Post-script to the state-sanctioned murder of Chan & Sukumaran

Post-script to the state-sanctioned murder of Chan & Sukumaran

Around 12.35am on 29 April 2015, an Indonesian firing squad executed Andrew Chan, Myuran Sukumaran, Rodrigo Gularte, Martin Anderson, Raheem Agbaje Salami, Sylvester Obiekwe Nwolise, Okwudili Oyatanze, and Zainal Abidin bin Mgs Mahmud Badarudin.

The eight men refused blindfolds and sang Amazing Grace as they were tied to posts and shot dead⁽¹⁾.

It was a terrible postscript to each of their lives.

President Widodo and the members of the firing squad have blood on their hands. They have murdered eight men.

Myuran Sukumaran's last painting: the Indonesian flag dripping with blood

The only good news to come from that terrible evening was the last minute reprieve given to Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina maid who was to be executed with the eight men. Her reprieve came in the form of two human traffickers who handed themselves into Philippines police stating that they were the ones who'd planted the drugs in Veloso's suitcase five years earlier⁽²⁾.

Indonesia came dangerously close to executing an innocent woman. How many other innocent people have been executed?

The two human traffickers showed greater integrity than President Widodo, who could have granted clemency at any time but failed to.

For Chan and Sukumaran, the executions ended 10 years of a nightmare that began on 17 April 2005, when they were arrested in Bali. They were part of a group of nine people, the Bali Nine, who were convicted of attempting to smuggle 8.3kg of heroin from Indonesia to Australia. Found guilty of being the ringleaders of the group, Chan and Sukumaran were sentenced to death. The others received life sentences, although three of them were successful in having their sentences reduced to 20 years.

During the 10 years they spent in prison, Chan and Sukumaran were rehabilitated and helped other prisoners. Chan converted to Christianity and became an ordained Minister, leading church services and bible studies in prison. Sukumaran also converted to Christianity and studied art by correspondence through Australia's Curtin University. In February 2015 was awarded an Associate Degree in Fine Arts from Curtin University.

There are a number of questions around the executions of Chan and Sukumaran. At the time of their killings, both had a constitutional appeal to be heard on 12 May 2015 regarding the lack of individual consideration given to their clemency pleas by President Widodo.

In addition to this, there's the allegation that judges in their trial had threatened to sentence them to death unless they paid $130,000 in bribes⁽³⁾. Although this has been investigated, the findings haven't been released to date. If true, it would have revealed judicial corruption and surely would have been grounds for an appeal against the death sentence⁽⁴⁾. Two of the judges who ruled on Chan and Sukumaran's death penalty were sacked for corruption. One month after sentencing the duo to death, the panel of judges commuted a death sentence to 15 years because it breached the constitutional right to life for a man found with nearly four times the amount of drugs that Chan and Sukumaran were⁽⁵⁾.

And then there are the questions over the Australian Federal Police involvement. They were tipped off by the concerned father of Scott Rush, who hoped they'd stop his son leaving Australia. Instead, the illustrious AFP tipped off Indonesia⁽⁶⁾. The AFP could have arrested the Bali 9 in Australia and possibly been led to the king pin who organised it. Instead, they are complicit in the executions of Chan and Sukumaran.

The Brazilian prisoner, Rodrigo Gularte, was mentally ill. Under Indonesian law, a mentally ill prisoner should not be executed. According to Father Charlie Burrows, Gularte didn't realise he was being executed until the chains were put on him shortly before being taken out and shot⁽⁷⁾.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop both made representations and pleas to Widodo and other government ministers, to no avail. However, given Australia's contempt for Indonesia over turn backs of asylum seekers and bugging of presidential telephones, it's no wonder Widodo ignored Australia's pleas.

Bishop received advice that the executions were illegal under international law⁽⁸⁾. However, given that Australia's treatment of asylum seekers breaches international law on torture⁽⁹⁾ and the refugee convention⁽¹⁰⁾, Abbott and Bishop had no moral vantage on which to play.

Widodo's insistence on the executions was political. Motivated by wanting to look tough. on drugs. Not unlike his Australian contemporary, Tony Abbott, who wants to look tough on asylum seekers. The timing of the executions has a question mark over it as well. It just so happens that former President Susilo Bambang Yudyhono (SBY) was to speak in Perth four days later. SBY cancelled the speaking engagement because the 'political, social and security situation was "not conducive" for his visit'⁽¹¹⁾.

Widodo claims that Indonesia has sent a strong message to drug smugglers⁽¹²⁾. Shooting them is certainly a strong message, but has it made a difference? Indonesia's drug crisis has not relented even with the threat of capital punishment. Clearly the crisis isn't being driven by drug smugglers. Widodo regularly quotes that 50 people a day die because of drugs. These figures have been challenged⁽¹³⁾, which suggest that a tough on drugs policy is being used purely for political popularity rather than a genuine commitment to combating drug use. Lex Lasry, a Victorian Supreme Court judge states that the death penalty does not deter crime. A number of studies have been unable to find evidence that the death penalty either deters or fails to deter crime⁽¹⁴⁾.

