“All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.” – James Thurber
The Latest
This is how our decency is degraded
A friend reminded me recently of a great observation about the process by which our decency is degraded. Looking at what has happened in Australia, courtesy of Howard, Ruddock, Rudd, Gillard, Abbott, Morrison, Turnbull and Dutton, and what has happened recently in... read more“We can’t save all of them”
Liberal party members who attempted to have white South African farmers singled out for special treatment when applying for asylum in Australia have been defeated after an interjection from Philip Ruddock. Ruddock pointed out that there are about 65 million people... read moreIt’s time to write to Federal MPs
You may have seen Greg Hunt on Insiders this morning (27 May). If not, watch it on Iview. He simply did not answer questions about “indefinite detention”. Coalition MPs are simply not being honest about the issue of people seeking asylum. They won’t... read moreWhat YOU can do about refugee policy
I am often asked “What can I do about refugee policy?” Well here’s an idea Kate came up with: get a group of friends together and agree to meet once a week. At those weekly meetings, agree on things you can do during the following week: helping at... read moreThe trolls are at it again
Last Friday night I had an entertaining time on Sky News discussing a few issues with Bronwyn Bishop. Among other things, Ms Bishop made it clear that she did not like the idea of the Newstart allowance being increased from $40 per day. I asked her if she could... read moreWho should we believe?
It is interesting to compare reports in today’s The Australian and The Guardian Australia In The Australian, there is an article with the headline: “Newspoll: Malcolm Turnbull’s popularity surges on the back of the budget” In The Guardian there is an... read moreHypocritical politicians
I have said before, and I repeat it here, that I regard as hypocrites any Federal politicians who claim to be Christian, and yet go along with the deliberate mistreatment of people seeking asylum. The key offenders are Scott Morrison, Tony Abbott Peter Dutton and... read moreTSUNAMI of Homelessness and Poverty set to hit on JUNE 4
We are facing a tsunami of poverty and homelessness within a month. Home Affairs have two planned waves designed to hit the people in the community who are going through the visa process, first singles and then followed by a second wave to target families with... read moreAustralia in breach of Convention Against Torture
The Human Rights Council, which we have struggled so hard to join, has just received the latest Report of the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Page 9 of the report carries special criticism of Australia, by... read moreTrolls
Not surprisingly, I get a lot of trolls sniping at me on Twitter. I posted a suggestion recently that we should identify the trolls, without wanting to give them any publicity. People have been writing to me with suggested trolls. The list follows. I will update it... read morePeter Dutton
In mid-March 2018 I retweeted a tweet which included a photo-shopped image of Peter Dutton as a Nazi. The Jewish Anti-Defamation Commission criticised me for it. Andrew Bolt published a piece on his blog which was very critical of me. He did not bother to contact me... read moreSome random ideas to improve Australia
I don’t claim to have the answers to all our problems. And I recognise that Australia has a lot going for it: great climate; great natural resources; great people. Maybe our good fortune is the source of our complacency. We’re a bit like Middleton’s Rouseabout (see... read moreNews from Manus
A person who is held on Manus – at our expense, as taxpayers (thanks, Peter Dutton) – has written to me a couple of times setting out the hardship refugees on Manus are facing. Bear in mind, the misery we inflict costs us, the taxpayers, $570,000 per... read moreTrump’s Gettysburg Address
I am grateful to Barry Jones for drawing this to my attention: the Gettysburg address as Trump would have made it. First, the original: Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the... read moreAustralia’s moral failure
I recently received a letter which was directed to all Federal MPs and was copied to a number of refugee organisations. The subject line is: Taxpayer funded time spent on other people’s lives It sets out very well how Australia is failing in its treatment of... read moreHuman Rights & Social Justice
- The National Pro Bono Resource Centre is an independent organisation that supports and promotes pro bono legal services in Australia.
- JusticeConnect: working to provide effective means for people and organisations in need to access justice
The Arts
Jewellery
- Kate Durham’s jewellery: a small sample
- Kate Durham exhibition of jewellery at fortyfive downstairs: Show ran from 17 Sept to 11 Oct
- A VIDEO showing some of Kate’s work and a few photos: here and here
Art, music and theatre
- what’s on at fortyfive downstairs (45 Flinders Lane Melbourne)
- Wolfgang Sievers photographs for sale
- Fine chamber music: Musica Viva Australia
- Look at this remarkable example of art in cut paper: truly amazing
Asylum Seekers
- Australian Human Rights Commission: Facts about asylum seekers and refugees
- Andrew and Renata Kaldor Centre at UNSW: debunking myths about refugees
- New website: Compassion Without Borders
- And find various refugee support groups across Australia here
- Doctors for Refugees
Videos
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