Blogs

Governments make laws but it is the legal system which interprets those laws. Our rights are protected not by the Government but by a legal system that attempts to protect our rights by ensuring those laws are applied equally and fairly to all. So a look at how Governments treat the legal system in this country is a good look at what they think of the people they govern.

The death of former Labor Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, has unleashed a national reaction that is seldom seen when a major political figure dies. His death at 98 marks the end of an era when ordinary Australians were able to exert real pressures in shaping the political programs of this country's major political parties. The list of reforms that became law between 1972 and 1975 encompassed all areas of human activity in this country.

Died suddenly and unexpectedly on Saturday 11th October 2014. He is survived by his wife Linda, his son Graham, his sisters Hellen and Sandra and brother Steven. His other brother Malcolm died in 2012.

Late on Thursday night the National Security Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 1) 2014 was passed by the Senate without debate or scrutiny.

Introducing Saudi Arabia, our new ally in the War on Terror. Last month Saudi Arabia publicly beheaded 23 people for crimes including possession of hashish, adultery, sedition, blasphemy, apostasy, sorcery and witchcraft. About half of all people executed in Saudi Arabia are foreigners. Saudi courts, which are held in closed session, found a number of people sentenced to death were mentally unfit, but executed them anyway. Not that those courts are usually required.

Last week while 800 police officers were engaged in the largest police raid in Australian history, the Gold Coast council voted 10 to 5 against the proposal to build a Mosque in Currumbin. A number of councillors who had originally supported the proposal said they had changed their vote after receiving death threats. One female councillor, Chris Robbins was also threatened with pack rape.

Nothing highlights the bankruptcy of the deregulation, corporatisation, privatisation and globalisation revolution that has swept the world over the past three decades than the human and economic devastation caused by the Ebola epidemic in Western Africa. Over a decade ago all the pure research that was needed to embark on a vaccination trial had been carried out, all that was needed was a billion dollars to carry out that trial.

In what I at first assumed to be satire Barrie Cassidy has called for Scott Morrison to be given unprecedented powers to fight terrorism, lining him up as our next PM.

Coalition Government School for the Entitled
Class of 2014 Report Card
Teacher: Mr Abbott

Julie Bishop
Subject: Geography
Being the only girl in class Julie really brightens up the room. Keep it up Julie. A

Joe Hockey
Subject: Economics
Joe has worked hard at his maths this year and can now calculate the distance covered if a car travels at 20 miles per hour for 30 minutes, provided it isn't being driven by a poor person. Good work Joe. A

It's a pity the Federal government, the Federal opposition and the fourth estate in Australia, including the Sunday Age's "Bishop vows to tackle Iraq threat", "Obama expands on plan to 'degrade' Islamic State" (7/9), outrage at the cold blooded public execution of journalists, civilians and combatants by ISIS militants is not matched by their rage at events that have led to the deaths of over 500,000 West Papuans, just 200 kilometres from Darwin, over the past 50 years.