A number of critics of Chan and Sukumaran said it was time to stop defending drug smugglers because the drugs could have killed Australians; that Chan and Sukumaran got what they deserved. Maybe it's time to stop defending drug users. No-one forces people to use drugs. If there was no demand there would be no supply. No-one deserves to die for supplying drugs; a custodial sentence is more than adequate.

Supporters aren't defending Chan and Sukumaran's crime, but who the men became.

Supporters aren't defending drug smuggling, but opposing execution.

Many critics have argued that Chan and Sukumaran knew the laws and that Indonesia has a right to uphold it's own laws. When sovereign laws breach international law, surely they can't be upheld. Surely, it is the duty of the world to seek these inhumane laws be overthrown.

Others have argued focus on these executions diverts attention from bigger issues such as the Nepal earthquake, Indonesia's genocide in West Papua, Israel's ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestine and of course, the ISIS crisis, among others. However, we can't sit on our hands waiting for one issue to be fixed before addressing another. The death penalty is a worldwide problem with dozens of countries still using it.

On the day before Indonesia executed the eight drug smugglers, Pakistan hanged its 100th prisoner since a moratorium on executions was lifted in December 2014⁽¹⁵⁾.

The death penalty will only be abolished by public pressure and awareness campaigns. The focus on Chan and Sukumaran as well as the other six prisoners, received global coverage. International media reported on the sentences for years and gave extensive coverage to the executions. While these killings were only a small number compared to the number of those executed globally, the attention they received helped to elevate the issue of capital punishment. Hopefully, this attention can be used to increase the pressure on all countries to abolish the death penalty.

On the day of their executions, the Australian Catholic University announced two scholarships open to Indonesian students⁽¹⁶⁾. Applicants are required to submit an essay on the sanctity of human life. In a small way, ACU is hoping this will help further the cause to abolish the death penalty in Indonesia.

The death penalty must go. It is ineffective. It is barbaric. It is state-sanctioned murder.

References

1. SBS, 'They were singing: Priest describes dignified death of Chan, Sukumaran', 30 April 2015, http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/04/30/they-were-singing-priest-describes-dignified-death-chan-sukumaran. Accessed 2 May 2015.

2. Washington Post, Lindsay Bever, 'How a Filipino maid skirted death moments before facing an Indonesian firing squad', 29 April 2015, http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/29/how-a-filipino-maid-skirted-death-moments-before-facing-indonesian-firing-squad. Accessed 2 May 2015.

3. Sydney Morning Herald, Tom Allard, ''They wanted $130,000 ... and then more': explosive Bali nine bribe allegations', 27 April 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/world/they-wanted-130000--and-then-more-explosive-bali-nine-bribe-allegations-20150426-1mtwc1.html. Accessed 2 May 2015.

4. Sydney Morning Herald, Tom Allard, 'Bali nine executions: investigation into bribery allegations completed by judicial commission', 28 April 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/world/bali-nine-executions-investigation-into-bribery-allegations-completed-by-judicial-commission-20150428-1mv3sq.html. Accessed 2 May 2015.

5. Sydney Morning Herald, Michael Bachelard, Nick McKenzie, 'Two Bali nine judges sacked for corruption, manipulation', 12 February, 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/world/two-bali-nine-judges-sacked-for-corruption-manipulation-20150212-13btyd.html. Accessed 2 May 2015.

6. The Guardian, Daniel Hurst, 'Bali Nine: fresh calls for review of federal police actions that led to executions', 29 April 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/apr/29/bali-nine-fresh-calls-for-review-of-federal-police-actions-that-led-to-executions. Accessed 2 May 2015.

7. Daily Mail, Sarah Michael and Candace Sutton, ''Am I being executed? That's not right': Confused last words of schizophrenic Brazilian drug trafficker shot alongside Bali Nine duo... who 'heard voices' and had no idea he was being killed until the last moment, 30 April 2015, http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3061878/Am-executed-heartbreaking-final-question-Brazilian-drug-trafficker-shot-alongside-Bali-Nine-duo-paranoid-schizophrenic-didn-t-realise-killed-moments.html. Accessed 2 May 2015.

8. Sydney Morning Herald, Michael Bachelard, 'Chan and Sukumaran execution 'illegal', but Indonesia ignores Australia again', 2 May 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/chan-and-sukumaran-execution-illegal-but-indonesia-ignores-australia-again-20150501-1my3z4.html. Accessed 2 May 2015.

9. Human Rights Law Centre, 'UN finds Australia’s treatment of asylum seekers violates the Convention Against Torture', 9 March 2015, http://hrlc.org.au/un-finds-australias-treatment-of-asylum-seekers-violates-the-convention-against-torture/. Accessed 2 May 2015.

10. ABC, FactCheck - 'Children in detention: Is Australia breaching international law?', 8 April 2014, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-31/children-in-detention-is-australia-breaching-international-law/5344022. Accessed 2 May 2015.

11. ABC Radion National, AM, Michael Brissenden, 'Calls for coordinated approach to end death penalty in Indonesia', 30 April 2015, http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2015/s4226427.htm. Accessed 2 May 2015.

