ASIO out of control in Howard's Australia

Many suspected that it was happening after John Howard's right-wing paranoia created legislation which ripped many of our basic democratic rights away.

Now one judge has well and truly blown the whistle today.

"In the NSW Supreme Court today, Justice Michael Adams said one ASIO officer had committed "the crime of false imprisonment and kidnap at common law".

He also referred to the unjustified and unlawful interference with Mr ul-Haque's personal liberty and the unlawful trespass of officers at his family home."

The Age article:

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/judge-scathing-of-asio-officers/2007/11/12/1194766551580.html

 

The climate created by John Howard, which borders on fascism, leaves every Australian citizen vulnerable to this sort of abuse in a society where rule of law hardly matters to those with power and a service weapon.

We are drawing perilously ever closer to a state where if they come for you in the morning they will coming for me that night.

 

Something we should all remember on 24 November.

Do you agree with bookmakers' predictions that Labor will win the federal election?

The Age online poll results today at 11am. It seems quite a few internet users are not optimistic about the Coalition's chances of winning on 24 November. What do you think - is Australia about to put Howard on his bike?

Labor the hot tip?
Do you agree with bookmakers' predictions that Labor will win the federal election?
Yes - 82% No - 18% Total Votes: 1060

 

A few words on interest rates that John Howard probably wishes he hadn't said

John Howard had a bit to say about interest rates in the Liberal Party campaign launch speech on 26 September 2004.

 

"My friends, we all prize the financial security of our families. Let me say this, and it's not just my view, but it's a view frequently expressed to me as I move around this country talking to Australian families. Nothing threatens that security more directly than the prospect of rising interest rates.  Rising interest rates dominates everything else when it comes to family security. Just a tiny upward movement in interest rates more than devours a few dollars of taxation relief or additional family benefits. There is no economic credential for office more crucial than a capacity to keep interest rates low."

 

Two sentences in particular deserves repeating - "Rising interest rates dominates everything when it comes to family security. Just a tiny upward movement in interest rates more than devours a few dollars of taxation relief or additional family benefits."

 

The Prime Minister is singing a different tune this election. Apparently tax cuts now miraculously take care of any financial pain caused by interest rate rises and family security hardly gets a mention.

 

One of the saddest things about this change in campaign attitude between 2004 and 2007 is that Howard obviously thinks average voters are such gullible fools that we wouldn't notice.

 

John Howard's 2004 campaign launch can be found at:

http://soapbox.unimelb.edu.au/pages/elections/2000_/2004.html

Campaign Day 29

John Howard is saying that he sees no 'tribal hostility' among voters towards his government.

Really? Oh of course - this is the same pollie who also thought his poor showing in opinion polls was the result of voters having a bit of a joke.

I know I'm not joking. How about you?

That sinking feeling - one view of the Howard campaign

One has to wonder if John Howard is capable of lasting out the final twelve days of this election campaign. His inability to make any meaningful connection with the national electorate through his media appearances is obvious. Frequently clumsy, obscure, defensive or testy, perhaps the only way he can win government is the hope for a huge sympathy vote on 24 November from that bloc of voters who remember that they once almost liked him.

The Age article on Howard's sorry campaign week that was:
 http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/that-sinking-feeling/2007/11/10/1194329566789.html?page=fullpage#contentSwap1

Senate ballot paper for NSW: Group voting tickets

Australian Electoral Commission list of Senate group voting ticket preference distributions in New South Wales.

Australian Electoral Commission:
 http://www.aec.gov.au/pdf/elections/2007/gvt/NSW_2007_gvt.pdf

11th November 2007: Lest we forget

Field of red poppies in France