Australia picks Professor Hilary Charlesworth as ad hoc judge in ICJ Whaling in the Antarctic case (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening)

Professor Hilary Charlesworth

BA (Hons), LlB (Hons) (Melb), SJD (Harvard)

Director, Centre for International Governance and Justice, 

Professor & ARC Laureate Fellow ANU College of Asia and the Pacific 

and ANU College of Law

Court President on the first day of the International Court of Justice hearings in Whaling in the Antarctic (Australia v. Japan: New Zealand intervening): I note that, since the Court does not include upon the Bench a judge of Australian  nationality, Australia exercised its right under Article 31, paragraph 2, of the Statute to choose a judge ad hoc to sit in the case: it chose Ms Hilary Charlesworth.

MEMORIAL OF AUSTRALIA May 2011

COUNTER-MEMORIAL OF JAPAN March 2012

Declaration of Intervention by New Zealand November 2012

Written Observations of New Zealand April 2013

Written Observations of Japan on New Zealand's Observations May 2013

26 June 2013 hearing:

Day One transcript A

Day One transcript B

27 June 2013 hearing:

Day Two transcript A

Day Two transcript B

28 June 2013:
Day Three transcript

Public perception begins to run against Opposition Leader Tony Abbott again?

Essential Vision Poll 24 June 2013:

Tony Abbott is regarded by more respondents to be arrogant (59%), intolerant (48%), narrow-minded (55%) and aggressive (51%).

Full poll results here.  

Galaxy Poll released 30 June 2013:

Full poll results here.

The weirdness and hate that is inside the Palmer United Party

A letter to the editor in the Hervey Bay Independent from former LNP MP and current PUP candidate Rob Messenger……..

We Must Make a Stand (May 30, 2013)

There will come a time when Islamic terrorists will not only be armed with meat cleavers, knives, home-made bombs and guns.

In the not to distant future, terrorists (who now live among us, sustained by our welfare payments) could be armed with modern weapons – capable of killing many innocents, with the flick of a switch.

One of the greatest risks our children face is that meat cleavers, knives, home-made bombs and guns will be replaced with sophisticated modern weapons of mass destruction – poisonous chemicals, nuclear bombs and deadly viruses.

Just as the Islamic terrorists show no hesitation, shame or remorse butchering individuals and small groups in cold blood – so too will they have no hesitation, shame or remorse, destroying our cities or suburbs with the press of a button.

How do we stop these people and protect future generations? We remember the lessons of WW2, which showed that a policy of appeasement in the face of this kind of extremist evil, will always fail.

These terrorists will never stop. Dialogue and peaceful reason has no effect on them. They kill and terrorize because we will not bow to their god and live a life ruled by their extreme religious leaders’ demands and beliefs.

The terrorists cleverly hide amongst, us. They exploit our western, Christian democratic freedoms; compassion, generosity and love of a fair go for all – to escape public condemnation.

We are now too scared of being reported to our anti-discrimination councils or branded a racist for speaking out against the terrorists’ religious and world-views.

There was a time in the 1930’s in Germany when the Nazi’s were hounded from villages in a shower of rocks and curses. There was a time when the German people could have emphatically said “No” to the Nazi’s special message of hate and crazy.

We are living in similar times and face a similar evil. And the world will suffer a similar fate as the generation of 1930’s & 40’s, if we do not loudly condemn the leaders and followers of the extremist Islamic religious ideology driving this current world madness.

Rob Messenger
Palmer United Party
Candidate for Hinkler

Hilarious quote from the North Coast's very own right-wing 'political fibber extraordinaire'

“Bruce, there is one thing I am very particular about and that is making sure I get my facts right.” {Fred Perring in a Daily Examiner letter to the editor on 24^th June 2013}

The best of Tony Abbott

http://youtu.be/V-WqnTrG204

Quotes of the week

“On top of that, I’m entirely ready to take a shovel, dig up the press gallery and turn it into a garden for ornamental cacti. Their lack of self awareness is staggering. Who, on one hand, lectures politicians for focusing on leadership instability, while at the same time, reporting on nothing else?” {Corrine Grant over at The Hoopla on 25^th June 2013}

“Since when has disrespecting a parliament, rather than respecting a parliament, been an act of loyalty? Since when is disrespecting the office of prime minister, rather than respecting the office of prime minister, seen as an act of loyalty? Since when is verballing and patronising electors, that they somehow got it wrong in 2010 rather than respecting the result, seen as an act of loyalty?” he said.

“Of course, none of these are acts of loyalty at any level. They are the acts and views of radicals. And many, too many, have fallen into this lazy world of spit and venom at the expense of nation-building and investing respectfully in our institutions that are the foundation of our democracy.” {Rob Oakeshott in The Guardian UK on 25^th June 2013} 

“Who would want to be a woman in the sexist snake-pit that is Australian politics?” {Araminta Wordsworth in National Post on 28^th June 2013} 

"It's a very strong team ... but there is one person who I particularly want to mention. "We have a strong and credible broadband policy because the man who’s devised it, the man who will implement it virtually invented the internet in this country. Thank you so much, Malcolm Turnbull."

{Tony Abbott in http://youtu.be/oQbm6InGeUg 27th June 2013}

"Tony Abbott should avoid further embarrassment by not opening his mouth ever again on anything related to telecommunications. He’s had years to get it right, and he still has no clue."{Robert Merkel in LarvatusProdeo on 28 July 2013}

“Van Onselen was voicing the concerns of more than a few of Abbott’s colleagues, who fear being handed power with no mandate and no agenda.”

{Waleed Aly in The Monthly in July 2013}