12. Al Jazeera, 'Joko Widodo: 'A strong message to drug smugglers'', 7 March 2015, http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/2015/03/joko-widodo-strong-message-drug-smugglers-150305131413414.html. Accessed 2 May 2015.

13. The Conversation, Claudia Stoicescu, Indonesia uses faulty stats on ‘drug crisis’ to justify death penalty, 5 February 2015, http://theconversation.com/indonesia-uses-faulty-stats-on-drug-crisis-to-justify-death-penalty-36512. Accessed 2 May 2015.

14. ABC, FactCheck - 'No proof the death penalty prevents crime', 2 March 2015, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-26/fact-check3a-does-the-death-penalty-deter3f/6116030. Accessed 2 May 2015.

15. Dawn, 'Pakistan hangs 100th convict, Amnesty slams 'shameful milestone'', 28 April 2015, http://www.dawn.com/news/1178715/pakistan-hangs-100th-convict-amnesty-slams-shameful-milestone. Accessed 2 May 2015.

16. Australian Catholic University, 'New international scholarships', 29 April 2015, https://www.acu.edu.au/connect_with_acu/newsroom/news/media_releases/repository/chan_and_sukumaran_commemorated. Accessed 2 May 2015.

Linked article by Ranting Panda

• State-sanctioned murder of Chan & Sukumaran - published 12 February 2015

Flags, Fascism & Facts - the Reclaim Australia rallies

Flags, Fascism & Facts - the Reclaim Australia rallies

On 4 April 2015, a series of right-wing 'Reclaim Australia' rallies were held across Australia with the aim of 'reclaiming Australia from Islam'. They were based on the premise that Islam is taking over Australia. Something that couldn't be further from the truth.

The rally organisers have neo-Nazi links ⁽¹⁾ and issued requests to their followers not to display swastikas or other Nazi paraphernalia at the marches ⁽²⁾. They're message encourages hate through misrepresentation and stereotyping of Islam. It isn't hard to do this. After all, few non-Muslims understand Islam. It is easy to equate all Muslims with terrorism that is committed by someone claiming to be a Muslim. Yet, most Australians are unaware that far more people have been killed by the West than have been killed by terrorists. More than 1.3 million have been killed by Western military action since the year 2001 and more than 5 million displaced ⁽³⁾. Contrast this with 118,943 killed by terrorists between 2006 and 2013 ⁽⁴⁾. Not all of these attacks were by Muslims. In Europe, during the last five years less than two per cent of terrorist attacks were committed by Muslims. In the United States, since 1980, no more than six per cent of terrorist attacks were committed by Muslims. That leaves 94% of terrorist attacks being perpetrated by non-Muslims ⁽⁵⁾.

Of course, there are also Christian terrorist groups, such as the Lord's Resistance Army led by Joseph Kony. The LRA is responsible for the kidnapping, rape and murder of thousands of people. In the name of the Lord, they also engage in child sex slavery and child soldiers. In America, the Army of God has bombed abortion clinics and kidnapped or killed dozens of people ⁽⁶⁾.

By blaming all of Islam for the behaviour of a few is blatant bigotry. We may as well call all Christians pedophiles given the extent of pedophilia in Christian churches and institutions. Funnily enough, not all terrorist attacks are committed by Muslims.

People forget, or don't know, the role that the West played in the rise of modern terrorism. Al Qaeda and the Taliban are direct results of the USA funding the Mujaheddin during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s ⁽⁷⁾. The issues with Iraq were a direct result of the USA funding Saddam Hussein during this time. Not to mention the 2003 invasion of Iraq based on the lies around weapons of mass destruction and out of this, we saw significant sectarian violence, terrorism ⁽⁸⁾ and ultimately, the formation of ISIL. The issues with Palestine are a direct result of the USA and other Western nations funding and supporting Israel's war crimes and breaches of the Geneva Convention.

When was the last time a Muslim nation invaded a western one? Yet, for centuries the West has been invading Muslim nations, subjugating their populations and stealing their resources.

Most recently a documentary, Dirty Wars, has been released detailing American aggression against civilians in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Nigeria, Indonesia, Somalia and a stack of other countries, with the USA even outsourcing its kills to local war-lords such as General Indha Adde and Mohamed Qanyare in Somalia.

Many of the people marching wrapped themselves in Australian flags and claimed that their forefathers fought for our freedoms, not Islam.

Sinclair Lewis published a novel in 1935 entitled 'It can't happen here', in which he depicted the rise of a Fascist president in the USA on the back of a 'populist platform, promising to restore the country to prosperity and greatness', playing the patriotism and 'traditional values' card.

In commenting on this book, journalist Harrison Salisbury wrote: 'Sinclair Lewis aptly predicted in It Can't Happen Here that if fascism came to America it would come wrapped in the flag and whistling 'The Star Spangled Banner' ⁽⁹⁾.

