Category Archives: melbourne

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“The Australian government has said it will oppose any new laws legalising gay civil unions.
Prime Minister John Howard said he did not intend to allow the institution of marriage “to be in any way undermined”.
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The head of the ACT government, John Stanhope, said Mr Ruddock’s reaction revealed homophobia in the Howard administration.
“One has to pose the question of whether or not the real reason (for Mr Ruddock’s stance) is that there is no place in John Howard’s Australia for homosexuals,” he told ABC radio.” (BBC)

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“Melbourne is the proud capital of street painting with stencils. Its large, colonial-era walls and labyrinth of back alleys drip with graffiti that is more diverse and original than any other city in the world. Well, that was until a few weeks ago, when preparations for the Commonwealth games brought a tidal wave of grey paint, obliterating years of unique and vibrant culture overnight.” (Guardian)

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“South-East Asia’s most wanted terrorist has warned in a video message seized by Indonesian police that Australia will be the prime target of new “intimidation and terror” attacks while its troops remain in Iraq.” (Age)
And meanwhile…
“The draft anti-terrorism law is so broad it could even be used to jail members of the Australian Wheat Board accused of paying Saddam Hussein $290 million through a front company, a Government committee has been told.” (Age)

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“Provocation as a defence to murder will be abolished in Victoria and a new offence of defensive homicide introduced under a bill to go before state parliament tomorrow.
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“Victoria’s homicide laws have not kept pace with changing social values,” Mr Hulls said.
“The law regarding provocation was developed from times past when it was acceptable, especially for men, to have a violent response to an alleged breach of a person’s honour.
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Under the changes, the law will now take into account situations where a person kills in response to long-term family violence.”
(Age)