Tag Archive | politics
Want to make a political comment? How risky is it really?
The last time I checked, Australia was a democracy. In fact, SO democratic are we that it is compulsory to vote if one is eligible. Is not voting an expression of political opinion? I have long been aware there is no implicit or explicit right to free speech in Australia’s constitution however there has always, […]
Would our politicians get on a boat?
I believe it is time our politicians, especially Abbott, Morrison, Rudd, Bowen and a few others, took an honest look at themselves. Whether you personally like these particular men or not, they have reached the most senior positions in Australian politics. Let me share a little secret – they didn’t get there by being gifted […]
Malcolm Fraser has called for a Royal Commission
Malcolm Fraser has called for a Royal Commission into “Australia’s management of offshore asylum seeker processing”: in other words, a Royal Commission into the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. I hope he is successful and that many voices join his. This article is my way of saying, “Yes, I support Malcolm’s call”. The Royal […]
So now we dump people on third world countries
Papua New Guinea. What is the definition of a third world country? A friend of mine, who has a different view to my view on the question of asylum seekers, pronounced today that third world, as a definition, is a cold war construct. Had anyone else said this, I would have simply suggested they get their arse […]
Did you know tampons are more dangerous than guns now?
Did you know tampons are more dangerous than guns now? That is according to the great state of Texas, anyway. I have two daughters who have come to the western world from a patriarchal society not entirely unknown for corruption. Somehow I have to find a way to explain to my daughters that the most […]
The Return to Rudd: a turn for the worse on asylum seeker policy?
Originally posted on Castan Centre for Human Rights Law :
The night of Wednesday 26th of June was full of surprises. We got an old/new Prime Minister in Kevin Rudd, found out that our first female Prime Minister was quitting politics, and learned what the Foreign Minister Bob Carr thinks of refugees and our international obligations…
Rape as a political tool
I shared a link on Twitter to an article in The Age today: Five men rape journalist, 22, in Tahrir Square: reports. A couple of paragraphs towards the end of the article particularly caught my eye: Although sexual harassment is not new to Egypt, suspicions abound that many of the recent attacks are organised by […]
A little spotted dick, anyone?
I’m swimming against the tide here, but I have a feeling the Liberal Party may very well find itself in the same position as the USA GOP during the presidential election. A sure thing to win, if I recall, according to most of the media. Then the women of the USA got a little pissed […]
Dear Deputy Leader of the Opposition
Dear Julie, You and I have a lot in common, I notice. I am only thirteen months older than you and we both grew up on farms: mine was sheep and cattle. We are both female, something I will look at again later. We are both degree qualified and we both work. As you know, […]
Morrison’s moral panic episode overshadows ASRC work
Scott Morrison proudly, it seems, made his major contribution to heightening the levels of moral panic in the community in relation to asylum seekers. While I have read many articles today, which I will share below, I am taking the words from his press release on his web site, http://www.scottmorrison.com.au/info/pressrelease.aspx?id=1083 A requirement to consult and notify […]
Random Observations of Life 