Civil Liberties Australia

We vote by 3 May on the character of the federal leaders, the promises of the parties, and in the pollyanna-ish hope that current global turmoil can produce positive prosperity in future. As our votes are counted, we know definitely that there are urgent, existing, unaddressed issues in Australia to fix so that individual rights and the national rule of law remain our guiding principle.

We highlight some of those issues in this issue, and also cover:

• Human Rights Act ready and waiting for a progressive legislature
• Juries, coroners, judges who won’t step down: legal problems abound
• Costly corruption allegations survive change of government
• Failure to disclose keeps raising its ugly police/DPP head
• People to be stopped and searched everywhere in the state
• Pope’s legacy is a constant plea for human rights
• Batman and Robin join the police to nab swindlers

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Never have Australians voted amid such international uncertainty and chaos. Because of that, the political parties and all local candidates must clearly state the approach they will take to US President Donald Trump’s current and future assaults on stable and sensible global affairs. It’s time to recalibrate our own fundamental values in dealings with the world: to be able do that properly, first we must confirm our basic internal standards, rights and liberties that comprise Australia’s ethical infrastructure.

The coming federal election result will demonstrate clearly how Australia stands in relation to a world trend towards self righteous indignation benefiting the few contrasted with greater social justice lifting the many. Even global media barons, like Rupert Murdoch, are painting themselves as much-put-upon underdogs, as we report in this issue.