Malcolm's Minties Moment

The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP, Leader of the Opposition, showing that no matter how important you may believe yourself to be there is always someone to prick the bubble by pointing out that tiny flaw in the argument:

KERRY O'BRIEN: It's potentially misleading, isn't it Mr Turnbull, to suggest that Kevin Rudd is racking up $200 billion of debt, because as you know, right at this moment $115 billion of that debt is debt that comes from a collapse in tax revenue because of the state of the economy.

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Well Kerry, whatever the causes of the debt -

KERRY O'BRIEN: But he is not wracking it up, is he? He hasn't racked up that $115 billion of lost tax revenue.

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Kerry, everybody has to manage their own affairs.

KERRY O'BRIEN: But isn't that right? Just before you go on, isn't that right?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: No, Kerry, Kerry, it is not right. If this country, if we end up with, - look, the Prime Minister brought into Parliament today a bill which would authorise the Government to borrow up to $200 billion. Right. He wants to raise Australia's credit card limit to $200 billion.

KERRY O'BRIEN: $115 billion of that money is the money that has been lost and is being lost in tax revenue because of the state of the global economy. Is that not correct?

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Well Kerry, yes, tax revenues are down. But what you saying? That I'm being tough on Kevin because it's not really his fault? Is that what you are saying? Poor Kevin!

KERRY O'BRIEN: I am suggesting that you might be wrong to say that he is personally responsible for the loss of that tax revenue.

MALCOLM TURNBULL: Well Kerry, let me tell you, if you're the Prime Minister of Australia you're responsible for the finances of Australia.

(ABC TV 7.30 Report 4 February 2009)

Andrew Bolt goes too far......

On Aunty's Australian Story last night Herald Sun journalist Andrew Bolt had the hide to complain that science was sensationalising climate change.
The day before he was on his blog complaining that Senator Bob Brown was preaching green politics over the Victorian bushfire fatalities.
This is the same journo who callously wrote that the twenty to thirty sudden unexpected deaths (some probably hastened by the extreme heat wave conditions in the south of Australia) couldn't have died from the 40C plus temps because everyone knows that "Cold, not heat, is what really kills people" and "Those who died last week were in less danger from global warming than from the deadly incompetence of green governments trying to "stop" it".
Who's using sensationalism and politics?
Why Andy is of course - with a thick covering of hypocrisy on top.
No wonder the Herald Sun's circulation figures have been on the decline, advertising revenue down and its parent company is looking a bit sick.

Australian Law Reform Commission does online forum and phone-in on secrecy laws, 11-12 February 2009

Media Release 9 February 2009:

The Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) today announced a national two day phone-in and new online discussion forum as part of its commitment to engaging in widespread community consultation on reform of Commonwealth secrecy laws. 

Anyone who has ever been involved in handling Commonwealth information will have the chance to speak out about their personal experiences and concerns in a national secrecy phone-in on Wednesday 11 February and Thursday 12 February. The ALRC is also launching a new consultation vehicle through its Talking Secrecy online forum.

ALRC President, Professor David Weisbrot, said "Consultation is part of the ALRC's DNA and we are determined to use new technologies to expand that process. The online forum and national phone-in together comprise the next critical steps in the ALRC's consultation process following the recent release of the Issues Paper, Review of Secrecy Laws (IP 34, 2008). This paper seeks feedback about how to balance the need to maintain an open and transparent government, while still protecting some Commonwealth documents and information—for the purposes of national security, for example.

"The ALRC now has mapped over 500 secrecy provisions spread across 173 pieces of legislation and these—associated with a myriad of administrative, civil and criminal penalties—present a complex and confusing scenario of options for individuals handling Commonwealth information.

"Some secrecy provisions—normally pertaining to defence and security—regulate the activities of anyone, including the media, who comes into possession of Commonwealth documents or information, imposing obligations on them. If the individual handles the information incorrectly, he or she may face heavy penalties, including jail."

Commissioner-in-charge of the Secrecy Inquiry, Professor Rosalind Croucher, said that the phone-in will enable individuals to speak about their personal experiences with complete anonymity and will assist in shaping the development of proposals, and ultimately recommendations, for workable laws and practices.

"To facilitate more public discussion about secrecy laws, the ALRC's Talking Secrecy online forum will encourage interactive comments and debate that will run the course of the Inquiry. This is a first for the ALRC.

"The ALRC would like to hear people's views about a range of questions such as: do secrecy laws stop you from doing your job; what information, if any, should be kept secret; how easy is it to comply with secrecy laws; when should you be allowed to disclose Commonwealth information; and have you or someone you know been in trouble for breaching a secrecy law and, if so, what happened?"

To participate in the secrecy phone-in call 1800 760 291 between 8:00am and 8:00pm (EST) on Wednesday 11 February and Thursday 12 February 2009 (calls are free from landlines but calls from mobiles will incur a charge).

The Talking Secrecy online forum can be accessed at http://talk.alrc.gov.au.

More information about the Review of Secrecy Laws can be found in the Inquiries section of this website.

NT Intervention: a case to answer

On or about 24 January 2009 the United Nations received a 64-page submission requesting urgent action be taken, under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms Racial Discrimination, against the Commonwealth of Australia and with regard to the Howard-Rudd NT Intervention.

14. This Request for Urgent Action arises from the flagrant breach by Australia of its obligations under the Race Convention. While it is expected that the Australian Government may attempt to modify some measures of the Northern Territory Intervention, the Authors consider that it should remain a matter of serious concern to the international community that legislation overriding the Race Convention can be implemented by the State party with impunity. That is particularly the case when it concerns the fundamental human rights of Aboriginal people. .................
46. Over 70 percent of the Aboriginal people who live in the Northern Territory live on Aboriginal titled land within Prescribed Areas.40 Within those Prescribed Areas, it is estimated that approximately 87 percent of the people living in those areas are Aboriginal Australians.41............
47. The Northern Territory Intervention measures directly affect approximately 45,500 men,
women and children.42
As a result, it is apparent that the Northern Territory Intervention was targeted directly at, and has specifically impacted on, Aboriginal people.

Full submission document is at the National Indigenous Times.