Interesting. Given the way Australian politics seem to have been swinging more and more to the right, I’m almost surprised by this:
“The right to a “fair go” is the thing almost all Australians put at the top of their list when it comes to values.
A survey released today shows 91 per cent of people believe a fair go is important, with most listing the need for rights to welfare, housing and indigenous reconciliation to make the country fairer.”
This is kind of sad, considering people could take a ‘fair go’ into their own hands, but I guess at least it could be applied as a test to new legislation:
“The survey found 82 per cent believed it was government’s responsibility to make the country fairer.” Age
Category Archives: john howard is a fool
An article on the state of satire in Australia contained this line, which made me wonder exactly how bad are things over there:
“Because the Government and the Opposition agree – the ABC is too “leftist”. This is a landmark moment in Australian political classification.”
Lovely news on a Friday afternoon:
“Australia’s state of Tasmania has unveiled a AU$5m (
“Mr Beazley has written to the Australian Tourism Export Council asking it to help with establishing the best way to ensure all people visiting Australia know and understand Australian values.” Age
Perhaps a quiz at the airport, like when you go to a boat party.
I missed this at the time: Susan Sarandon called John Howard a fool
Howard’s a fool, says actress
Terry Lane: Sorry mate, no such thing as a fair go
“But one has had reason to take another look at Mr Howard’s words these past few days and one has spotted a semantic error in the juxtaposed qualities a dinkum Aussie must keep in tension. We understand that excellence and fairness are euphemisms for profit on the one hand and a damn good thrashing if you ask for a decent wage on the other. And we understand that independence and mateship are code words for well-deserved wealth over dole bludging.
…
The essence of mateship, as a universal virtue, is that it is an impulse to help strangers, assuming the best of them until they prove themselves unworthy of an altruistic helping hand. Mateship is a shorthand way of describing a system of social organisation based on the moral imperative of doing one for others without calculating that one day you may need them to do one for you. It is a sort of bucolic golden rule that even affects social interaction in the cities.”
A collection of articles about the gay marriage ban in Australia:
“Australia’s conservative national government has overruled a local law allowing gay unions.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) became the first part of the country to legally recognise gay relationships when it voted on the issue last month.
But now the federal government has stepped in to invalidate the new law.”
Australia overrules gay union law, BBC.
The latest:
“The Australian Greens and Democrats tomorrow will seek to overturn the federal government’s decision to block ACT laws allowing same-sex civil unions.
This morning Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock announced that Governor-General Michael Jeffrey had agreed to use his powers to disallow the ACT law, which would have allowed gay couples to have their relationships registered and legally recognised.”
Minor parties fight gay marriage ban, The Age.
“Coalition Senators are being urged to cross the floor and over-ride the Government’s move to disallow ACT civil unions laws.
…
ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell has attacked the Governor-General’s decision, calling it arrogant and undemocratic.
Mr Corbell says the issue of same sex unions will not go away and he will continue to push for legal recognition for gay couples.
“We will pursue all options to provide for equality under the law for people in same sex relationships,” he said.”
Senators urged to protect civil unions, ABC.
One reason Australia needs to allow gay marriage:
“Mr Walters said the inability of gay people to have their relationships formally and legally recognised caused great damage.
“The implication that (homosexuality) is in some way shameful or second class cannot be avoided when we treat people in this way,” he said.
“We have a high rate of youth suicide in Australia – one of the highest in the world – and one reason for that is where people’s sexuality is not accepted by the wider community and the message that sends is very damaging to those who are just finding out about their sexuality,” he said.”
Rights group slams gay marriage ban, The Age.
And a bit of a conspiracy theory:
“The federal government’s decision comes just after a push by United States President George Bush for a constitutional ban on gay marriage.”
Gay couples to lose right to say ‘I do’, The Age.
“Gay couples will be able to say “I do” in Canberra within two weeks, after the ACT yesterday fast-tracked its civil union laws in defiance of the Commonwealth’s decision to scuttle them.
ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said the Government would reduce the notification period for people wishing to enter into civil unions, to enable ceremonies to begin within a fortnight.
The new laws
The moral midget in the world
“Yet [John Howard’s] behaviour lately on two issues – AWB’s improper payments to Saddam Hussein’s regime and refugees from Indonesia – raises the question whether his political skills may have more serious consequence for Australia than simply keeping him in office.
…
In public debate, the Prime Minister nips and tucks, using words, especially adjectives, carefully so that he can later disown sentiments that he had seemed earlier to be endorsing. As he is neither a blatant bigot nor simple-minded, he does not appear to be lowering standards, whether of competence or morality. He appears, rather, to be trying to be sensible. But the effect is that the issue is allowed to crumble or evaporate in a flurry of self-protective corrections, refinements and denials, as well as complex, bureaucratic outcomes.” (Age)
“The United Nations has warned Australia not to punish people fleeing persecution or deflect its international responsibilities to refugees.
…
Under the changes, anyone entering Australia illegally by boat – whether they make it to the mainland or not – will be sent to one of three offshore immigration detention centres for processing.
The government hopes to send even those found to be genuine refugees to a third country.
But the United Nations refugee agency has raised concerns about the implications of the new hardline policy.” (Age)