Time for a solution on refugees
FEDERAL POLITICS
IT would be wonderful if both major parties had an armistice from point-scoring and sought common ground on how to release our country’s asylum seekers from their four-year imprisonment on Manus Island and Nauru. For a start, they could reflect on the humanity of these people whose only “crime” was to seek refuge from persecution. This lengthy imprisonment of innocent people in order to “stop the boats” has been a blot on Australia’s otherwise respectable humanitarian efforts. In any case, Australia’s new supersecurity department makes the need to hold these prisoners hostage — as a deterrent to people smugglers — obsolete. There will hardly be a ripple of protest if both parties agree to send these longsuffering asylum seekers to Australia. First Australians have a right to selfdetermination in full, not limited selfdetermination, as the concern would be, even given a voice in the Australian Constitution, it would give them very little on advancement on self-determination.
Public benefits
THE ironically titled Minister for Human Welfare Alan Tudge tells us that welfare payments are harmful. It should therefore follow that we should expect our politicians to do without such support to lazily lean on. However, the opposite is the case. Over many years I have watched a vast increase in the number of assistants and advisers MPs have allotted themselves with a commensurate vast increase in costs and a decrease in efficiency. We are told to believe that all these extra spin doctors are there to make governing better but the result is just the opposite. The more advisers a minister has, the less he informs the public and the less responsibility he takes. If minister Tudge and his colleagues acted on their supposed beliefs, all those spin doctors would be sacked and we would gain honest transparent and constructive government. Instead we have to put up with dishonesty, secrecy and ulterior motives.
Constitution fundamental
IN his featured letter, John Cauchi (Letters, July 21) complains that “rules create a second class of citizens,” with respect to A new way to have your say themercury.com.au readers have a new way to have their say. It’s free to use, just register and have your say. For more details and to register, visit the website. the forced resignations of Scott Ludlum and Larissa Waters from the Senate. This is incorrect and not a conservative plot, but rather the well-known rules that all Australian citizens have to abide by if they wish to sit in our Federal Parliament. Our forefathers put this caveat in the Constitution to help ensure that our parliamentary representatives only represent Australian interests. This was a very sensible provision for people that make and review our laws, so is the concept that they should also follow our laws, particularly the Constitution. This may be a bit of a problematic concept for the Greens who came into being by deliberately breaking laws in their well-documented protests such as those against forestry and hydroelectric power, the later being a bit of an inconvenient truth these days.
Talent wasted
THIS may sound strange, but each time I read an article or hear a talk by former prime minister Tony Abbott, I have noticed that he is not asking for anything for himself but is attempting to warn the Australian people of the dangers that could follow if the wrong path is taken by the Federal Government. Perhaps he is a voice crying in the wilderness who is really concerned about the future of the Australian people and this great country. In America, his name is on a list of people with a brilliant mind and he is a Rhodes Scholar. Instead of abusing him and treating him like a fool, perhaps we could stop and listen to him!
Movable feast
I AM keen to thank the person responsible for making me hunt for the puzzles some days. This exercises my brain and helps to protect me from dementia.
Barking mad
DOGS in pharmacies, that’s nothing. Come to Bellerive — the trendies bring their dogs along for coffee at the cafes.
Let off lightly
US Christmas cracker joke December 2017: What was the very first thing former White House press secretary Sean Spicer said to Donald Trump after the US President told him: “You’re fired!” Answer: “I beg your pardon?”
Eddie’s bigger problems
EDDIE everywhere is at it again. The Collingwood president is back on The Footy Show, and promising to unleash Sam Newman, all while his beloved club is imploding.
Never forgotten
PEOPLE will remember for a very long time how the current State Government almost sent Tasmania into darkness. These are the good managers?