Detention documentary debuted at arts festival

June 2007

The young and accomplished Arts/Law graduate Jessie Taylor (LLB(Hons) 2007, BA(Hons) 2007) shared her experience of human rights in Australia with those attending the Monash University Arts in Action festival on Saturday 9 June.

The 24-year old Monash graduate is the writer/producer of the documentary ‘We Will Be Remembered For This’, which made its debut at the festival. The preview screening followed a panel discussion with Ms Taylor and two of the film’s cast members Guido Cadenazzi (BSc(Hons) 2007) and Joel Siegersma (BBus(Bkg&Fin) 2007). Ms Taylor is an Erasmus Mundus Masters scholar at University College Dublin, a board member of The Justice Project and an experienced writer and public speaker on human rights in Australia.

‘We Will Be Remembered For This’ features a group of people of varied backgrounds, nationalities, attitudes and political views who visit the Baxter Detention Centre in South Australia. The group meets detainees and witnesses the reality of life under Australia’s refugee and asylum seeker policy.

“I want to be able to highlight the humanity behind the razor wire,” said Ms Taylor.

“I was motivated to make this documentary because I think Australia’s current policy regarding asylum seekers is based on misinformation, misplaced suspicion, and the reluctance of ordinary Australians to ask questions, dig and find out the facts for themselves,” she said.

The documentary also features prominent alumnus and QC Julian Burnside (BEc 1972, LLB 1973) and former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser and the views of other key players in the human rights debate including a clinical psychiatrist, a former detention centre employee and a former detainee.

Ms Taylor has a close association with Monash University. While completing her undergraduate degrees, she worked with the University as a conference organiser and as a co-author with her Honours supervisors. She has also been offered a PhD scholarship, which she may take up some time in the future.

“Monash is full of opportunities. I could not have had a more enriching, positive and encouraging uni experience. It has opened doors I could never have dreamed of,” said Ms Taylor.

Ms Taylor also sits on the board of The Justice Project, a not-for-profit organisation that aims “to restore the value of a fair go in Australian public life and policy” (The Justice Project website). Ms Taylor has found her mentor in fellow board member Julian Burnside QC.

“He has been a huge support to me, both personally and professionally, in a field of work which is extremely challenging at times.”

The inaugural Arts in Action festival, hosted by Monash University’s Faculty of Arts, was on Saturday 9 June and featured more than 50 sessions across a number of topics.

Links:

We Will Be Remembered For This website
The Justice Project website
Liberty Victoria website