Three Nutshells
It looks like the David Hicks saga will soon be coming to an end, one way or the other. Having long deplored the Australian goverments stance, or lack of one, I am very surprised that it's taken his lawyers four years to find out his mother was British. An oversight like that is absolutely ridiculous and makes me wonder if those directly involved (David Hicks, his lawyers and his family) are perhaps less concerned about getting him back to Australia than the Australians who are often campaigning to do so.
Staying on 'terror', no surprise today on the federal / state agreement on new counter-terrorism laws, but a big roaring thumbs up for the inclusion of the ten-year 'sunset clause' - a necessary safeguard and a slight relief to those of us over-saturated on Orwellian paranoia.
Finally, a nod to last nights Four Corners Program, which will be repeated tomorrow night, examining the government's proposed industrial relations reforms. Perhaps the most enlightening passage came when a notable number of experts said that the new laws (particularly the abolishment of the unfair dismissal laws and the effect/focus on AWAs) would in no way increase productivity - as Howard says they will - but will instead likely raise profits. A matter of definition perhaps.
Oh yes, nice one Swannies.
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Welcome back Mark!
I'm wondering why they say it can take so long to approve David Hick's citizenship. I gather that if he qualifies there is not much the British Government can do to refuse it. And when, one Wednesday, I took my daughter's details to Canberra with all forms filled in, I had a note in the Mail the folowing Monday to say there was a registered package waiting for me - and we don't live in the city. So why 3 months to a year?
Although I do beleive that for children born before 1983 to British mothers, as opposed to British fathers, the process is a bit more complex. I was shocked to find that prior to 1983, children of British Mothers didn't have the same automatic right as those with UK fathers had.
Re the new laws, I'd love to know what was the advice given to the Sate premiers that got them in such a funk. But as we all now know, the Public Service is very adept at giving advice it knows it's masters want to hear. We wil never know becuse so much is now shrouded in a blanket of secrecy. The gen. public is just left with the impression that some bogy man out there has said a seriuos 'boo'.
This government scares me far more than any terrorist group ever will. We are in danger of being like frogs in hot water - not realising we are dead until it's too,late, as the water slowly slowy heats up.....
Thanks Sue!
AS far as I know, the 3 months to a year is when everything is done via post, and represents the administration time. The only explanation I can guess at is that Hicks' lawyers are so useless that they haven't even thought about going in person. It really wouldn't surprise me.
I know what you mean about the government - as I see it 'terrorism', as an entity, is a fear campaign to keep the people docile and in check. Do I think these laws will reduce the likelihood of an 'attack' on Australian soil? Not in the slightest. But these laws, or something like them, scary as they are, were inevitable, and so the sunset clause is the only source of hope that a rabid idealist like myself can cling to - that perhaps one day these curtailings of civil liberties will be overturned. Won't cross my fingers for too long, likely to give myself arthritis.