Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

I joined the Labor Party some time after Howard’s election wins in 1998 and 2001 because of his obvious plans to divide our Nation into Haves and Have Nots. My Wife has her own values, but nevertheless, also joined the Labor Party as the only organised opposition left to an expanding dictatorship that I call Howard’s “New Order”. Older Australians and Veterans will know what I mean.  (pics added)

In 2002 when I turned 55, I retired and again we moved north in a caravan this time we settled in Cairns. I completed a certificate 3 in aged care and have been an aged care worker with RSLCARE for about 4 years. I retire next week as I am about to have my 60th birthday.

The latest update from the Democratic Audit program at ANU on how our democracy is working.

In the old days, this type of nationalist and corporatist state with lashings of social control was called fascism. Now it's called security.

"My remarks today will reflect on relationships with the US and domestic issues which influence the fundamentals of Australia.  There has in recent times been a major attack on traditionally accepted Australian values.  This also impacts on our reputation in our region and in the wider world.  This is particularly damaging because the Bush government is on the way out and, within the United States, those who have supported it strongly will, in the next Administration, be regarded as pariahs." Malcolm Fraser

John Howard's 'vision for 2020' seems from the news reports to have been more about what the future isn't (it isn't about climate change, it isn't about workers rights) than what it will be. Here's the full text for your comments.

In May and June 2007 the Gandhian/activist wing of the Australian Peace Movement is going to produce two nonviolent action programs which promote and develop a grass-roots resistance to war.

The latest update from the Democratic Audit program at ANU on how our democracy is working.

"The circumstances of the last 24 hours indicate the fairly shambolic nature of the proceedings."

By way of introduction to the speech Petro Georgiou gave in Melbourne last Wednesday, I'd like to share something of my own recent experience of the effort taken by people set on becoming part of our society, citizens of our country, to study and learn the English language.

They are simply unable to see themselves in Hicks’ shoes. While they hate the boyhood image they see in David, their self-image is that of a schoolyard gang of bullies.

The latest update from the Democratic Audit program at ANU on how our democracy is working.

The latest update from the Democratic Audit of Australia program at ANU on how our democracy is working.

Privileges of Australian Citizens: It entitles you to: ... seek assistance from Australian diplomatic representatives while overseas ... - but, not, it seems, to actually receive that assistance once you seek it.

Australia joined most of the world during the last quarter of the last century by becoming ethnically diverse in its population base. Is this a good thing for those who had to experience such a vast change?

There's been some recent discussion of workplace psychopaths, turning around the release of Dr John Clarke's second book on the issue, The Pocket Psycho, a sequel to his Working with Monsters.

Our trial is set down to commence on 29 May 2007. I'll be acknowledging all relevant facts, and availing myself of the defence of necessity under Section 10.3 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code.

I will now go and ‘download’ a glass of wine and be a ‘key stakeholder’ in watching a fabulous Mekong sunset.

"Because of my angle of vision, I see the flag as symbolising the war on Iraq, the war on refugees and Howard's war on the rule of law, once fundamental to our British Heritage, and on human rights for all Australians. But that's just me. I don't have a problem with other people wearing the flag. I do have a problem with the attitude that because it's not my thing, there's something unAustralian about me. Like the message some wore on the Big Day Out, 'Support or fuck off'. And I do have a problem with groups being told to fly the flag or else." Margo Kingston

"It seems to me that the role played by Australian MP's and Senators, in government particularly, is almost the opposite of what is needed." Ross Chippendale

" I’d say that since the Hanson image and John Howard's appropriation of the flag for political purposes louts and racists have colonised the display of the flag in some respects, as evidenced by its use during the Cronulla riots. So I’d support a ban, as the use of the flag in this way is itself a desecration of our flag. We’re talking a huge, sweaty, alcohol laden event here. Why give aggressive people with a yen for violence and hate a prop like the Australian flag to stir things up with?" Margo Kingston

Malcolm's rewrite of CS Lewis moves on to a new adventure for Johnnie, Peter, Alexander, and Amanda ...

Since everyone else seems to be compiling lists, here's a space to write your own personal top ten list for 2006.

A pre-Christmas finale to this long-running saga ...

"Compassion is not a dirty word. Compassion is not a sign of weakness. In my view, compassion in politics and in public policy is in fact a hallmark of great strength. It is a hallmark of a society which has about it a decency which speaks for itself.": Kevin Rudd

" I decided an 'allegorical' approach might be a better one to take with regard to some of the 'hot-button' issues that come up repeatedly on Webdiary. I would like to try an experiment, with the consent and cooperation of the editors and other Webdiarists.": Will Howard

"This audit directly addresses the controversial role money plays in Australian politics by asking the question: How democratic is the way political parties are funded in Australia? It identifies two central problems with the funding of Australian political parties: a lack of transparency, with secrecy a hallmark of private funding, political spending and the use of parliamentary entitlements and government resources; and the political inequality that is maintained and perpetuated by Australian political finance. ": Joo-Cheong Tham and Sally Young, Democratic Audit of Australia

"The Government’s current policy direction on Aborigines, which has gained momentum in recent months, has all of the hallmarks of the assimilationism that led to the stolen generation. The methods and the rhetoric are far subtler – and obviously less cruel - than those of the Government’s predecessors, but the aim is identical and arguably just as pernicious: the assimilation of Aborigines into the mainstream.": David Curry

"This is not rocket science. Clear the landscape, remove the surface roughage, change the albedo and dry out the countryside upwind and you get less rainfall – a perfect example of climate change. The solution is quite simple and could be achieved in one to two generations: revegetate the landscape.": Ian Read

"I wore a poppy at work for the last couple of days (I now work in a book shop). My boss, in a friendly way, asked me why. For me it's not because war is bad or because they protected freedoms or because of grief or the loss of youth. It is just because millions of people in the past have fought, killed and died, and whatever we think about it, that shouldn't be forgotten. Forgetting that would be a very big mistake. It's why I'm much more sold on 'Remembrance Day' than 'Anzac Day'. It's just a day to remember, that's all.": Hamish Alcorn