Sound familiar? Many of the people marching with Reclaim Australia claim they're patriots rescuing their country. They have the Aussie flags flying, the Southern Cross tattoos and sing 'Advance Australia Fair'. Their agenda is racist, bigoted and hateful.

Racist? Yes, I know they'll argue that Islam is not a race therefore you can't be racist by hating on Islam. This is a foolish argument.  Racism stereotypes all members of a race. By stereotyping all Muslims is a form of racism. It has the same characteristics as racism. If you don't want to be called a racist, then don't act like one.

Albert Einstein summed up patriotism being used to justify violence and hate: 'Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism - how passionately I hate them!'.

Reclaim Australia claims that they are campaigning for nine major issues. Below are the nine points with a response to each:

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1. To stop any enforcing of Sharia law throughout the whole of Australia. To make Sharia Law illegal in every State and Territory.

One of the lies being spread about Islam is that Muslims want to establish Sharia law in Australia. Most bigots don't even know what Sharia law is. They only know of the punishments under the most extreme elements of Sharia, such as amputating hands. This extreme version of Sharia doesn't exist in most of the world. There are only a few countries that practice it. So why would Muslims be intent on replacing Australia's legal system with an extreme version of Sharia, when it isn't even in place in most Muslim countries. There are very few Muslim countries which employ Sharia law to its fullest. Most have secular legal systems which engage elements of Sharia for personal relationship issues, such as marriage and divorce ⁽¹⁰⁾.

Besides, it would be unconstitutional to force Sharia law on all of Australia as Section 116 of the Australian Constitution prohibits the Commonwealth from making any law for 'imposing any religious observance ...'.

2. Keep our traditional values ie. Christmas, Easter, Australia Day, Anzac Day and other beliefs a large number of Australians have grown up with. 

No-one is campaigning to end these. Muslims in Islamic countries are happy for Christians to celebrate Christmas and Easter. Here in Australia, Muslims participate in Australia Day and Anzac Day. We're seeing some of the largest turn-outs for Anzac Day and Australia Day events across the nation.

Many Muslims have fought and died for Australia, yet a lot of the bigots seem to think that it is unAustralian to be Muslim or that Muslims are not Australian. Our forefathers fought AGAINST Fascism, so it is somewhat disturbing that Fascists have hijacked the memory of the Anzacs and all who've served in the military in order to further their racist agenda.

If people want to maintain traditional values such as Christmas and Easter, then campaign against the commercialisation of them. Maintain the true message of Christmas and Easter, rather than the capitalist exploitation of them. What is the true message of Christmas and Easter? Love. Christ came to us out of love. He was crucified out of love.

The date of the rallies is ironic. It falls on Easter Saturday. The time when Christians across the globe are celebrating Jesus Christ sacrificing himself out of love for his enemies. It's ironic because a number of Christian extremists are marching in these rallies. Maybe they missed the bits in the bible about 'love your neighbour', 'love your enemies', 'turn the other cheek', 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you'. They obviously missed the bit in the bible about 'preach the gospel', because instead they preach hate. Christians are called to love unconditionally, not to be selective in their love.

Failing all that, couldn't Reclaim Australia just have a traditional Easter Egg hunt instead of flying the flag of hate and bigotry?

3. Keep our rights and freedom of speech. 

Oh, the irony. Reclaim Australia is trying to shut down the rights and freedoms of Muslim Australians. They protest against Mosques and anything to do with Islam. While they're campaigning to ban mosques, where do they think 500,000 Muslims, most born in Australia, will worship? They aren't just going to disappear.

While they march to 'keep our rights', then it is prudent to remind them of Section 116 of the Australian Constitution which provides a constitutional right to freedom of religion; any religion:

'The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance, or for prohibiting the free exercise of any religion, and no religious test shall be required as a qualification for any office or public trust under the Commonwealth'.

Our ancestors fought for our Constitution and Section 116 of the Australian Constitution protects these very freedoms that they fought for, including the freedom of religion.

4. Halal certification should be banned and made illegal. (if not banned, then control should be handed over to the government so it isn't a moneymaking scheme for Islam).

They campaign against Halal because they claim it increases prices and funds terrorism. Based on this logic, why don't they campaign against Kosher for increasing prices. Or for that matter, suggesting it finds its ways to the Israeli military to commit war crimes in Palestine. Which interestingly enough, is one of the sources of anger against the West. Apparently it's okay for the West to unleash pre-emptive strikes against innocent people, but not okay for the people of Palestine to defend themselves against the violent theft of their land and attacks on their people.

If people are so concerned about their money funding terrorism, then perhaps they should stop buying oil.

Additionally, by investing in Halal certification, businesses are more likely to generate international trade, increasing their sales and enabling them to offer lower prices. It's a fallacy that Halal increases prices or funds terrorism.

Peter Broelman (broelman.com.au)

5. Introduce pride in the Australian flag and Anthem at all levels of schooling. 

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but I see a lot of adults and school kids flying the Aussie flag on Australia Day and Anzac Day in particular, and often throughout the year. No-one is trying to undermine the Australian flag or the national anthem.

