By NATSIC-AS – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation – Advocacy Service CEO Brian AJ Newman Few Australians have heard of Con Colleano, yet circus historians continue to describe him as perhaps the greatest tightrope walker who ever lived. His story is extraordinary. Not only because he became an international superstar. But because he did so while concealing the very identity that made his family's story uniquely Australian. The Colleano Family: The Abor

There are many Aboriginal people whose story doesn't begin with learning who they are. It begins with being told who they are not. Mine is one of those stories. As is my story about the Bundjalung family from Narrabri , known as the Colleano Family, entitled "Why One of Australia's Greatest Circus Dynasties Hid Their Aboriginal Identity" As far back as I can remember, I knew there was something different about my family. I couldn't explain it, but I could feel it. Children ar

By Brian AJ Newman Having examined the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force Afghanistan Inquiry Report (2020), the Afghanistan Inquiry Reform Plan (30 July 2021), and the Afghanistan Inquiry Reform Program Closure Report (2023–24) as part of my Master of International Laws, I approach this issue through structure and process—not assumption or speculation. To properly understand what is happening now, it helps to follow the sequence of events clearly: Allegations

By BAJN.au Australia’s Workforce Has Changed Forever Not long ago, work in Australia followed a familiar pattern. People were employees, independent contractors, or business owners. Today, that distinction has become increasingly blurred. Hundreds of thousands of Australians now earn their income through digital labour platforms such as Uber, Uber Eats, DoorDash, Menulog, Amazon Flex, Airtasker and other app-based services. These workers—commonly known as gig workers—have bec

By Brian AJ NewmanEmployment & Human Rights Advocate Every now and then, amid the legislation, submissions, hearings and deadlines, something arrives that reminds me exactly why I chose this path. It isn't a judgment in my favour. It isn't a settlement agreement. It isn't recognition from a tribunal. It's a simple message from a client. Recently, after completing detailed submissions for an upcoming employment matter, I received the following email. The client has kindly perm

By Brian AJ NewmanEmployment & Human Rights Advocate A Piece of History—And a Piece of My Own Every now and then, I come across something tucked away that reminds me not only of Australia's political history, but of my own journey. This is one of those items. It is an Open Letter to Australians, dated 31 August 1998, signed by four former Prime Ministers—Malcolm Fraser, Gough Whitlam, Bob Hawke and Paul Keating. It was published during one of the most politically charged peri