Proposed amendments to the Native Title Act in Victoria are timely (‘Native title revamp for state’, The Age 6 Jan 09). This Act was from its inception flawed as it demanded that Aboriginal people demonstrate continuous connections with the land they cl…
As lawmakers, judges find themselves in a very unique position of privilege and power.Once appointed, judges are free to act and make decisions independently from the executive arm of government, and without the influence of ‘blood, guns and money’
Philip Dorling’s report (Canberra Times, 30 December, p1 and p2) that Dr Evatt as leader of the opposition was not told of the existence of ASIS, that ASIS took ‘considerable precautions… to prevent the possibility of information affecting the operatio…
As David Marr comments in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty is no more than a ghost in the Clarke report finding on his role. He doesn’t get a mention. Nothing. He gets off scot-free in what must be the most bl…
The Editor, The Age – Your editorial “It`s time Australia set matters to rights” (The Age 11/12/2008) clearly explains the need for a charter to protect human rights which we too often take for granted in our “lucky” country.
While we may readil…
Australian Mamdouh Habib tells first-hand how the US ‘War on Terror’ became war on any foreigner in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Australia’s Pontius Pilate Government was complicit, in its knowledge and by its silence, as an Australian was kidnapped, detain…
I was surprised that the Herald published a series of articles of its front page over the past couple of days (24-25 Nov 08) which appeared to advocate the clawing back of the 2006 family law reforms (For example, ‘Courts leave young in
danger’, 25 Nove…
The Corrections Amendment Act 2008 (Vic) passed in September, which aims to benefit victims of crime , is fatally flawed because it seeks to draw on the payments prisoners receive after their claims for wrongful treatment and abuse at the hands of pris…
It’s time. Time to review the draconian anti-terrorist legislation brought in by the Howard Government (supported by the present), which has been an open sesame for the abuse of basic human rights in this country. You have only to consider the treatment…
Barack Obama`s resounding victory is inspiring people in America and throughout the world to overcome racial discrimination by way of soul-searching and examining their deep- seated, often
sub-conscious prejudices.
In Australia we can respond by impl…