Crispin Hull

A decade ago in the High Court a leading QC, I think it was Shand or Hughes, got into an exchange with one of the judges. The outcome was the self-satisfied conclusion that the law is embodiment of logic tempered with common-sense.

Why then, I thought, were the judges wearing silly, uncomfortable horse-hair wigs on their heads. These wigs added nothing to the processes of logic and common-sense that were supposedly going on underneath them. Indeed, they detracted from them. How could one have any faith in the common-sense of someone who put a silly horse-hair wigs on his head?

Now the judges of the High Court, at least, have abandoned them. But other continue with them. It is a cultural thing. Judges wear wigs for the same reason that some African tribes put bones through their noses or cut holes in their ear-lobes.
Continue reading “1993_08_august_sicksoc”

It is a popularly held view that before whites arrived, Aboriginal society lived in harmony with nature with cultural practices that contributed to that harmony and the survival of the population.

In the newly released book Sick Societies, Robert B. Edgerton debunks the myth of primitive harmony. In doing so he uses examples from Australian Aboriginal groups, among many others, to support a view that primitive societies worldwide should not be viewed through rose-coloured glasses, as so many anthropologists have done in the past.

Many of these societies have practices and beliefs which harm their chances of survival, or are at best neutral. Moreover, many of the practices result in great human misery and fear, much of which is unnecessary. Alienation, suffering, disquiet and rebelliousness are not the sole province of western societies and their ugly cities.
Continue reading “1993_08_august_sickabo”

About a dozen community groups are to hold a Save Our City rally at Acton Peninsula tomorrow (sunday) at 11am. The groups include those opposing in-fill in North Canberra and the North Duffy-Holder residents’ group.

The community groups will be expressing a range of concerns over the ACT Government’s policies on development, betterment levies, commuity facilities, conservation and the general feeling of loss of the unique feeling of Canberra, according to organisers. Organisers hope for a large turnout of Canberrans concerned with these issues.

The minimalist approach, therefore, seems to run against his political instinct. Small wonder his Corowa speech at the weekend hinted that he is moving away from it.

Initially, the Nervous Nellyism appeared to arise from the belief that Australians always knock back referendum proposals so they must not be scared too much. The whole republic thing could fall flat on its ear if the nervous Australian voter thought the change was too big.

Keating seems to have reassessed this. And quite right, too. It is based on a jaundiced view of Australia’s referendum history.
Continue reading “1993_08_august_rights”

Opposition Leader Kate Carnell’s idea for a collegiate-style government was described yesterday as a “”kindergarten ploy” by the Conservation Council.

And Independent Helen Szuty said it would be a return to the no-responsibility days of the Alliance Government.

Ms Szuty said Ms Carnell had misinterpreted community concern over consultation and direction of government as a call to change the structure.
Continue reading “1993_08_august_reesszut”

Documents presented by the ACT Government to the planning committee showed an appalling attitude to major Canberra redevelopments, according to Independent Helen Szuty.

She said yesterday that government documents on Duffy-Holder and development near Tuggeranong Homestead indicated that the Government assumed the planning approval would go through.

The documents said under the heading Public Consultation: “”A preliminary assessment is being prepared for public consultation. This will lead to approval of a draft Variation to the Territory Plan”.
Continue reading “1993_08_august_redev”

The Canberra Ratepayers Association has been angered by the refusal of the Chief Minister, Rosemary Follett, to cap rates to the CPI and to move to a user-pays system.

The convener of the association, Peter Blackshaw, said yesterday that residential rates had gone up 20 per cent in the past year. He said that at a meeting with Ms Follett last week she had showed no sympathy for inner-city residents who had been forced out by high rates.

However, Ms Follett rejected the suggestion, saying the Government had provided help in hardship cases.
Continue reading “1993_08_august_rate24”

At the best of times the theory that the Government knows best is treated with a fair degree of scepticism. Government now is getting so large that instead of being an impartial proponent of the public good, it has become a force of its own and acts for its own good first, against the best interests of the whole population.

The challenge to “”government knows best” has been mounting in the ACT as the Government pursues is 50-50 in-fill to greenfields policy. It culminated in a public rally on Sunday which expressed anger, determination, and thoughtful opposition.

As the next election draws closer, individual ACT politicians are going to have to be a bit more careful about branding opponents of the 50-50 policy as simplistic, ignorant and selfish. Indeed, the calibre of the challenge is such that it might be the Government that is seen by the public as simplistic, ignorant and selfish.
Continue reading “1993_08_august_rally”

The Budget also provides $4 million over two years for a committee to work with the Northern Territory to help develop Darwin as Australia’s northern link to Asia. It would be chaired by former NSW Premier Neville Wran.

The Minister for Transport and Communication, Bob Collins, said the railway survey would be “”put to open tender”. Presumably, a deposit will be required to establish bona fides.

The survey would give private-sector proponents a better idea of costs. Senator Collins said the Government “”would welcome any commercially viable proposal for a Darwin to Alice Springs rail link and would support private investment through taxation incentives such as infrastructure bonds”.
Continue reading “1993_08_august_rail”

In a Question Time when the Chief Minister, Rosemary Follett, proudly announced that the ACT’s economy had overtaken that of Tasmania, it was difficult to reflect upon anything, let alone the sin of pride, because of the incessant quipping and interjection from around the House.

The sin of pride was briefly referred to by Tony de Domenico who said the Minister for Urban Services, Terry Connolly, “”with chest blown out” had taken credit for achieving efficiencies in ACTION when in fact it had the lowest cost recovery and the lowest kilometres per vehicle in Australia and the second-lowest performance on a list of other measures.

Trevor Kaine interjected that any improvement were a result of Alliance Government initiatives. When Helen Szuty asked the Minister for Health, Wayne Berry, when would the ACT get a health-complaints unit, Mr de Domenico interjected sarcastically: “”In the fullness of time. When the time is ripe.”
Continue reading “1993_08_august_qt20”