CLA’s Policy – Genetics/DNA
Genetics and DNA issues need special consideration by the State. The best-possible protections should be enforced in legislation. Read CLA Policy on Genetics and DNA
DFAT misses a chance to listen
What were once excellent consultations by DFAT with NGOs recently became one-way lectures, from DFAT, to the detriment of everybody. Let’s hope it reverts in style next meeting. 11 Feb 2018
A lemon remains a lemon when withering
The ’new’ Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement is likely as bad as the original, but the text is still secret, so it may be worse. Ideology is over-ruling common sense. 2 Feb 2018.
Australia Day: Better Parl. Committees
The federal Parliament’s Committee system needs thorough overhaul, preferably by an external body, CLA believes. Which groups of MPs will have the courage to demand review and analysis. 26 Jan 2018
Australia Day: Better trained judges?
Surgeons need double or triple qualifications, so do top academics; pilots need specialist training on each aircraft. Why is it that judicial officers alone need no secondary qualifications? 26 Jan 2018
Basques book: chilling lessons for now
The Catholic terroristl Spanish Inquisition, as described in the ‘Basque History of the Word’, holds chilling parallels to Australia right now, writes Stuart McRae. Witch hunts apparently never end. 21 Jan 2018
Jan 2018 newsletter: OPCAT to help change attitudes as liberties decline
CLA celebrates one success as OPCAT is ratified, opening up jails and detention centres to inspection, but much work remains to expose aged care issues and combat declining liberties. 31 Dec 2017
Quest for ‘security’…at what cost?
Terrorism is a threat, but we should not allow it to be greatly exaggerated: we acquiesce in the erosion of our liberties and freedoms at our peril, Saul Eslake says. 5 Dec 2017
Dec 2017 newsletter: Prioritising needed for range of issues to be tackled in 2018
Aged care rights and freedoms of sportspeople and in sport are two issues that need greater attention in 2018…but what other matters should be prioritised, do you think? 30 Nov 2017
Refugees help us lead on crime prevention
Until Australia was elected to the UN Human Rights Council, with the resulting increased attention on our treatment of refugees, I hadn’t realised what a world leader in crime prevention we really are. As Australian politicians have repeatedly said, the indefinite detention in concentration camps for the refugees who were defrauded out of large amounts of money by people smugglers is purely aimed at stopping the people smugglers’ illegal business. The notion of punishing the victims of crime to target the offenders is brilliant and innovative. This obviously successful model can now be applied to other areas of crime prevention.Continue reading