One government department says all is well in Afghanistan, so that boat people can safely be sent home. At the very same time, another government department is issuing dire warnings about how 'extremely dangerous' the place is.

"88% of Afghan asylum seekers had their refusals overturned on appeal." [The Australian, 19 August, p1]. The Australian attributes this to Labor's immigration policy being "in disarray."

Perhaps the people are genuine refugees, and the error is in the original negative decision.

The Immigration Department cites "improvement in conditions" in its information for Afghanistan, which it (conveniently?) refuses to release.

Tell that to the young couple recently stoned to death by Taliban for being a young couple. Or to the women imprisoned in their burka-cages and condemned into violent marriages as children. Violence has risen significantly; the number of civilians killed, wounded, and maimed grows apace.

Smartraveller.gov.au (the Australian Government's own travel advice website) certainly indicates no improvement: "We advise against all travel ... extremely dangerous security situation ... militants ... attacks ... terrorists ... suicide bombings ... occur regularly ... unexploded landmines and other ordinance ..."

*NOT* OK for Australians, but acceptable for Afghanis? Our Australian soldiers continue to confirm the lack of improvement themselves, as our body count rises.

Let's stop playing political football with refugees! There but for fortune goes each and every Australian!

Judy Bamberger, CLA member
O'Connor ACT

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.

The case went to the High Court of Australia after all the criminal courts found her guilty. Even though the High Court by majority upheld her conviction, there was a great judge of the High Court who often was in the minority of many of his judgements. His common sense judgement in this case was ignored by his fellow judges. Justice Lionel Murphy stated in his judgment that there was no weapon, no body, and no motive. His judgement - if agreed by his fellow judges - would have acquitted her, but his fellow judges and a lot of citizens of the Northern Territory, led by the mass media, condemned Lindy Chamberlain and they were hell bent that she was guilty as sin.

Later of course, after she had served some time in prison, it was found that vital evidence was flawed and she was pardoned. She wasn't happy with that, and legislation was changed so that she had the opportunity to be cleared by a more appropriate tribunal, the Northern Territory Court of Criminal appeal, who quashed her conviction in light of the new evidence.

I'm sure now that the citizens of Australia, particularly the Northern Territory, would welcome Lindy Chamberlain request for the issuing of a new death certificate to record that Azaria's death was caused by a dingo.

Brian G Tennant,
member of Civil Liberties Australia,
Subiaco, Perth

Each political party complains about how the other parties waste billions of taxpayer dollars. Yet I've not seen or heard any party leader discuss the nearly $2billion annual spend for war in Afghanistan, "security" in Iraq, and physical and mental healthcare for those wounded, addicted, and traumatised by our military escapades.

Without using weasel words like "stay the course" and "complete the mission," the party leaders and local candidates must tell us their policy for Australia's end-game in Afghanistan.

What objective, measurable conditions have they defined for concluding Australia's military involvement in Afghanistan?

If our mission is to "train the Afghan national army", how many Afghani soldiers need to be trained, in what roles, to what level of competency and independence? What retention?

If our mission is to "bring security and stability back to Afghanistan", how many incidents of what type and what trends comprise the benchmarks for "secure/stable enough"?

Our Government must establish these milestones and publish progress against them; we must hold our Government accountable to them.

If the candidates are so inept and incapable of articulating clear exit criteria, how can we trust them with our vote? Or with our precious children?

Judy Bamberger, CLA member
O'Connor ACT

The Government and Coalition must make clear, objective, measurable statements about Australia's commitment to Afghanistan, and precisely when - or under what measurable conditions - the Australian military commitment will cease.

While Senators, MPs, and PM-wanna-be's are out campaigning and promising, they must be crystal clear about their personal and party's position on Australia's commitment to Afghanistan.

Britain has indicated its withdrawal schedule via a leaked document - a shady way of doing things: reducing troops starting in a few months, turning control to the Afghani Army by 2014.
Labor, Liberals, Greens; Brown, Abbott, Gillard: This issue is significantly important to your constituents. Have you the guts - the HONOUR - to make a commitment to which you're willing to be held at election-time? Or will you continue with weasel-words: "as long as it takes," "we're here for the long run," "we'll stay the course" ...

Will you make "carefully prepared scripted remarks" so we know your statement is "absolutely as gospel truth"? Or will your words be "in the heat of discussion," to be waved-away later?

The votes of many hang on your response - or lack thereof.

Judy Bamberger, CLA member,
O'Connor ACT

'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.

So there we are, Australians in combat being killed and wounded while we fight to bring democracy, freedom and justice to Iraq and Afghanistan. Justice for people in those countries...like removal of secret commissions, not convicting and punishing people without seeing evidence, enforcing the UN Human Rights expectations of all men and women. Noble and worthy causes.

It's a crying shame this type of justice doesn't exist in Australia any more. Forget the bikies - they are the fall guys. NO, don't forget them. They are Australians and we are allowing our elected servants of the people to remove their fundamental rights.

OK, if these actions (against bikies) are acceptable, get our troops out of harm's way now. How dare you Politicians put my brothers in arms (I'll be in trouble now because 'brothers' is a bikie word, too) in harm's way, when you shamelessly remove the rights they are fighting for for people overseas from Australians in our own country.

- Bradley Parfitt, CLA member, Brisbane

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.

The DPP's Mr Joe McGrath was right in his decision not to prosecute because he is in the best position to make decisions with all the information concerning whether charges should be laid in regard to Mr Ward's death in custody.

