“(I)f pressed on legality … our position is that it is for competent judicial bodies to determine whether crimes against humanity have been committed” – (DFAT, 2022, FOI release). What then are DFAT and Australia’s obligations following the finding by the International Court of Justice that Israel has established an apartheid system in the Occupied Continue reading »
Government
Cabinet reshuffle – policy and outcomes matter, not who is in charge, say refugees. Here is the pressing to do list for the incoming immigration minister: Close offshore. Bring them here. Permanent visas for fast track victims Recognise refugee contribution and industry Increase humanitarian intake Permanent visas for Medevac refugees on and offshore Refugees who Continue reading »
In August, Dan Duggan makes his final submission to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, who will decide whether Duggan is extradited to the United States for training Chinese pilots in 2012. All Australians should be extremely concerned about whether it’s even possible for our fellow citizen Dan Duggan, and his wife Saffrine and six children, to receive Continue reading »
What is social cohesion and who is responsible for achieving it? The Scanlon Monash Index of Social Cohesion identifies five indicators : Belonging and the importance of maintaining pride in the Australian way of life Worth and satisfaction with financial situation and happiness Social justice, equity and trust in the Australian government Participation as a Continue reading »
We write to express our extreme concern that Senator Payman has resigned from the Labor Government. Letter sent to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the end of the Parliamentary session in June requesting urgent Australian Leadership to end the War on Gaza Dear Prime Minister, We write to express our extreme concern that Senator Payman Continue reading »
Albanese’s advisers must have been smoking something when they decided that Australia should have envoys against antisemitism and Islamophobia. The British elections showed the impact of disenchantment over Gaza among Muslim voters. Sir Keir Starmer, the new British Labour prime minister is totally on the side of Israel, and various Muslim lobbies made it clear Continue reading »
With no formal constitutional provisions or bill of rights the right to protest in Australia relies upon common law judicial interpretations, is heavily politicised and proscribed by governments in legislation, and relies for administration in a highly discretionary manner by police. In my in depth conversation with Anastasia Radiewska, protest rights campaigner, Australian Democracy Network. Continue reading »
Can the United States avoid a descent into political violence? Of the 52 cases where countries reached the levels of polarisation which now exist in the US, half had their status as democracies downgraded. The US is the only Western democracy to have sustained such intense polarisation over such an extended period. It really is Continue reading »
Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights has tabled a report that makes a persuasive argument for comprehensive legislation to protect Australians’ fundamental human rights. Its Inquiry into Australia’s Human Rights Framework (2024) identifies a catalogue of deficiencies in the nation’s disaggregated systems of human rights protection. The report provides a new and compelling case for Continue reading »
The security vetting process has gone off the rails in Australia. It’s been outsourced to the private sector, which has a financial incentive to make renewing a security clearance as lengthy as possible. Those with high-level jobs in many government departments, agencies and the defence bureaucracy have to renew their clearance every five years. They Continue reading »