6. Ban the teaching of Islam in government schools. 

If this is the case, then ban the teaching of all religions in government schools. Religion is part of society. Some people believe in a god of one sort of another, whether it be in the form of Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism or something else. Teaching the basics of each religion will help in breaking down ignorance and stereotypes.

7. Ban the Burqa or any variant thereof.

Why? Is this because of genuine concern for Muslim women? Of course not. In Australia, people can chose what they wear. This is just another attack on freedoms being waged in the name of freedom. The anti-burqa mob may argue that crimes could be committed by people wearing burqas to hide their identity. If that's the case, ban fancy dress. Anyone could dress up as Humphrey B. Bear and stage a hold up.

In terms of identity, all people have to show their face for passports and licences. Go into any post office and look at the passport photo guide.

The attack on the burqa is purely out of hate and fear. We've seen this manifested by cowards attacking women wearing burqas. Attacking an innocent person because of their choice of dress is the sort of thing that extremist groups such as the Taliban and neo-Nazis do. These behaviours are not acceptable in a free and fair country. How can anyone support violence against others, whether it is being done in the name of misrepresented Islam or in the name of misrepresented patriotism. It is unacceptable.

Another argument is that the Qu'ran doesn't require women to wear burqas. Interesting that suddenly everybody's an expert on the Qu'ran. If people are so hung up on holy scripture then why aren't Christian women wearing head coverings as required in the bible? 1 Corinthians 11:5 says 'But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved.

8. Ban FGM and introduce mandatory 10 year jail terms for perpetrators and organisers. This includes those who send girls overseas to have FGM carried out outside Australia. Once their jail term has been completed, their citizenship should be cancelled and they be immediately deported back to the country they originated from. 

Female Genital Mutilation is already illegal. It also isn't just done by Muslims.  FGM predates Islam and is predominantly practiced in parts of Central and Northern Africa, where even Christian women are subject to it ⁽¹¹⁾.

Yes, it's a grotesque practice which people should stand up against, however it isn't wide-spread and those who blame Islam for it, may as well also blame Christianity.

9. Stop Centrelink recognising polygamy and only recognise the first marriage for benefits.

Polygamy is illegal in Australia. However, Centrelink has stated that there are instances of welfare being paid to people in polygamous relationships. President of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, Keyser Trad says that there are only about 50 Islamic families in polygamous relationships in Australia. Not all of those are on welfare.  Centrelink stated that they'd only investigated around 20 cases involving polygamy. Trad also states that Islam only allows polygamy if the husband can afford it, so going on welfare for a polygamous relationship is unIslamic ⁽¹²⁾. Most Muslim husbands only have one wife.

There are very few Muslims in polygamous relationships. There are likely far more non-Muslims who are exploiting Centrelink by claiming one or more partners in defacto relationships or other rorts. Targeting Muslims, who in the vast majority are not rorting the system is simply bigotry.

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Bigotry and Fascism are not the answer to hate and fear. Social unity, love and understanding are far more effective. Driving further disunity and hate against Islam will only serve to alienate the half a million Muslims in Australia. If people are genuinely concerned about stopping the radicalisation of Muslims, then they should be working on inclusion not exclusion. It is the alienated who are at most risk of radicalisation. We should be embracing our Muslim brothers and sisters, not vilifying them, not trying to exile them.

Pauline Hanson claimed in the Brisbane rally that 'criticism is not racism' ⁽¹³⁾. Well, funnily enough it is when that criticism is stereotyping people of a particular race or religion as mentioned earlier. Sadly, a number of Australians feel empowered by these 'criticisms' of Islam and have taken it upon themselves to attack mosques and Muslims, thinking this is the Australian way. Attacking innocent people is not Australian, it's criminal.

Former soldier and military strategist, David Kilcullen has stated that the answer to domestic radicalisation (of Muslims) is more freedom, not less. He states, 'We need to treat Australian Muslims like Australian Catholics, Australian Hindus or any other Australian - with all the rights, freedoms, expectations and responsibilities that come from free membership in a free society'. Kilcullen goes on to state, 'We can't afford to be tolerant of intolerance, or to allow the implied threat of terrorism to let a minority (any minority) hold the rest of us to ransom' ⁽¹⁴⁾.

The anti-Islamic rallies, the anti-Mosque and anti-Halal protests serve to restrict the freedom of Muslims and potentially encourage a siege mentality among them which will only result in greater possibility of increased radicalisation.

Interestingly, the rallies were held on 4 April, which is the anniversary of the assassination of civil rights activist, Martin Luther King, and the birth date of Maya Angelou, American author, poet and civil rights activist, who once said:

'Hate. It has caused a lot of problems in this world, but it has not solved one yet'.


Note: updated on 11 April 2015 to add reference (3) in relation to the 1.3 million killed and millions displaced by Western military action since 2001.

References:

1. Reclaim What, 'Neo-Nazism in the ADL/PDLA/The Gap/Reclaim Australia',  http://www.reclaimwhat.net/neo-nazism-in-the-adl-pdla-the-gap-.html. Accessed 30 March 2015.

