Stakes raised in opposition to Japanese whale hunt

Australia is looking to the Rudd Government to begin active protection of whales in Australian territorial waters.

"The Humane Society International is seeking a Federal Court injunction to stop the Japanese whalers and says the public will expect strong action from the Rudd Government if the group is successful.

"They will be required to stop the hunt," HSI spokeswoman Nicola Beynon said to ABC radio.

"The traditional means for stopping the hunt would be to intercept the ships and forcibly stop the hunt.

"And if the Government's not prepared to do that, the Humane Society International and the Australian public will be expecting them to find some other means of stopping the hunt."

 

The Coalition squibs it.

"While the Coalition opposes the whale hunt, Dr Nelson – the former defence minister – says the proposal to use the navy to gather evidence on Japan's whalers raises more questions that it answers.

And he is worried it could harm strong security and trade ties with Japan."

 

News.com.au article yesterday:

 http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22924711-29277,00.html

A blast from the past

Just for the record, this snap shows Chris Gulaptis (middle), who was the National Party's unsuccessful candidate for Page in the 2007 Federal election, providing 'advice' to the current State MP for Clarence Steve Candsell (left) and the former Federal MP for Page Ian Causley.

Whatever Chris said, it wasn't worth a cracker.

Coalition still in terminal post-election spiral?

The Liberal Party has been locked in its own internal blame game at federal level and is tearing itself apart at state level in Western Australia, Queensland and the ACT, with the Liberals ACT leader Bill Sefaniak being the most recent victim to lose his head on the block.
Continuing Federal Liberal leadership speculation indicates the blame game is not about to end anytime soon.
The Age article today:
http://news.theage.com.au/turnbull-denies-leadership-challenge/20071214-1h29.html

Here is an short honour role of the principal blame gamers.
Andrew Robb:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/13/2117529.htm?section=australia
Wilson Tuckey:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/12/2117120.htm?section=justin
Alexander Downer:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22895466-33435,00.html
Brian Loughnane:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22916201-2702,00.html
Malcolm Turnbull:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/libs-blessed-to-have-turnbull-nelson/2007/12/02/1196530481020.html
Peter Costello:
http://news.sbs.com.au/worldnewsaustralia/costello_blames_howard_for_election_loss_136671
Tony Abbott:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/libs-turn-on-howard/2007/11/26/1196036812217.html
Christopher Pyne and Nick Minchin:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/articles/2007/11/26/1196036846690.html

Akerman plays fast and loose with the truth again

Under the guise of an opinion piece, The Daily Telegraph's Piers Akerman misrepresents the history of the David Hick's matter and tries to smear Labor MP Maxine McKew by association using an incredibly long bow.

Given the subject of his blog was the imminent release of Hicks, why on earth was it relevant to mention that Maxine McKew received favourable comment from GetUp! during the election campaign?

It seems poor Piers is still unable to come to terms with his Liberal Party hero's fall from grace and is indulging in a little nasty and misdirected payback.

The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday:

http://blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/piersakerman/index.php/dailytelegraph/comments/convicted_terrorist_to_walk_free/

Noel Pearson tries to claw back credibility and influence

Noel Pearson made a real goose of himself during the recent federal election campaign and lost much of his credibility, when he used every opportunity to buttress the Howard Government and uttered statements regarding the Labor Party such as "Understand the heartless snake here. If you harbour any hope that these buggers are going to do anything courageous in relation to Indigenous affairs, then you're living in an illusion."

ABC News Noel Pearson on election eve: 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/23/2099795.htm

The Australian and Pearson on Kevin Rudd:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22809264-601,00.html

 

The Howard Government's subsequent resounding electoral loss left Noel Pearson out on a limb.

It is sad to see him in the media attempting to use the tragic circumstances of a rape case in order to revive his own political agenda concerning 'passive welfare' and reassert his influence with federal government. It may have been wiser to do a little quiet, behind the scenes fence building with the new Rudd Government instead.

 

There has been extensive media coverage of the Court's judgment in the Arakun rape case.

The Australian on edited sentencing submission in The Queen v Names Withheld:

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22907436-5006786,00.html

The Courier Mail on Indictment No.146 of 2007 Cairns District Court;

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22911515-953,00.html

Andrew Robb almost admits abuse of Senate power led to Coalition defeat

Did I hear right? Yes I did. On the tellie last night Andrew Robb came close to actually admitting that the Howard Government abused its Senate majority and carried legislation further than was prudent.

This is the first time anyone in the Liberal Party has come close to voicing the underlying cause of its electoral defeat.

Perhaps the Coalition is finally beginning to face the truth about its utter disregard of the wishes of the Australian majority over the last eleven years.

Well, I can hope can't I?

Who does Robert McClelland think he's fooling when it comes to David Hicks?

Federal Attorney-General Robert McClelland has refused to confirm or deny that he has signed the initial papers authorising the imposition of an interim control order on David Hicks.

He tells us all that the Attorney-General only performs "an administrative function" in relation to any control order.

News.com.au today:
 http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22918115-29277,00.html

 

That's a heap of hot, steaming manure he is shovelling our way. Applications for interim control orders require the consent of the Attorney-General. In 104.3 of the C'wealth Anti-terrorism Act (No 2) 2005 as amended, there is a clear indication that the Attorney-General has choice in signing off on any interim application by the Australian Federal Police. This clause begins "If the Attorney-General consents". This phrase is repeated throughout the Act in relation to control orders.

See:

http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/Act1.nsf/0/4ED7D914ED94BAC9CA2572960010BEF8/$file/1442005.pdf

 

To put it crudely - the new Attorney-General appears to be running scared and whipped when it comes to a very right-wing Australian Federal Police.

 

David Hicks broke no Australian law existing at the time of his original capture and detention. His sentence by a US military tribunal showed that this court clearly saw him as being a minimal threat.

 

Enough is enough Mr. McClelland. Australia deserves better than to have Federal Labor continue to impose John Howard's distorted view of our society and values.