Flashpoint No. 2 – Home truths
Wednesday, 15 July 2009 International relations 5 comments
Highlighting the coalition’s hypocrisy by contrasting its response to Hick’s detention at Guantanamo is a good example, but surely Dr Haneef’s case is a better one.
A victory for the judiciary, not civil liberties
Wednesday, 22 August 2007 Key posts, The Australian state Comments Off on A victory for the judiciary, not civil liberties
To read much of the Judge’s decision and the media comment about it, you could get the impression that this is all about the detention of Haneef and the excessive use of anti-terrorism powers.
Time to leave Howard in the swamp
Tuesday, 21 August 2007 Tactics Comments Off on Time to leave Howard in the swamp
Rudd’s job now is to stop boring the nation on how drunk he was four years ago.
Rats unsure which way to jump
Thursday, 16 August 2007 Media analysis Comments Off on Rats unsure which way to jump
The equivocal response of the press gallery reflects their increasing defensiveness as many of the assumptions built up during the Howard ascendancy have been undermined over this year.
Power is shifting away
Monday, 6 August 2007 The Australian state Comments Off on Power is shifting away
These anti-terrorist powers, and the Ministers responsible for them, are not the main issue in this debate. This is less about Haneef’s civil liberties than a fight between the government and the judiciary over who uses these powers.
Who is Andrews arguing with?
Wednesday, 1 August 2007 The Australian state Comments Off on Who is Andrews arguing with?
The problem with the Magistrate’s ruling was a political one, because it added to the impression that Haneef was being held on no evidence and undermined the credibility of the government’s use of the anti-terror laws. That was why the Minister was compelled to intervene with a political response.
Anti-politics masquerading as civil liberties
Tuesday, 31 July 2007 The Australian state Comments Off on Anti-politics masquerading as civil liberties
Anti-terrorism legislation that brings in special powers to deal with what look like nihilistic amateurs, as though they were a paramilitary organisation like the IRA, was clearly introduced by the government for political, rather than operational purposes.
Dead elephants clutter up the battlefield
Thursday, 26 July 2007 Tactics Comments Off on Dead elephants clutter up the battlefield
The election campaign is now being littered with dead issues that were escalated by the government for political purposes but have since gone nowhere.
Gently falling apart
Tuesday, 24 July 2007 State of the parties Comments Off on Gently falling apart
The government is apparently intent on bedding down between now and the election and just focussing on its economic strength. Well, that’s one way of putting it.