As the Actor represents Everyman, so Paul Hogan represents us all over the bureaucratic inequities of oppressive legality and secrecy laws in Australia. He is now locked in the debtor's prison the nation is becoming, reverting to its penal role two centuries ago.

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In a recent series of articles, The Economist queries the sanity of the USA locking away more and more people in jails, some for almost unbelievable 'crimes', at increasingly greater cost year by year. There are lessons here for Australia.

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The Editor, The Australian, Sir: I respond to your report by David Nason "Lindy savages police investigation of Azaria" The Australian 18 Aug 2010, p.3.

I noted at the time, 30 years ago, that the first coroner's report by Denis Barritt had cleared Mrs Chamberlain of any wrong doing. However, because of a most unprofessional police investigation, Lindy was convicted for the death of baby Azaria.

Despite adequate resources and general goodwill, 'significant improvement' continues to elude Indigenous Australians, even in the national capital, Aboriginal Justice leader Brendan Church writes. He provides a 10-point list of ways improvement is possible.

CLA works with advanced and honours students on topics of mutual interest, where the student gains credits for 'internship' programs or honours studies, and CLA benefits from excellent research papers which help to shape a current or future dilemma. See if one of these research ideas interests you.

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Crime is down in Australia and throughout the western world. But people think crime is rising, with some academics theorising it's because of all the cop shows on TV. Here's the official rundown for Australia - what do you think?   Read more »...

The Gillard/Conroy connection has closed off debate on internet censorship by releasing, under FOI, an secret industry consultation document with more than 90% blacked out. The reason for the blackout: fear of "premature unnecessary debate".   Read more, watch the video »...

What's wrong with the bikie legislation in NSW, SA and other states? In this interview, CLA Director and Media Spokesperson, Tim Vines, explains to the Atticus program on 2SER radio why bikie legislation is a danger to any form of social protest.  Listen to the interview » ...

'Lateline' is on the TV, and its part 1 of a two-part program regarding Mentoring Team Alpha in Afghanistan...and I think of the Australian men killed in Afghanistan since 2001.

I reflect on my five years in Iraq and the men killed there. I think of the 'superb' BCR (battle casualty rate) of 12.5% of the 22,5000 Counter Insurgency personnel we trained in Iraq; hell how good is that! Only 2,812 (point 5) men killed. Bloody proud of that I am. Damn shame about the hundreds of thousands of women and children killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, but I guess they have to pay a price.

The commission controlling the building industry has dictatorial powers out of place in a democracy, Prof George Williams says. A re-elected Gillard Government should legislate immediately to restore civil liberties and individual freedoms to construction workers.

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Bias against males in family matters is perpetuated in proposals from the Australian Law Reform Commission, Roger Smith says. Analysis shows that males are the victims in about one-third of cases, but laws and services are all heavily tilted towards consistently treating men as the presumed guilty party. Read more »...

Editor, West Australian: I respond to your report 'Frustrated DPP sees flaws in quality of police probe' 29 June 2010, p7.

I have read Coroner Alastair Hope's report on Aborigine elder Mr Ward's death in custody, in the back of a prison transfer van, which includes his recommendations. In the report the coroner found that every level of authority from the Minister for Corrective Services Margaret Quirk, right down to the two drivers, in the coroner's words "failed in their duty of care".

It's important for the public to appreciate that, unfortunately, the police investigation of the matter did upset the coroner: that is, the two drivers were not kept separate before being interviewed...but that's only one of a number of aspects the coroner was concerned about.

Around Australia, drug testing of drivers takes places with no proven benefit to society and great penalty to people's civil liberties. In WA, the accuracy of the tests is declining, research in SA shows (see CLArion newsletter July 2010). Here, Bill Bush outlines why the ACT should not introduce such an uncertain, inequitable form of driver testing.
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In funding and numbers, Australia's national police force has more than doubled over the past decade. In nature and mission, it is now at the 'centre of security' rather than at the core of policing, its own Minister says. Are these changes turning Australia into a police state?
Caption: AFP boss Tony Negus (centre right) at Interpol HQ, France, in June 2010, discussing 'additional collaboration' - INTERPOL photo.

The first Australian Government and Non-Government Organisations Forum on Human Rights in late June 2010 produced mixed results, according to CLA President, Dr Kristine Klugman. She raised questions about making all Australian laws compatible with human rights, and the UN demand, under the ICCPR, that Australia trains its public officials, police and others in human rights.