Enough said!

I can understand that politicians feel it is important to thrust their faces into our lounge rooms but sometimes it just makes me want to heave. Watching Treasurer Costello's unctuous grin as he announced that the Melbourne Cricket Ground has joined the Sydney Opera House an official national icon was more than I could bear. I wonder if Ian Healey had a bucket waiting just off camera. I would have been far more interested in this story if it had not been used in an attempt to score a political point. Ian, quick, where's that bucket?

Related links:
MCG officially an icon
Fans hail MCG's new era

I'm saddened that the Howard government is not prepared to say 'sorry' on behalf of the government to the aboriginal people of Australia for the wrongs committed in the past. The years of sanctioned separation of indigenous families (the 'stolen generations') is an appalling blight on Australian history.

Mr Howard said: "I'm very sorry as an individual for what has happened in the past. I don't think Aboriginal people in this country were given a fair go in the past, I've said that repeatedly. But I don't believe in a formal apology because I don't think the current generation should accept responsibility for past things."

Well, I don't want you to accept responsibility, but I do want you to say that on behalf of the government you are sorry. If this opens the way for compensation claims, so be it. Don't you think it is warranted... enough said!

Related links:
Federal Government still needs to say sorry
Stolen Generation- Wikipedia entry
Why The Prime Minister can't say 'Sorry'

I'm gobsmacked that Mr Howard stated on television after the disgusting riots in Cronulla during early December 2005, that they were not race related. I would have thought that a crowd chanting "No more Lebs" would be a pretty strong indicator of racism, but hey, what do I know, I'm not the Prime Minister. Come on Mr Howard; admit that there are race problems in Australia today. I'm obviously politically naive, because I can't see the problem with honesty.

Related links:
Sign the personal pledge at GetUp!
PM refuses to use racist tag
Kristallnacht Australia at Technorati

David Hicks is an Australian. He was captured in Afghanistan in early December 2001 and was then taken to Camp X-ray, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

British, Spanish and French detainees have all been released. It is appalling that an Australian citizen is held by an ally for so long without being tried for his alleged crimes.

For goodness sake, bring him home.

Related links:
Register your displeasure by sending a message to Mr Downer via the GetUp! website
Fair Go for David Hicks
Australian government aids and abets US torture

One of the great things about living in Australia is that within reason you can say pretty much what you want without fear of recrimination. It is a 'free country'.

Sedition laws have been in place for many years (Section 80 of the Criminal Code) but from what I understand they were aimed at statements that "bring the Sovereign into hatred", "excite disaffection against the government" or make statements "with the intention of creating public disorder".

I must confess I don't know all the facts (who does?) but I'm concerned that the door of free speech may have closed a little with the introduction of the government's new sedition provisions.

I was not a 'Fraser fan' when he was Prime Minister, but I have considerably more respect for him now. The following statement by Malcolm Fraser is very sobering. "... the laws were reversing "centuries of advances" in human rights and protection of individual liberties."

Related links:
Australian government insists on sedition clauses in new terrorism legislation
Australian Senate passes anti-terror laws
Part of seminar convened by Aust Centre for Independent Journalism by Ian Barker QC - 148kb pdf
Wikipedia entry for 'Australian sedition law'

It seems to me that the new WorkChoices laws are just another wedge hammered into Australia's social fabric. Surely the government should be trying to encourage employees rather that introducing laws that give unreasonable powers to employers. These laws have quite rightly enormously bolstered support for the union movement. Removing the right to bargain collectively and making employees negotiate individual contract will put many employees at a real disadvantage. Are we really living in 'the lucky country'? I used to think so. Australia has so much going for it, but I feel that the ship is being steered in the wrong direction.

Related links:
Your Rights at Work
John Howard's industrial revolution
500,000 workers demonstrate against Howard’s industrial legislation

Yet again we are tagging along with our big mate, the USA. How about we do the world a favour and think about the environment for a moment, rather than the economy. Our recalcitrance is really embarrassing. For God's sake ... sign it! Read Tim Flannery's latest book 'The Weather Makers' if you still convincing. Arrrggghhhhhh ... Enough said!

Related links:
Earth's Energy Imbalance: Confirmation and Implications
Photos from Sydney's Walk against Warming - 3 Dec 2005

I know this is 'ancient history', but I am still disgusted by the whole Tampa affair. From what I read in David Marr and Marian Wilkinson's excellent book Dark Victory, Australia broke a bunch of international laws of the sea. Even ignoring that, we subjected not only the refugees, but the crew of the Tampa to an appalling ordeal. Zero score for humanity.

Related links:
Royal way's the only route to heal Tampa shame
Australia's shame 8 Feb 2003

I'm angry that Australia joined forces with the USA to be aggressors in a war. We invaded Iraq without UN backing on the basis of 'intelligence' information about the 'presence' of weapons of mass destruction. I'm angry that the Australia people weren't asked if they agreed and I'm angry that the peaceful protesting of hundreds of thousands of Australians was ignored.

Related links:
Counting the dead in Iraq
The battle for truth on Iraq
View images of Sydney's Palm Sunday peace march