On Wednesday 5 October, Amnesty International’s Queensland branch will host a forum with influential Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander speakers who are pursuing major reforms in governance, law enforcement and the administration of justice in Queensland.

The event will include a number of high profile speakers as well as workshops and discussion panels covering the Queensland justice system and its dealing with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples, Palm Island, family well-being and child safety, health services and employment.

What: Human Rights and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Peoples in Queensland Forum

When: 5 October 2011

Where: Queensland Parliament House, Atrium

Cost: Free

Speakers at the forum include:

• Les Malezer, Co-Chair National Council of First Nation Peoples; Permanent representative to the United Nations on Indigenous Peoples Issues
• Dr Noel Hayman, General practitioner and first Murri medical graduate in Queensland
• Shane Duffy, CEO Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Legal Service Inc
• Boni Robertson, Professor, Indigenous Engagement and Policy, Griffith University
• Justice John Jerrard (Retired) Queensland Court of Appeal
• Magistrate Jacqueline Payne
• Alfred Lacey, Mayor of Palm Island
• Barristers , Andrew Boe, Dan O’Gorman SC, Paula Moreau, Ralph Devlin SC, Stephen Keim SC, and Solicitor Louisa Pink
• Rev Alexis Gater, an Anglican Priest working in the Prison Ministry
• Joanne Watson, Historian and Author
• Ian Mackie, Deputy Director General (Indigenous Education) Education Queensland
• Claire Mallinson, National Director, Amnesty International Australia
• Grant Sarra, Contractor Indigenous Employment and Job Generation
• Kevin Smith, CEO Southern Queensland Native Title Organisations Inc
• Ken Georgetown, CEO, Murri Watch; Coordinator Indigenous Incarceration Advocacy Project
• Rodney Dillon, Indigenous Rights Campaigner, Amnesty International Australia
• Wendy Wattegor, Researcher and Facilitator, Murri Community Healing

Amnesty International is also hosting its largest ever Human Rights Conference in Brisbane from Thursday 6 to Saturday 8 October 2011, as the organisation marks 50 years of defending freedom and justice. Led by Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Salil Shetty, the conference will cover issues ranging from the use of social media during the Arab uprisings to refugee rights in Australia.

For a complete list of speakers, the conference program and registration information, go to www.hrc.amnesty.org.au.