http://www.thepunch.com.au/tags/discrimination/ Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. en Copyright 2012 The Punch penberthyd@newsltd.com.au penberthyd@newsltd.com.au Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Politics, opinion, world news, sports news, latest news, views, Barack Obama, Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard, Nathan Rees, Malcolm Turnbull, Peter Garrett, Barnaby Joyce, Australian, federal politics, opinion polls, election, The Punch, thepunch, punch ExpressionEngine 1.6.7 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 15 http://www.thepunch.com.au/images/punch-logo-rss.png http://www.thepunch.com.au/ 144 70 Politics, political opinion, world news, sports news and the latest news and views updated live, daily on The Punch - Australia's best conversation. Search The Punch keywords http://www.thepunch.com.au/search/ http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gay-marriage-theres-nothing-easy-about-saying-i-do/ It says a lot about changing community standards that a state such as Queensland, which under Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen was every civil libertarian’s nightmare, has this week voted to recognise same-sex unions. Or does it? It could show that the Queensland Parliament has responded to majority community sentiment in support of gay marriage. Or it could just show that the Queensland Parliament is now home to a majority of MPs who support gay marriage. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gay-marriage-theres-nothing-easy-about-saying-i-do/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/gay-marriage-theres-nothing-easy-about-saying-i-do/#item7284 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/is-gillard-a-victim-of-sexism/ Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/is-gillard-a-victim-of-sexism/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/is-gillard-a-victim-of-sexism/#item6742 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/what-bastard-would-park-in-a-disabled-space/ A couple of South Australian politicians were featured in the paper this weekend, parking their government cars in very clearly marked disabled parking spaces. The photos were published and, judging by the comments on The Advertiser’s website, people were really, really angry that a pollie would do such a heinous thing. The MPs were suitably reprimanded by public opinion, and the Dignity for Disability MLC, the Hon Kelly Vincent, who uses a wheelchair herself, demanded that they each cough up the equivalent of the fine to a disability related charity, which they did, heads hanging low. They admitted their shameful and embarrassing “crime” and no doubt, no other MP in South Australia at least, will park in a disabled space without a permit for a very long time. But how can people who truly need those spaces get that message through to the “ablebods”? I put a call out for a contribution to this column about disabled parking spaces and received stories from Nicola Stratford and Kate Jenian, over the jump, this week’s piece of angry. Their stories are not unusual. They do remind us, however, that stupidity and arrogance are not disabilities which qualify for a disability parking permit. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/what-bastard-would-park-in-a-disabled-space/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/what-bastard-would-park-in-a-disabled-space/#item6078 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-a-19th-century-leader-sets-a-tone-of-sexism/ Some might be wondering why two days of our national media cycle have included debate over a man miaowing like a cat and the appropriate level of offence it should or shouldn’t cause. While we’d like our parliament to set a standard for the rest of the community, the truth is we often fall well short - in terms of behaviour and sexism. There has been progress but it is still a parliament dominated by men in suits. Women here, like women in any workplace, are entitled to enjoy equal treatment in all senses. No-one is asking for favours or complaining about the hustle and bustle that accompanies hard-fought debate but there is just one request - maybe we could treat members of both genders equally. There were howls from the Opposition when the Government described the noise that was made towards Penny Wong as sexist. The reality is that not only was it sexist but it also pointed to a pretty unpleasant pattern of behaviour, which has flourished under the leadership of Tony Abbott. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-a-19th-century-leader-sets-a-tone-of-sexism/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/how-a-19th-century-leader-sets-a-tone-of-sexism/#item5994 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/tv-finally-gets-it-viewers-like-watching-womens-sport/ In a room full of females, raise the issue of women in sport and you can expect a collective groan and eyes rolling in unison. And, given the facts on sponsorship, media coverage and support, it’s hardly surprising. Take the Matildas, Australia’s national soccer side. They regularly qualify for the World Cup and the Olympics but still play to half-empty stadiums while making the same commitments as their male counterparts, the Socceroos. It’s a given perception that women in sport get a raw deal, and arguably the focus for too long has been on their appearance and sex appeal. But over the past few years there’s been a substantial shift in the paradigm of women’s sports coverage. Sponsors and television networks alike are starting to see the value in investing in women. