Auslan Update - 16 April, 2021

National:

New study on street harassment found most people who reported their harassment were not happy with response

Study was conducted by advocacy group It’s Not A Compliment (INAC)
343 respondents were surveyed who had experienced catcalling, whistling, honking, gestures and unwanted touching in public spaces
90% of respondents who reported harassment were not happy with the outcome
91.4% of respondents were women, 89% experienced sexual harassment
Report found Asian women have very different experiences to Caucasian women, because they also experienced racism.

Victoria:

“Brown sludge” found in The Passage near Port Fairy break

2 male surfers went to hospital after surfing in south-west Victorian surf spot.
Both came into contact with “a brown sludge-like substance” which is unidentified.
Local water authority Wannon Water says there were no issues with local sewage treatment plant which discharges water out to sea at Griffiths Island near The Passage
The Department of environment, land, water and planning (DELWP) has taken water samples for analysis and are monitoring the area
DELWP is advising the public to avoid contact with water around The Passage until further notice.

Melbourne bartenders are finding solutions to drink spiking

The bar industry believes that police are not doing enough to prevent drink spiking
Alcohol is one of the most common drugs used in drink spiking, and bar tenders look out for people who order extra shots for one drink and not the other.
There are also private Facebook groups for people who work in hospitality that privately name and shame drink spikers, and those who are violent.
Sam Israel, manager of The Rooks Return in Fitzroy is conducting his own survey of the industry as there is not enough research.

Tasmania:

Tasmanian public servant faces court after being charged with child sex crimes

Accused will face court on Wednesday, but there are no further details on the specific charges or the agency the person worked for
A government website says 14 state servants have been stood down due to child sexual abuse allegations in the last 7 months
Only 1 employee has been charged, 11 are being investigated, and 1 has returned to work.
Last month, a Commission of Inquiry into Tasmanian Government responses to child sexual abuse was established.

International:

Japan may need to cancel this year’s Olympic Games due to COVID-19

Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party said rising cases may make the event “impossible”.
Japan is now facing a 4^th wave of cases, with 36,000 active coronavirus cases.
The event was originally scheduled for last year but had to be postponed due to the pandemic and is now scheduled for July.
Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the government is committed to hosting the games, putting social distancing measures and capacity limits in place.

Sources: