Good on you for getting up in Parliment and STICKING IT UP THEM!!!!!!!!

Regards

Mike Halsey

I agree with your sentiments about the use of the flag for shallow, jingoistic patriotism. It make me cringe.

But I don’t think the colour of the flag has any significance to these yobbos – they would use the ‘flag of the day’ to put their ignorance on public display.

Our pioneers and veterans who explored our country and defended our freedom often feel betrayed by those who do not have respect for the symbols that were important to them.

We will eventually have another debate on the republic – but let’s show some respect for the Queen who most regard as a remarkable and graceful monarch – and wait until she steps down from the throne.

We will also have another debate on the flag – but let’s show some respect for our veterans and our pioneers and leave it until they have departed.

Either way – I don’t think I will feel any different when I wake up in the morning after either debate.

We should also remember that it was the Conservatives who put an end to the White Australia policy and gave aborigines the right to vote.

I am not so sanguine as to Turnbull’s political capabilities. For a bloke with his previous stature and experience he has not been able to gain any traction agaist Rudd. He can’t seem to make up his mind whether he is a small ‘l’ Liberal or not – somewhat like one of our lesser quality PM’s, Malcolm Fraser. In regard to the ETS I suggest that he should swallow his pride (probably the hardest thing for him to do) disregard earlier election statements and join with the Nationals to oppose it. There are sound national interest reasons for such a course and that is almost reason enough for it to be followed. Although unlike the Nationals to date he would also need good alternative polices and approaches of which there are a few – at least it would get him out of the ‘wedge’. I remain unimpressed with his performace (and that of his main chosen Ministers) when, as you suggest, there are ample opportunities to make some telling points against Rudd and which he/they has/have failed to do. Its time too for a hint of future Liberal policies to begin to emerge – perhaps the recent IR comments are a start here but again not well handled – not thought through in regard to presentation and detail requiring further explanation as the Rudd onslaught descended as well it might have been expected to do so. I will await further outcomes.

On Australia Day last, an Aboriginal Elder was slowly boiled to death in the back of a van where the inside temperature was 56 degrees.

He had no water, food, toilet or air conditioning,and incurred third degree burns from the heat of the metal floor, before he died a slow and agonizing death whilst being transported the 400k’s to Kalgoorlie.

The van was driven by two security guards who had the air-conditioning turned on in the front of the van.

After the man’s death,The CEO of the Company who supplied the van to the WA Dept of Corrective Services,, knelt in the grass and said he was sorry to the Aboriginal man’s family.

The Minister for Corrective Services cried on TV, and said she had been aware of the problem for some time, but nobody in the Cabinet seemed interested.

The grieving family of the dead Aboriginal man have asked for Justice.

Justice for this man’s family, would be the Minister for Corrective Services, and the CEO of the Company employed by the WA Government to provide the vans,be placed in the back of the same van, and driven from Laverton to Kalgoorlie in forty degree heat with no water,food or breaks for toileting, and no means of communicating with the guards in the front of the van.

If by chance they survive the trip,the Minister would then be deemed fit to serve in Government, , and the Owner of the van Company,would be fit to tender for transportation of prisoners.

If they don’t survive, the family of the dead Aboriginal man could then kneel in the grass, and say sorry to their families.

That would be Justice wouldn’t it ?

Are we are a Racist Nation?

Well as long as incidents like this keep happening, I’d say it will be a long, long time before our Indigenous people are convinced that we are not, and we don’t need anyone from overseas to tell us that.

And someone should not have to die before Federal Ministers act.

I am still unsure how they see private game reserves as an “offensives concept”. When was the last time they were ofended by a game park in Qld, Vic or SA. I use my land to breed and raise animals including deer which are sent by truck to be slaughtered in an abitoir, with no chance of escape. If I have someone pay me to hunt the same deer in a padock of several hunderd acres where the deer have opportunities to escape it is illegal. I know which is the most humane and it is not yarding them and trucking them hundreds of km to be killed in an abitoir.