On the other hand, Leader of the Opposition Mr Eric Ripper was wrong to suggest: "If I had been the DPP I would have wanted these matters tested (in court) in the interest of Aboriginal people feeling included in our society and afforded access to justice." As part-Aborigine myself, I regard such a view as unprincipled and borderline racist. Cases must be decided on their merits. not on the person's race.

I call on the Aboriginal Legal Services Chief Executive, Dennis Eggington, to concentrate on the invitation by the Minister for Corrective Services and Attorney General, Mr Porter, on negotiating a good payout for the immediate family of Mr Ward. I don't think anything can be gained by going to the United Nations when those in authority have accepted responsibility for their lack of duty of care in regard to the avoidable death of Mr Ward.

Mem>Brian G Tennant
Human rights campaigner, member of Civil Liberties Australia and part-Aborigine

Christian Democrat Fred Nile, NSW MP, has introduced a bill criminalising the public wearing of face covering.

Ski masks on ski slopes become banned; marchers in Sydney's Mardi Gras parade become criminals; those wearing costumes for school plays, Halloween, Jewish Purim are subject to arrest. Wearing life-saving motorcycle helmets becomes illegal. And this law sounds the death-knell for masquerade balls.

Heaven forbid there's a SARS outbreak or swine flu epidemic, and our medical professionals

encourage people to wear surgical masks. Would the doctors become criminals for advising their patients to mask-up? Who would inform international visitors that their nose-through-chin surgical masks aren't legal if they also wear a hat?

I have a medical condition leaving me excruciatingly chilled in winter. I wear a ski beanie resting on my glasses, a big woolly scarf embracing my neck, mouth, and up to my nose, and layers of warm clothing from the neck down. According to Nile's proposed law, I become a criminal, merely because I rug-up to stay warm!

Nile's bill has heaps of unintended, dysfunctional side effects. If Nile wants to ban the burka, then as a "good Christian," he should be honest and forth-right, and so state his intention.

Judy Bamberger, CLA member
O'Connor ACT

The action of the Japanese Prime Minister in resigning caused Judy Bamberger to wonder what would cut Aussie pollies to the core.

One seriously core promise

Japan's PM has resigned, being unable to keep an election promise. He promised less subservient ties with America. He humbly accepted responsibility, saying, "I apologise." Must have been one seriously core promise!

Would that our politicians had similar integrity and honour.

If you're planning a trip to the USA, you might to hear this tale of how one Canadian husband and wife team, intent on a shopping trip, ran into language difficulties. Click for more »...

Police should not investigate police deaths in custody, CLA's Keith McEwan says. There needs to be an independent body set up for such cases - justice demands no less, he says.

Investigate independently

The Editor, The Age: Your editorial ‘Justice tested by deaths of detainees’ (26/5/2010) refers to the ongoing issue of police investigating police on such occasions, with all the obvious flaws in such a process that lacks transparency and independence.

Following the shocking revelations of a dying man allegedly being dumped outside a police station by police officers, despite his cries for help, it must not be left to members of the same police force to investigate yet another tragic death of a person being held in custody.

For justice to be done (as well as seen to be done) an independent authority, with adequate powers to investigate and call witnesses, is needed to conduct unbiased, transparent inquires for an coronial inquest.

Victorian Police Minister Bob Cameron should carefully consider following the lead of Queensland and call for the establishment of a Crime and Misconduct Commission in Victoria to investigate all deaths in police and prison custody.
In so doing, he will be acting in the interests of the public and members of the law enforcement agencies. Justice for the family members and friends of those who died in custody deserves nothing less.

– Keith McEwan, Bendigo. Vic, CLA member

Judy Bamberger is an Australian by choice, and she's fed up with Australian Parliamentarians from both major parties "wasting their time, our money, ...".

It's time to grow up!

Would each Member and Senator of Parliament please give the Australian public a break? Would each Parliamentarian cease and desist with the sound-bites and media-moments? And start treating us like the intelligent electorate we are and need to remain?

MP J Bishop gave an inappropriate response ("Yes") when asked an inappropriate question (if Australian intelligence agencies used fake passports).

Labor Parliamentarians castigate Bishop gleefully, claiming she's "unfit to be the alternative foreign minister." They coax Opposition Leader Abbott into "disavowing" her.

As though no Labor Parliamentarian has mis-spoken similarly before, or will in the future? Oh puhleez!

I'm fed up with Parliamentarians wasting their time, our money, our time, and the media's bandwidth bawling, brawling, and bad-mouthing each other.
It's time our Parliamentarians *STOP* "playing the person" and start focusing on issues and solving the many problems that face our could-be-great nation. Together, collaboratively. Anything less makes me question why I chose to become an Australian citizen.

Judy Bamberger, CLA member
O'Connor ACT

CLA member Keith McEwan is concerned for all creatures, including smokers. He postulates that a dedicated room, with facilities, might bring them back in from the cold in more ways than one.

Article continues »...

Smokers at risk in the dark

Editor, The Age: While most people will support the measures being undertaken to enlighten people about the harmful effects that smoking has on their health and well-being, consideration should be given as to how we treat those addicted to this insidious, legal drug.

Their "fringe-dweller"-like status is most noticeable when we drive past individuals and small groups of smokers standing outside their workplaces, at all hours, being subject to variable weather conditions, and sometimes at risk in the dark.

While such obvious discrimination may stem from sound scientific reasoning, those going out "into the cold" during their work-breaks should at least be offered a sheltered setting for their "smokos".

Indeed, such a workplace smoking room, containing appropriate medical information and a phone line for those seeking advice and help, could be mutually beneficial for all concerned.

Keith McEwan, CLA member
Bendigo, Vic