomings of settler colonial society (lawyers in) not seeing the commonalities across struggle here and elsewhere. #RebelLawAus

allies allies allies. Sophie McNeill compares and contrasts coalition building as an advocate to the more combative relationship between investigative journalists and the people/agencies they are exposing. #RebLawAus

McNeill says Human Rights Watch as a large global org can often get that meeting with the Police Commissioner or Minister and partnering with smaller NGOs to support their access to power is an important part of HRW work. #RebLawAus

example is failure of universities to adequately support Chinese students and safeguard them from harassment and intimidation (due to uni biz model). As a journo she would have sprung the findings on VCs, as an advocate she sat down with unis to work through evidence. #RebLawAus

GREAT question on how to prevent “backsliding”. Croome says community support for the (legislative) change. Examples of backlash to gains in LGBTQI+ rights are the religious discrimination bill and attacks on trans people, especially in sport. #RebLawAus

safeguarding against backlash? Have to be prepared to keep on fighting, says Croome. Make sure we do not let them [bigots - me] frame the band. It is not religious freedom, he says, it is legal privilege. #RebLawAus

and “prick the bubble of complacency”. People tend to sit back and think the work is done. Keep on keeping on, be persistent, persevere, just because a gain has been achieved does not mean it will stay - Croome, paraphrased. #RebLawAus

train and sustain, says Arraf. Why are we doing what we do? For who? What is success? Example is from Vince Warren’s keynote, where a failed litigation was constructive in that the community were able to mobilise media attention and support from the (lost) case. #RebLawAus

flip it around judo style says Croome, of how the AIDS panic was used to argue against decriminalisation and the decrim campaign argued against driving gay men underground when they are at risk of HIV. #RebLawAus

the UN case was mobilised to change the conversation from health to human rights, says Croome on the campaign to decriminalise homosexuality in Tasmania. Highlights one-on-one interaction to “convince people that it is a reform that matters”. #RebLawAus

wrapping up for the day. I wish I could have seen more sessions but anywhoot. Amazing speakers and panels. Back tomorrow🤩👏🏼 #RebLawAus