Tuesday, August 29, 2006

An Honest Bastard

Australia is the poorer for the loss of Don Chipp, a rarity amongst politicians, a courageous and honest man. His death is another reminder that the old Australia is fading fast. There was a time when politicians (and others in public life) were essentially honest men and women who sometimes just needed a little reminder where the centreline of the straight and narrow was.

Hence the Democrats catchcry, "Keep the Bastards Honest", which Mr Chipp used to great effect. In the lexicon of Australian politics it ranks with "It's Time" and "Reds under the Bed". The Australian Democrats achieved great success under his leadership and in the years following by selling us the idea that the bastards could in fact be kept honest. Perhaps they were right at the time.

Unfortunately the modern Australia is fast becoming a 'first in, best dressed', 'if they believe it, it's true' kind of place where old fashioned honesty and the concept of a 'fair go' is not the bedrock on which our leaders' characters are built.

The fast-fading Democrats might do well to adopt the slogan inherent in our profile pic, "Stand up to the Bastards".
G.

Our Cinderella Man

Melbourne man, Jack Thomas, has become Australia's first recipient of a Federal Government Control Order despite recently having his convictions on terrorism-related offences overturned by a Court .

He must be home by midnight, not leave home again before 5am, report to a police station three times a week and not speak to a variety of people including Osama Bin Laden. Presumably failure to do so will see his Fairy Godfather, Phillip Ruddock, turn him into a pumpkin.

Excuse me for laughing but if Mr Thomas really is the single most dangerous person in the country then why isn't he being watched 25/7. Can we really risk him being let roam free for up to 2 days at a time. I'm not particularly clever but I reckon in 2 days I could do a lot of damage if I was of a mind to and didn't care too much about my own safety.

On the other hand if he is also being watched continuously then why do we need him to report to police thrice weekly. We would know where he is at all times.

As for not contacting Bin Laden they may as well insisted that he not have lunch with The Queen. It's about as likely and equally impossible I would have thought. But it makes him sound dangerous doesn't it? He may have Osama's mobile number on the inside of a shirt collar somewhere so he must be a terrorist. Give us a break.

I smell a rat and his name is Phil, the Minister for (the creation of) Fear and Loathing.

This whole thing is nothing more than a political stunt to demonise Mr Thomas so that we of the (they think) compliant populace will fall for more of the Government's all the way with GWB bullshit.

Having said all that, Mr Thomas may very well be dangerous but covert surveillence by ASIO is more likely to curb any of his undesirable activities rather than this very public and very useless "be home by midnight or else" nonsense.
G.

Monday, August 21, 2006

The race from the bottom.

I caught the Premier and Opposition Leader on the TV news re the seemingly preventable but certainly unfortunate death of Jehan Nassif from meningococcal.

Whilst not wanting to downplay the obvious gravity of this particular situation and its tragic consequences, I for one am wearying a little from the whining negativity of the Opposition Leader and his calls for heads to roll and the laclustre responses of the Premier.

Expect to see many more similar media events as the race to be the second least charasmatic and confidence inspiring would-be-Premier hots up.

I'm inclined to do a Richard Pryor next March and "Vote None of the Above".
See
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Saturday, August 19, 2006

Native Species Benefit from Weed Removal

South Coast environmentalists report a marked increase in numbers of two of our favourite native species, Kikuyu illawarraii and Taurus australis.

President of the South Coast Native Protection League, Mr Murray Grey, says extensive clearing of privet, Madeira vine and other weeds has created the ideal habitat for ‘Kike’ and ‘3% Butterfat’ as they are affectionately known.

"In particular the black and white morph of Taurus australis and Kike seem to have a symbiotic relationship,” he observed.

"It's not often you find a complete ecosystem comprised of only two species. Further clearing of some of the invasive growth of Eucalyptus exotica, Toona pacifica etc would assist this unique duo to flourish," he said.

"Everyone knows that Toona belong in the sea," he concluded.

To learn the Truth About Cows-
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Friday, August 18, 2006

What a Difference a Day Makes

Today, Vietnam Veterans Day, our PM quite rightly said sorry on behalf of his Government for the treatment to which Vietnam Vets were subjected on their return home from that contentious conflict.
Five hundred Australians died in the war to protect Vietnam from reunification with the Communist North and many more still suffer the lingering effects of both their participation in that war and the shunning many received when they returned.
His apology demonstrated his commitment to righting that particular wrong.

Last May 26, National Sorry Day, the PM did not say sorry to the tens of thousands of his fellow (Aboriginal) Australians who have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the white de-unification of this country. Enough said.

The Tank's 2005 Australian of the Year



Has any father done more for his child than Adelaide man, Terry Hicks?
Faced with the daunting prospect of challenging the self-appointed authority of the most powerful nation on Earth, Terry has consistently taken the fight to the Bush Administration in an effort to win justice for his son, David, now into his fifth year of illegal incarceration (and torture) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Of course David is still there, despite his father’s best efforts, largely because of the complicity of our Howard Administration as it seeks to milk David’s misfortune for all the votes it is worth.
So Terry has been fighting with one hand tied behind his back as at every turn for the better in David’s prospects Howard, Downer and Ruddock make wild assertions as to David’s guilt in contradiction of the democratic principle that an accused is innocent till proven guilty.
Keep fighting Terry. We hope David is home and free soon.