October 15, 2003

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A horrific double murder tends

A horrific double murder tends to lead to reactions from politicians. No doubt the airwaves have been full of racism dressed as comment on how "these people" need to "fit in" to "our way of life" and this was all "unAustralian".

Bob Carr, Premier of NSW:

"My message is simple: Obey the law of Australia or ship out of Australia," he told reporters.

I thought we had a legal process and prisons for this. Don't see Mr. Carr saying all white collar crims need to "obey the law or ship out". Nor rapists, or "normal" murderers or any other crime. Of course the crime is reprehensible and I hope they catch the b@st@rds and put them away for good. But it is to jail they should go after a fair trial, nowhere else. That's what rule of law is about. Once you are a citizen of the country, it is not something you revoke short of treason. Do you want the Government deciding who should be an Australian citizen and who shouldn't? (I'm not looking for smart-@rse Poms to come in here and say that yes, that's a good idea).

Australia was founded by convicts who were "shipped out" of the UK instead of going to prison. Are we returning to the traditions of our earlier English overseers? Vitriol like this no doubt plays well in the sticks so I don't expect there will be much comment about this. In fact I am sure a lot of voters people agree with the Premier.

Pandering to prejudice. That's the kind of thing that will see "our civilisation dragged back to medieval standards", in Mr. Carr's words.

posted by Simon on 10.15.03 at 06:30 PM in the




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