The drug "war" is yet another example of hyperbolic rhetoric where political and law enforcement public relations spin has replaced practical analysis and fiscal common sense. When 'the powers-that-be' realise that the basis for tackling drugs should be economic savings to the nation – with improved health and crime prevention benefits as a by-product – we might start to get somewhere, Bill Bush writes.

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Noel McLaughlin (Letters 3 April 2012 Canberra Times) misrepresents (columnist) Jack Waterford’s position on the AFP. Jack was not criticising the personal bravery of individuals. Rather, what I understood him to be saying is that the AFP have been encouraged, both by sweeping anti-terrorism legislation, and the enthusiastic and uncritical support of a previous Attorney-General, to use their authority and resources inappropriately in a ‘win at all costs’ way. Little consideration seems to have been given to ensuring that those charged with enforcing the law, do so in accordance with what the law actually says, and not what they think it says.

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Sometimes life in the raw rolls up to your feet, sits down and listens. Australia is a Lucky Country...but not for everyone, all the time. Keith McEwan reflects on people enjoying the liberty of free music in the sunshine...and of freedom dying before an ASIO assessment.

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A withering Ombudsman's report tabled in the NT Parliament is scathing about the recent failures of the Child Protection Agency and its master department to protect the Territory's vulnerable children. The report calls into question whether the NT public service is capable of managing its own child safeguards, or of competently delivering federal intervention programs. On the evidence of the report, the human rights of little children are much less than sacred in one-eighth of Australia.

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'Twenty years on, not enough has changed,' says Eddie Cubillo,delivering the Elliott Johnston tribute lecture for 2011 in Adelaide. An Aboriginal man and the NT Anti-Discrimination Commissioner, Cubillo describes the impact on his son as they return to a home that a disrespectful Federal Government has formally signposted as booze-ridden and porn-rampant.

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Editor, West Australian: The Prime Minister is obliged to support a Presidential clemency for Andrew Chan, an Australian citizen, in Indonesia. In doing so, she is supporting the UN Human Rights Charter which advocates all nations abolish capital punishment, which Australia has done.

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A recent public debate pitted pro-legalisers against 'war on drugs' supporters. Here Brian McConnell describes the contest and gives a rundown on how the pre- and post- polling indicated a strong switch in support in one direction.

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