Gender approach misses the mark
The all-pervasive message that family violence is overwhelmingly one-sided is both wrong in fact and almost certainly contrary to human rights law, Roger Smith says. Extend protection, and advocate for ALL victims, he counsels.
Gender-based approac…
Indigenous in jail: massive increase
Indigenous Australians are being locked away throughout Australia in what is the latest national disgrace. Attorney-General Rober McClelland has revealed figures which show the imprisonment rate over a decade for Indigenous Australias is up 51%, 11 time…
Statistics ask: When will we learn?
The latest statistics on the health of Indigenous Australians continue to question when will we learn as a nation to do better? Aboriginal children born these past few years are in for a tougher, sicker, shorter life than other Australians, Keith McEwan…
Courts and treaties decide fate
of pirates robbing data banks
Behind claims of internet piracy, huge corporations are involved in big money battles, using laws, courts and international treaties to wage a fight to enforce their copyright. Here software engineer Arved von Brasch gives us the rundown on what it’s all…
Time to think again on drug laws
Ken Davidson, editor of Dissent magazine and also a leading columnist on The Age newspaper, has analysed in straight economic terms why the current approach to drugs is wrong. He supports a switch to low-cost, high-impact programs.Time to start think…
Even in the capital city, Indigenous
Australians suffer disproportionately
Despite adequate resources and general goodwill, ‘significant improvement’ continues to elude Indigenous Australians, even in the national capital, Aboriginal Justice leader Brendan Church writes. He provides a 10-point list of ways improvement is possib…
Victoria adopts automatic enrolment
The Victorian Legislative Council has passed the Electoral Amendment (Electoral Participation) Bill 2010, which introduces automatic electoral enrolment for all school students on their eighteenth birthdays, and allows election-day enrolment for everyone…
Govt shuts off open debate
The Gillard/Conroy connection has closed off debate on internet censorship by releasing, under FOI, an secret industry consultation document with more than 90% blacked out. The reason for the blackout: fear of “premature unnecessary debate”. Read more…
Males suffer presumptive bias
Bias against males in family matters is perpetuated in proposals from the Australian Law Reform Commission, Roger Smith says. Analysis shows that males are the victims in about one-third of cases, but laws and services are all heavily tilted towards cons…