News reports over the past few weeks have been dominated by Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean. Following the sinking of the Ady Gil, the situation threatens to blow out of control and threaten bi-lateral relations with our largest trading partner. What do you think the Australian Government should be doing? Is it irresponsible to condone the behaviour of vigilantes on the high seas? Should the government deploy an observation vessel to help cool tensions between Greenpeace and the whalers? Let me know by having your say below.
The end of 2009 was a tumultuous period in federal politics, culminating in a change of leadership and policy direction for the Liberal Party. And let’s not forget the historic decision by all non-government political parties in the Senate to oppose Kevin Rudd’s emissions trading scheme. If this year was anything to go by, 2010 is set to be an eventful year in politics and governance in Australia. What do you think will be the big political issues in the New Year? What issues do you think need to be given more precedence in political discussion and the media? Let...
Over the past few months more and more boats carrying asylum seekers have been intercepted entering or trying to enter Australian waters. The government has changed the laws in relation to illegal entry vessels but refuses to accept any responsibility for the increase in the number of illegal vessels. Despite recent opinion polls showing that a majority of Australians think the Prime Minister is being too soft on the issue, many reports and articles online claim that he is being inhumane in dealing with illegal immigration. What do you think we should be doing about vessels trying to enter Australian...
The issue of storing nuclear waste in Australia has hit the media again in recent months. Despite the Rudd Government maintaining its opposition to the idea of storing nuclear waste in our country, its go-to man on nuclear non-proliferation, former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, has thrown his support behind the idea. Earlier this year, former Prime Minister Bob Hawke too articulated his support for Australia taking a step towards responsible nuclear waste storage. During the years of the Howard Government the idea came to the fore, however the federal government found itself at a stand-off with Labor state governments and...
A United Nations spokesman has said that the Northern Territory Intervention breaches several international treaties and discriminates against indigenous people. The American professor of human rights law James Anaya had conducted an 11 day fact-finding mission with a preliminary conclusion that there is entrenched racism in Australia and the Racial Discrimination Act needed to be reinstated to protect the rights of indigenous people. Do you agree that there is entrenched racism in Australia and we are breaching our international obligations? Have your say below and let me know what you think.
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