Perspectives

To Critique, Inform, Challenge and Entertain

Category: OPINION

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS / OPINION

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An Apology for the Referendum’s Failure

Reading Time: 5 minutesIn Saturday’s referendum, support for the recognition of Indigenous peoples as Australia’s first people was tied to support for the establishment of a Voice. The benefits of establishing a Voice and why it needed to be entrenched in the constitution were not presented and consequently, were predictably and understandably not supported. The reasons for proposing the Voice were not explained, and not considered in a constitutional convention by a cross section of Australian people. Consequently, attributing blame to the No camp is a distraction by those who should have known better, who need to accept responsibility, and most importantly, who owe Indigenous people an apology.

AUSTRALIAN POLITICS / CURRENT ISSUES / LEGAL MATTERS / OPINION / Uncategorized

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‘No will leave us nowhere. No recognition. No way forward’ says the PM – I beg to differ.

Reading Time: < 1 minuteA No vote victory on the Voice to Parliament proposal would not leave Indigenous affairs ‘nowhere’. Contrary to what the Yes camp wants us to believe, making the Voice permanent would not necessarily be a step forward. While governments have repeatedly appointed and Indigenous advisory bodies that governments appointed and abolished, the wording of the proposed constitutional amendment would allow Parliament to alter at will literally everything about the Voice apart from its existence.

CURRENT ISSUES / LEGAL MATTERS / OPINION / RELIGION / US POLITICS

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Justice Amy Barrett’s Nomination, Judicial Independence and Religious Beliefs

Reading Time: 7 minutesWidespread criticism of President Trump nomination of Justice Amy Barrett. to fill a vacancy on the US Supreme Court raises many issues including the separation of church and state, the perception of judicial neutrality and the politicization of the US Supreme Court. Particularly concerning is Justice Barrett’s apparent willingness to permit the President to exploit her religious beliefs to further his agenda of reinterpreting the law.

CURRENT ISSUES / OPINION / US POLITICS

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Much to Observe and Even More to Learn From the Lead Up to the American Presidential Election.

Reading Time: 10 minutesMany of us are paying close attention to the everchanging issues in the lead up to the 2020 US Presidential election. There is little doubt that the outcome of the election will also affect us and the rest of the world. We have much to learn of relevance to our re-emerging consideration of whether it is time to become a Republic. Particularly significant are lessons we can learn from the US regarding a directly elected President and the appointment and independence of the judiciary.

CURRENT ISSUES / OPINION

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GERONTICIDE IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

Reading Time: 9 minutesFormer Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbott proposes that we allow elderly Covid-19 patients to die for the sake of a speedier economic recovery. Reviewing alternative responses to the pandemic reveals underlying philosophies and values.