ON ONE, ideology goes out the window. Principle is of no moment. Political foes become expedient friends. That matter is the electoral process. As a rule, political parties will ask only one question about changes to the electoral law: will this benefit or hurt my party. Nothing else matters. Continue reading “Electoral advantage — they’ll vote for that”
Category: Uncategorized
Entitlement mentality leads to paralysis
COULD you imagine Paul Keating or Malcolm Fraser making the following the core of their New Year speech (take a deep breath and wade through to the end of the three paragraphs please): Continue reading “Entitlement mentality leads to paralysis”
Gunning for donation reform
THE hogwash delivered last week by the US National Rifle Association in response to the Connecticut shootings can be fairly quickly dismissed by a comparison with Australia. Continue reading “Gunning for donation reform”
Court’s drowsy procrastination goes on
A LARGE sign spelling AON atop a 12-storey office block glares over the ACT Supreme Court building on the other side of London Circuit. 
It should act as a reminder and warning. But the lesson has been forgotten and the warning ignored. Continue reading “Court’s drowsy procrastination goes on”
Seven-year wait for justice
SEVEN years after the loss at sea of two Australian immigration officers and three others, the search for accountability for the families appears to be whimpering to an end after a Court of Appeal decision last week. Continue reading “Seven-year wait for justice”
States should not have environment role
STATE and territory governments in Australia are too inept, tainted by corruption and compromised for anyone to have any confidence in their capacity to make decisions on whether developments are environmentally acceptable.
In the 19th century a local stream could be dealt with locally. But now environmental issues are becoming more national and international. Continue reading “States should not have environment role”
How to save us from climate-change doomsayers
“WE’RE doomed; we’re all doomed,” as Private Fraser of “Dad’s Army” fame would have it. Continue reading “How to save us from climate-change doomsayers”
Inquiry will need access to confessional secrets
THE Royal Commission into child sex abuse is going to face a major evidentiary and constitutional problems. In announcing the commission, Prime Minister Julia Gillard stressed the evil not only of the abuse itself, but also the cover-up. Indeed, in her eyes, the cover-up seems to be the core reason for the commission. Continue reading “Inquiry will need access to confessional secrets”
Indigenous not helped by speech ban
IT IS taking quite a long time to break down the misconception that people who are not dark-skinned cannot possibly be Indigenous or Aboriginal. Continue reading “Indigenous not helped by speech ban”
Frighteners put on ratings agencies
AT LAST some come uppance for the ratings agencies that caused so much damage in the global financial crisis.
IN THE the big wash-up of the global financial crisis, we did not see the demise of too many big financial corporations. Some were too big to be allowed to fail and so were bailed out by the US Government. Continue reading “Frighteners put on ratings agencies”