The creation of an expo-style “village” provided an opportunity both for the public to connect with the work of organisations involved in the pursuit of social justice and for the members of those organisations to share their knowledge and networks. The booths making up the village represented a wide range of social, economic and legal agencies – for instance, Mt. Druitt Ethnic Communities Agency, Church Housing Inc, National Women’s Alliances and Welfare Rights Centre. In addition, the festival provided a program of panel discussions and keynote speakers that focused on the ways and means by which society can arrest growing inequality.
An address by the forthright Professor Gillian Triggs, President of the Australian Human Rights Commission and well-known for her opposition both to keeping refugee children in detention and to turning back refugee boats, was a highlight of the conference. Professor Triggs made the point that the failure to incorporate human rights treaties, to which Australia is a party, into Australian law undermines our international credibility at a time when the nation is seeking election to the UN Human Rights Council for 2018 and is an obstacle to the achievement of social justice for all within our own country.
Other highlights of the festival were a high-energy performance by Wiradjuri poetry slammer, Lorna Munro, and keynote speakers, Maha Abdo (United Muslim Women Association) and comedian and writer, Corey White.
