Keywords: Australian Federal Police
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AUSTRALIA
- Bruce Pennay
- 18 July 2011
8 Comments
50 years ago this week, migrants and refugees from Eastern Europe rioted at the Bonegilla migrant reception centre outside Albury-Wodonga. The Federal Immigration Minister said such behaviour was not tolerated in this country, but investigation prompted public sympathy for the demonstrators.
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RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 18 July 2011
5 Comments
When I appeared on Q&A with Christopher Hitchens, a young man asked whether we can 'ever hope to live in a truly secular society' while the religious continue to 'affect political discourse and decision making' on euthanasia, same-sex unions and abortion. Hitchens was simpaticao. I was dumbstruck.
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AUSTRALIA
- Matthew Holloway
- 01 July 2011
12 Comments
The current narrative about the ALP says the party losing its soul and ultimately turning its back on those Australians it is meant to represent. The Tasmanian experience suggests the same might be said for the Greens in the Federal Parliament, who assume the balance of power in the Senate today.
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AUSTRALIA
- Michael Mullins
- 18 April 2011
16 Comments
In the wake of the defence force Skype sex scandal, former diplomat Bruce Haigh pointed out that things start to go wrong when commanding officers forget that they are there to serve, and instead act to protect their reputations. His point holds true for unions and churches.
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AUSTRALIA
There is ample reason to be concerned about what could follow the referendum result that led to the formation of New Sudan. To prevent the potentially devastating repercussions, the international community must prepare to intervene.
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AUSTRALIA
- Michael Mullins
- 15 November 2010
7 Comments
The release on Saturday of Burma's democracy hero Aung San Suu Kyi, and last week's Australian high court decisions regarding refugees and bikies, each contain salutary lessons for governments that attempt to rule by popular fear.
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RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 04 November 2010
15 Comments
Cardinal Pell, with whom I have voiced disagreement, preached superbly at the mass of thanksgiving after the canonisation of Mary MacKillop. 'She does not deter us from struggling to follow her.' As we wrestle with the common good, let's make a place for all our fellow citizens.
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AUSTRALIA
- John Falzon
- 20 August 2010
20 Comments
Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Janet Phillips says that for Aboriginal Australians
there's no 'justice'; 'just us'.
How can we turn this election into a building block for a more equal society?
The answer involves weighing up the known
policies and track-record of both sides to assess their
impact on the growth of inequality.
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AUSTRALIA
- Andrew Hamilton
- 19 August 2010
7 Comments
This election campaign has been reminiscent of the Italian hunting season, where it becomes dangerous
to go out of doors when so many guns are pointed into the air. Elections are like the shooting season. High fliers are safe. Low fliers are not.
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RELIGION
- Frank Brennan
- 07 July 2010
Fr Frank Brennan's address to the Melbourne College of Divinity
Centenary Conference, Trinity College, University of Melbourne, 6 July
2010.
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INTERNATIONAL
- Andrew Hamilton
- 12 April 2010
23 Comments
The decision to suspend the processing of future asylum seekers from Afghanistan and Sri Lanka does not respect the dignity of asylum seekers. Now that the Government has bent to the populist winds fanned by an opportunistic Opposition, there are grounds for fearing the claims of asylum seekers will be judged in a way that unduly reflects the interests of the Australian Government.
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ENVIRONMENT
- Sarah Burnside
- 29 October 2009
7 Comments
Australia's decision to reduce its intake of the endangered southern bluefin tuna has outraged the industry. The global fishing industry is unsustainable, and fishing is second only to climate change as
the greatest environmental threat to marine ecosystems.
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