Close the Gap shines spotlight on national disgrace

Close the Gap Day, March 25, 2010

For most of us the appalling state of Indigenous health is conveniently out of sight and out of mind. But on March 25 - Close the Gap Day - we will all be put on the spot: we can do as most Australians have done for decades and look the other way or we can lend our support to ending this national disgrace.

Here are the facts: Indigenous children die at more than double the rate of other Australian children. Indigenous men and women die up to 17 years earlier than other Australians. Many Indigenous people suffer chronic diseases, which are entirely preventable and have virtually been eliminated for other Australians ... More

Humane policy impossible on Christmas Island - Amnesty

In early December 2009, an Amnesty International research team visited Christmas Island to inspect the immigration detention facilities and to investigate the human rights situation.

"There's genuine goodwill on the part of many people on Christmas Island - including Department of Immigration staff and the local school and hospital - to try to make the best of the extremely difficult conditions they are facing," writes team member Jessica Baird, Amnesty International Australia's Media and Public Affairs Coordinator.

"Despite the goodwill however, the isolated location of Christmas Island makes it simply impossible to implement a humane immigration policy there ... More

Australian Democrats vote almost doubles

Higgins By-election 2009

The Australian Democrats almost doubled their percentage of first preference votes compared with the Higgins result in the 2007 general election.

The low voter turn-out on December 5 of 63,204 (71.70%) compared with 83,778 (93.77%) in 2007 had little effect on the Liberal's win in percentage terms ... More

Four Wheels Good; Two Wheels Bad

New Bikie laws would breach civil liberties

The Australian Democrats condemn in the strongest possible terms agitation by the police officers trade union for new Victorian laws that criminalize motorcycle riders. Such laws would breach many of the fundamental civil liberties enjoyed by all, oppress an innocent minority and foster a culture of intolerance ... More

Human rights violations outrageous  - Amnesty

"In the heart of this first world I found scenes more reminiscent of the third world. That Indigenous peoples experience human rights violations on a continent of such privilege is not merely disheartening, it is morally outrageous. The moral imperative to eradicate such poverty is no less an imperative on government than to eliminate torture." Irene Khan ... More

Exempt left-handed from Climate Change

Today's announcement by Climate Change minister Penny Wong excluding the agricultural sector from the costs of the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme under proposed new compromise legislation is ridiculous and mistaken, say the Australian Democrats, and opens the door wider to further lobbying and rent-seeking by major polluters ... More

Greens Surrender Freedom

Clive Hamilton, The Greens’ candidate in the Higgins by-election expects us to abandon a wide range of important freedoms by trumping them with the hideous spectre of child sexual abuse. His position is morally bankrupt, say the Australian Democrats. It delegates to government a power they plan to misuse before it even exists.

“Hamilton affirmed his support for the Rudd Government’s Internet Filter scheme as recently as a week ago. His position is breathtakingly naive and ... More

Australian Democrats Nominate Collyer For Higgins

MELBOURNE: The Australian Democrats have preselected David Collyer to contest the Higgins by-election on December 5 caused by the resignation of Peter Costello.

“We are the voice of middle Australia, the party of moderation and progress,” Collyer said at the announcement.

“I see great dissatisfaction and a sense of alienation among voters over the management of the ... More

Asylum seekers: myths and facts

The debate surrounding the arrival of asylum seekers by boat has descended to a level reminiscent of the Tampa and Children Overboard affairs.

The federal opposition appears to be calling for a return to the draconian policies of the previous government while the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, has wrongly described asylum seekers as "illegal."

That and other common myths and misconceptions are quickly dispelled in a Fact Sheet, Myths and Facts about Asylum Seekers, produced by the refugee advocacy group, A Just Australia. Here is a summary: ... More

8000 Hiroshimas!

Australia has the world's largest known reserves of uranium and is second only to Canada in uranium exports. Five years ago Australian uranium exports had already produced about 80 tonnes of plutonium - enough for about 8000 Hiroshima or Nagasaki size nuclear bombs.

In July this year Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, approved uranium mining at Four Mile mine, 10km from the existing Beverly mine in South Australia. The limited mainstream media coverage of Garrett's decision focussed on the local environmental issues while the wider ramifications ... More

Global climate wake-up call today

Today more than 2400 Climate Wake-Up Call events are scheduled in 130 countries. The Global Wake-Up Call is a joint effort of the TckTckTck Campaign, named for the "tck"ing of a clock as time runs short.

Groups involved in the campaign include Avaaz, 350.org, Oxfam, Greenpeace and the producers of the film "The Age of Stupid", which will showcase the Wake-Up Call at their global premiere.

Azaaz says, "Everywhere, from Berlin to Buenos Aires, people will gather in peaceful, spontaneous 'flash mobs' in public places ... More

Intervention infringes indigenous human rights - UN

As UN Special Rapportuer, Professor James Anaya,

ended an 11 day visit to Australia he expressed concern at the discriminatory aspects of the Northern Territory Emergency Response. Whilst commending the Government for some positive innitiatives he said others contravened Australia’s human rights obligations. Professor Anaya's complete statement is reproduced below ... More

Who will keep the bastards honest now?

With no Australian Democrats in the senate who will strive to keep the government transparent and accountable? Who will demand legislation that protects independence and liberty? And who will stand up for the underprivileged and disenfranchised?

We will. With your help there's much we can do. We can still influence government via petitions and submissions, public forums and rallies. But until we get the Australian Democrats back into parliament our strength lies in numbers.

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