WHEN the parliamentary Human Rights Committee inquires into Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act it should recall the quote from President-elect Donald Trump about Mexicans. Continue reading “Trump victory shows hate speech should be unlawful”
Disqualification clause gets its Day in court
TWENTY years ago the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs began inquiring into the section of the Constitution under which two senators are now facing disqualification. Continue reading “Disqualification clause gets its Day in court”
Federal demand push causes housing crisis
TREASURER Scott Morrison’s address to Urban Development Institute of Australia this week highlights much of what is has been wrong with Australian politics in the 21 st century. Having identified a “housing affordability” problem (wow!), Morrison did what every federal politician has done since the 1990s – refused to acknowledge the nasty political conundrum by resorting to opaque language; ignored the obvious; and blamed someone else.
TREASURER Scott Morrison’s address to Urban Development Institute of Australia this week highlights much of what is has been wrong with Australian politics in the 21 st century. Having identified a “housing affordability” problem (wow!), Morrison did what every federal politician has done since the 1990s – refused to acknowledge the nasty political conundrum by resorting to opaque language; ignored the obvious; and blamed someone else. Continue reading “Federal demand push causes housing crisis”
Prosecute Four Corners to prove a point
LET’S hope ABC Four Corners journalist Debbie Whitmont and teachers Tracey Donehue and Gabby Sutherland are prosecuted under the 2015 Australian Border Protection Act which provides for up to two years jail for disclosing “protected” information about Australian immigration detention centres. Continue reading “Prosecute Four Corners to prove a point”
Mainstream media finishes newsworthy Trump
DON’T do it, I tell family and friends. Don’t do it, I told my students for a decade or so. On media sites, do not click on bizarre or celebrity articles. “Gorillas bring up baby.” “Angelina’s new heartache.” And so on. All it does is encourage editors to run more of this junk at the expense of concentrating on importance material of consequence as they see these stories top “most hit” lists. Continue reading “Mainstream media finishes newsworthy Trump”
The warning signs are there for us to ignore
We humans can be very stupid at not heeding warnings. And I am one of them. The warning sign was quite clear – a slow, small but relentless water leak on the yacht. Continue reading “The warning signs are there for us to ignore”
The importance of religious tolerance
DONALD Trump and Pauline Hanson both fail the tests of logic and history when they call for bans on Muslim immigration because of its “threat” to American/Australian or the American/Australian way of life.
Continue reading “The importance of religious tolerance”
The challenge of the dentally challenged
MEDIBANK Private’s decision this week to pay a little bit for dental checkups comes just as I am feeling like “Jaws”, the character in the James Bond movies. Continue reading “The challenge of the dentally challenged”
Exhaust yourself on election day, I say
NUMBER to the bitter end, I say. The electoral roll for the 15 October ACT election closed this week. As voters make up their minds, the experience of the recent Senate and Northern Territory are instructive. Continue reading “Exhaust yourself on election day, I say”
Political donation reform can meet constitutional problem
AT LAST some agreement among the three major parties. All agree that it is not acceptable for a frontbencher to take money from a corporation with strong ties to the Chinese Government. And that it is a resigning offence. But something does not quite add up in the case of Senator Sam Dastyari having some expenses paid by the corporation. Why isn’t it equally unacceptable for any Australian MP to take any foreign money? Continue reading “Political donation reform can meet constitutional problem”