2. The Guardian, Michael Safi, 'Anti-Islamic group Reclaim Australia plans 16 rallies across the country', 3 April 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/apr/03/anti-islamic-group-reclaim-australia-plans-16-rallies-across-the-country. Accessed 4 April 2015.

3. Al Jazeera, America, Lauren Carasik, 'Americans have yet to grasp the horrific magnitude of the ‘war on terror’', 10 April 2015, http://america.aljazeera.com/opinions/2015/4/americans-have-yet-to-grasp-the-horrific-magnitude-of-the-war-on-terror.html. Accessed 11 April 2015.

4. Statista, 'Number of fatalities due to terrorist attacks worldwide between 2006 and 2013', http://www.statista.com/statistics/202871/number-of-fatalities-by-terrorist-attacks-worldwide. Accessed 30 March 2015.

5. The Daily Beast, Dean Obeidallah, Are All Terrorists Muslims? It’s Not Even Close, 14 January 2015, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/14/are-all-terrorists-muslims-it-s-not-even-close.html. Accessed 30 March 2015.

6. AlterNet, Alex Henderson, 'Army of God? 6 Modern-Day Christian Terrorist Groups You Never Hear About', 1 April 2015, http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/army-god-6-modern-day-christian-terrorist-groups-you-never-hear-about. Accessed 3 April 2015.

7. Cooley John K, 'Unholy Wars: Afghanistan, America and International Terrorism', 3rd edition, Pluto Press.

8. John Pilger, Breaking the Silence, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-30086435. Accessed 30 March 2015.

9. Stephen Wylder, Sinclair Lewis never said it; the rules of misquotation, accessed 9 November 2013, http://www.examiner.com/article/sinclair-lewis-never-said-it-the-rules-of-misquotation. Accessed 30 March 2015.

10. Council on Foreign Relations, Toni Johnson and Mohammed Aly Sergei, 25 July 2014, 'Islam: Governing Under Sharia', http://www.cfr.org/religion/islam-governing-under-sharia/p8034. Accessed 30 March 2015.

11. Science Direct, I. El-Damanhoury, 'The Jewish and Christian view on female genital mutilation', 27 June 2013, http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1110570413000258. Accessed 30 March 2015.

12. Herald Sun, Mark Dunn, 'Growing number of Muslim men and multiple wives exploiting loophoole for taxpayer handouts, 5 March 2010, http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/growing-number-of-muslim-men-and-multiple-wives-exploiting-loophoole-for-taxpayer-handouts/story-e6frf7jo-1225837150560. Accessed 30 March 2015.

13. The Guardian, Michael Safi, Reclaim Australia rallies: protesters clash in Melbourne and Sydney, 4 April 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/apr/04/pauline-hanson-tells-reclaim-australia-groups-rally-criticism-is-not-racism. Accessed 4 April 2015.

14. Defence Today, David Kilcullen, 'ISIS and the threat worldwide', December 2014.

Four legs good, two legs better - Abbott's Orwellian shift on debt

Four legs good, two legs better - Abbott's Orwellian shift on debt

This positional change on debt is an Orwellian shift on the grandest scale. 'Four legs good, two legs bad' while in Opposition. When in power: 'Four legs good, two legs better'.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott has been renowned for playing populist politics. In fact, since the Howard years, fear-mongering for popularity has been the hallmark of the federal LNP whenever the polls head south for them. Usually, the fear-mongering revolves around the world's persecuted by trying to claim that victims of war, brutality and terrorism are terrorists. If it's not fear of refugees and Muslims, it's the 'D' words. Debt and Deficit.

While in opposition, Abbott acted more as a pugilist than a politician by constantly attacking Labor's economic policies. He successfully managed to convince the majority of Australians that Labor didn't have to stimulate the economy during the GFC. Considering that Australia dodged recession by less than half a percentage point, just what would have happened had Rudd not dropped billions into the economy to protect jobs and businesses? The Abbott approach of economic austerity would have seen Australia go the way of other western nations. There would have been recession and a blowout in the deficit with increased unemployment and business collapse impacting significantly on government expenses and revenue.

Abbott and his band of ultra-conservative warriors would screw the economy with austerity and trickle-down economic policies that failed in America and throughout Europe.

Austerity increases poverty. Poverty puts a greater burden on the economy through increased government expenditure on support programs for the unemployed and homeless, reduced government revenue through less tax paid by a smaller workforce and less revenue from business as the consumers have less disposable income.

When Abbott took power from Labor in September 2013, debt was travelling at an enviable level of around 13% of GDP. Britain's debt to GDP was 111%, USA was 106% and Greece exceeded 170% ⁽¹⁾.

Yet, Abbott had Australians believing the economy was on the brink of collapse. He rolled out the mantra that we're paying a billion dollars a day in interest. Yet within six months of taking office he doubled the deficit through his so-called 'responsible' economic policies that saw an increase in expenditure to the big-end of town and a decrease in revenue by removing some taxes ⁽²⁾.

