The NSW government passed legislation amending the Law Enforcement Act during a special sitting. This is the Hansard for the Assembly special sitting. This is the legislative amendment. It looks like populist legislation to ward off criticism of the NSW Government, both Labor and Liberal backed it, fearing that they would lose their tough on crime credentials. The Hansard doesn't claim why existing laws are not sufficient. (more)
Geoffrey Blainey coined the term, "black armband history", which John Howard picked up in his 1996 election and used since as part of the longer campaign in the history wars. Blainey talks about democracy as being Australia's greatest and most difficult achievement, claiming that this majority based system is the defining component of our history. But Blainey is either ignorant, or rhetorically contemptuous in the understanding of minorities and rights in a political system. Modern Australians define themselves in the "Better Country"; failure to respect minorities, and to trample individual rights are directly the fault of our government and public institutions. Australians demand better.
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