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/tv-finally-gets-it-viewers-like-watching-womens-sport/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/tv-finally-gets-it-viewers-like-watching-womens-sport/#item5861 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/faith-organisations-dining-out-on-discrimination-exemptions/ “It is not ideal that religious freedom is protected by so-called ‘exemptions and exceptions’ in anti-discrimination law, almost like reluctant concessions, crumbs from the secularists’ table.” Cardinal George Pell’s recent lament to Prime Minister Julia Gillard about the “secularists’ table” seems odd, given that religion still defines our nationhood. Just ask our atheist Prime Minister. It is hard to imagine then how exceptions and exemptions are metaphorical “crumbs”, when they have a vast reach in excluding minority groups in Australia. While each state and territory currently has anti-discrimination laws which protect against some forms of sexuality or gender identity discrimination, the inconsistency in terminology, and the wide-ranging exemptions (particularly for faith-based bodies) means there are considerable gaps in protecting the rights of individuals accessing health services, goods or services, aged care, employment and education. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/faith-organisations-dining-out-on-discrimination-exemptions/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/faith-organisations-dining-out-on-discrimination-exemptions/#item5574 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/disability-advocates-ignoring-whats-best-for-disabled/ Sue O’Reilly, who has guest written today’s column on The Angry Cripple is a freelance journalist and the mother of a 21-year-old son with cerebral palsy. She co-founded Australians Mad as Hell last year with Fiona Porter to campaign for an NDIS and established a charity called Fighting Chance to help people with disabilities pay for essential therapy services. The president of South Australia’s Council on Intellectual Disabilities recently stated that all people with disabilities have “a right to live in an ordinary home in an ordinary street”. But what if some people with disabilities don’t want to live in “an ordinary house in an ordinary street”? What if they want to live in something like the manicured villages that have sprung up everywhere for people over 55, or an apartment complex with 24/7 care facilities? feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/disability-advocates-ignoring-whats-best-for-disabled/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/disability-advocates-ignoring-whats-best-for-disabled/#item5554 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-angry-cripple-goes-out-on-a-limb/ Most Australian media like to run the “Crippled Orphan Boy overcomes Headlessness to Swim the Murray for Charity” or “Wheelchair Bound (yuck) Woman Speaks to Schoolkids about Dangers of Drunk Driving” kinds of stories. They are not often actually inspiring to me. Mostly, they make me feel as though people with disabilities are to be routinely pitied, and awarded if they do anything more than get out of bed in the morning. There was, however, one guy doing the rounds last week who was a little different. Nick Vujicic, a 28-year-old Brisbane bloke who is a Minister and motivational speaker, and he’s got no arms or legs, just a kind of a foot that sticks out from one hip. This guy’s ‘can do’ attitude is almost sickening. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-angry-cripple-goes-out-on-a-limb/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-angry-cripple-goes-out-on-a-limb/#item5502 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/apple-should-have-kept-the-anti-gay-app/ One of my favourite episodes of Will & Grace involves Jack stumbling across the “Welcome Back Home” conversion program. It’s hilarious for two reasons: One, because Jack cunningly chooses to think of the group as “Welcome Back Homo” and two, as the episode amusingly shows, washing that gay right out of your hair isn’t all that simple. Or successful. My interest in conversion programs is two-fold. I find them stupidly hilarious as Will & Grace and But I’m a Cheerleader and Saved and Boston Legal and Big Love and plenty of other examples testify. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/apple-should-have-kept-the-anti-gay-app/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/apple-should-have-kept-the-anti-gay-app/#item5492 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body. http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-very-reverend-julia-traditional-values-gillard/ What a week it has been for the Prime Minister of our nation, Our Lady of the Lodge, the Very Reverend Julia “Traditional Values” Gillard. Let me get this “straight”…if you’ll pardon the expression.  Our first female Prime Minister, an atheist living in a de facto relationship, claims to be a traditionalist with a conservative upbringing.  We are exhorted to go back to Bible stories to understand why marriage equality doesn’t fit with Australia’s cultural heritage because we have to see where we have come from. feedback@thepunch.com.au (Antony McMullen) Article http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-very-reverend-julia-traditional-values-gillard/#comments http://www.thepunch.com.au/articles/the-very-reverend-julia-traditional-values-gillard/#item5445 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 19:00:12 +0000 Is Julia Gillard copping more flak than past prime ministers because she is a woman? No. And yes. Julia Gillard has been the subject of much public debate and media scrutiny over her appearance, her voice, her de facto relationship, her lack of children, her disinterest in domestic affairs. Some of this debate has been quite rugged and quite insulting. In caricature she is often drawn as a rectangle; Peter Nicholson in The Australian habitually draws her with such a big bum that her buttocks appear to be chasing the rest of her body.