Abbott declared a budget emergency when he took office. Yet within days of claiming that under Labor the Australian economy faced a 'Greek-style' disaster, Abbott miraculously healed the economy and claimed that the budget emergency was no longer an emergency. Debt to GDP at 13% under Labor was sending Australia over the precipice, if the Chicken Little 'sky is falling' politics of the LNP in Opposition was to be believed. Now at 15%, Abbott claims Australia can handle debt to GDP at 60% ⁽³⁾.

This positional change is an Orwellian shift on the grandest scale. 'Four legs good, two legs bad' while in Opposition. When in power: 'Four legs good, two legs better'.

To quote Orwell's 'Animal Farm':

All the sheep burst out into a tremendous bleating of, 'four legs good, two legs BETTER. Four legs good, two legs BETTER. Four legs good, two legs BETTER'. ⁽⁴⁾

All Labor debt bad, all LNP debt good.

With such a massive disparity in messages from this government, do Australians really believe anything Abbott says?

Australia's economy was the strongest in the western world following the GFC thanks to the Rudd/Swan stimulus packages.

Debt needs to be managed through structural reform, such as reducing concessions to the wealthy and improving standards for the less wealthy. However, to effectively manage debt the economy needs stimulus. Saul Eslake of Bank of America Merrill Lynch has stated the economy needs 'short-term fiscal stimulus that's well targeted' ⁽⁵⁾. It doesn't need austerity. It needs responsibility.

The Abbott government is on track for an $80 billion increase in debt over the four years to 2017-18 ⁽⁶⁾. Much of this is because their socially irresponsible budget in 2014 which slashed funding to education, health and welfare, resulting in many of its big 'savings' (read austerity) measures being blocked in the Senate. His first budget attacked the largest consumer group, namely those at the lower end of the wage spectrum. At the same time, the government gave billions to large multinational companies through subsidies and tax offsets.

Abbott tried to use the recently-released inter-generational report to further his economic scare-mongering, yet it predicted the deficit to average less than 1% of GDP for the next decade ⁽⁷⁾.

What does Abbott stand for? What keeps him awake at night? What means most to him?

On 20 March 2015, former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser died. Fraser's great passion, the thing that kept him awake at night, was human rights. He campaigned for the rights of asylum seekers and was heavily critical of the abusive and harmful policies of Labor and Liberal that played on the fears of bigots. Accolades flowed from both sides, praising the old statesman. Tellingly, Abbott's comment was 'He had correctly read the mood of the public' ⁽⁸⁾. Only a politician who is kept awake at night worrying about the polls and his own power would say something like that.

Abbott has no concept of economic management. The economic policies of Abbott and his 'Team Australia' are destroying the living standards of those most vulnerable. He is robbing the poor and giving to the rich, driving up debt and deficit with it.

Abbott governs by popularity polls which he attempts to manipulate by coercion and fear. He is not a statesman and will never be held in the same regard as Fraser.


References:

1. The Conversation, Raja Junankar, 'The state of Australia - the economy', 8 May 2014. http://theconversation.com/the-state-of-australia-the-economy-26230. Accessed 20 March 2015.

2. ABC News, 'Fact check: Has the Government doubled the budget deficit?', 10 June 2014, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-06/has-the-government-doubled-the-budget-deficit/5423392. Accessed 14 February 2015.

3. The Australian Financial Review, Phillip Coorey and Jacob Greber, 'Abbott loses the plot on debt', 19 March 2015. Accessed 19 March 2015.

4. Orwell, George. Animal Farm. Great Britain: Penguin, 1987. Print.

5. ABC 7.30, Leigh Sales, 'Budget on the mend' says PM, facing headlines claiming he's 'lost the plot', 19 March 2015, http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2015/s4201187.htm. Accessed 20 March 2015.

6. The Australian Financial Review, Laura Tingle and Phillip Coorey, 'Budget gets $80b worse under Libs', 20 March 2015. Accessed 20 March 2015.

7. The Guardian, Stephen Koukalis, 'Ignore the intergenerational report scaremongering - the news is good', 19 March 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/19/ignore-the-intergenerational-report-scaremongering-the-news-is-good. Accessed 19 March 2015.

8. The Guardian, Katherine Murphy, 'Malcolm Fraser, former Australian Prime Minister, dies aged 84', 20 March 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/mar/20/malcolm-fraser-dies-aged-84. Accessed 21 March 2015.

Also refer to: Ranting Panda, 'Australia's manufactured debt crisis', 14 February 2015, http://thepandarant.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/australias-manufactured-debt-crisis.html.

Workers of the World Unite!

There is a war on workers; on their rights, on their wages and conditions. The war is being waged by business groups aided and abetted by the conservative government, formed through a coalition of the Liberal and National Parties. Liberal in the sense of economic liberalism not social liberalism, in case anyone is wondering. Economic liberalism is essentially free market capitalism ... which is free for everyone except those who work or consume ... oh, wait, that is pretty much everyone! Free market capitalism is free for no-one except the ultra-wealthy, the multinationals. Everyone else is just a pawn to be used and abused.

Under former Prime Minister John Howard, the Liberal Party introduced Work Choices which eroded, and in some cases demolished, the rights of workers. Those hardest hit were in the retail and hospitality sectors. WorkChoices meant no choice for workers. It left workers to negotiate their wages and conditions by themselves, without the solidarity, support and collective power of Unions. The only choice it gave was for businesses to exploit workers through lower pay and reduced conditions.

The latest push by the Business Council of Australia is for penalty rates to be abolished. They argue that penalties are crippling business. What we don't hear them complain about is the amount of unpaid overtime worked by many employees. In 2014, Australians gave up $110 BILLION in unpaid overtime⁽¹⁾. Apparently it's ok for businesses to eschew their responsibility to pay workers but not for workers to claim what's due to them.

Back to the coalition aiding and abetting big business. Not long after getting into power in 2013, the coalition established a Royal Commission into Union corruption. It was entirely a political exercise aimed at discrediting and destroying Union solidarity and membership. It was aimed at undermining worker confidence in Unions. Yet, it was Unions who won all the rights that workers have, including weekends, holidays, penalty rates, a forty hour week. Without Unions these rights would never have been won and will certainly be lost.

Many workers have fallen for lies about Union corruption ... as if Business isn't corrupt. What is it called when businesses engage in price fixing, tax avoidance, collusion? What about lobbying of politicians and political donations for favourable treatment?

Queensland's Liberal National Party government under the authoritarian Campbell Newman, banned Union advertising unless the majority of Union members voted for it. This added time, cost and complexity to the process. Newman also tried to ban Union donations to the Australian Labor Party. Meanwhile the LNP lifted its reporting limits on donations so that it could remove transparency of donations made by businesses to the LNP. These moves only increased the potential for corruption in the LNP while undermining ALP's donor base and weakening the power of Unions to defend their workers.

To ensure the vote of the worker, the LNP has systematically mounted a campaign of terror so that workers will cringe in fear behind the protective loins of the ruling class; gladly relinquishing their rights and wages for the misguided belief that only the LNP and the wealthy will protect them from the ravaging hordes of socialists, welfare recipients and asylum seekers.

Rupert Murdoch, one of the richest and most influential men in the world, owns most of the media in Australia and is a strong backer of the LNP. Is it any wonder then that much of the articles published by his stable are either pro-LNP or anti-Labor, anti-Greens, anti-Union, anti-anyone opposed to the LNP.

Malcolm X nailed it when he said, 'If we're not careful the newspapers, will have you hating the people who are being oppressed and loving the people who are doing the oppressing'.

How true that is.

Most LNP voters are not particularly wealthy. They have been conditioned by conservative rhetoric to hate those on welfare even though many are a pay-check from welfare themselves. For many workers, their jobs are not secure as employers continue cutting costs, usually by reducing their workforce in the first instance. This doesn't just impact workers, it impacts business because people who are out of work obviously have less disposable income to spend.

How many times do we see the RBA announce interest rate cuts designed to stimulate the economy by giving working families and small-businesses more disposable income, and the big banks failing to pass on the cuts as they cry poor. Within a few months, the banks often announce record profits, usually followed by staff cuts. There is no loyalty to staff or consumers in free market capitalism.

For decades the Liberal Party has claimed that it is more pro-military than Labor. Certainly they've had no qualms against sending the military into battle, whether it was Iraq, Afghanistan or unleashing them on asylum seekers arriving by sea. Yet the Abbott government's love of the military ends there. When it comes to pay and conditions, the LNP has royally screwed the military by giving them a 4.5% pay rise over three years. However, Defence Department public servants didn't receive even that much. They only got 3.16% over three years⁽²⁾. This pay 'rise' will be paid in two instalments of 1.98% in the first year and 1.18% in the second year⁽³⁾. This is less than inflation which is currently at 2.7% per annum.

If the LNP is happy to screw over the military what stops it screwing over civilians?

When it comes to other federal public servants it gets even worse. The Australian Taxation Office has been given just 0.8% pay rise⁽⁴⁾. Less than 30% the rate of inflation. In addition, they've been forced to work an extra 9 minutes a day for no extra pay; 45 minutes extra per week. They've also lost a $300 annual health and well-being allowance. Of the approximately 25,000 staff who work for the ATO, 3,000 have lost their jobs with an additional 1700 scheduled to go⁽⁵⁾.

Pay rises for the military and public servants should be at least 8% over the next three years if they are to keep pace with inflation, otherwise the buying power of their income will be greatly reduced.

The government is aiming to strip Immigration Department staff of their rights to unfair dismissal appeals. If the Australian Border Force Bill gets through parliament, staff could be sacked for 'serious misconduct' without the right to appeal to the industrial umpire⁽⁶⁾. Considering that Australia's legal system is based on 'innocent until proven guilty', all workers should be able to appeal against any claim made against them.

Why would any worker vote for such an anti-worker party?

Then there is the LNP rhetoric about our economy being cactus because of the Labor Party. This debt and deficit mantra that they keep banging on about is a smokescreen. If the LNP was serious about bringing down the deficit they wouldn't be attacking wages and conditions. Why? Because the more that people earn, the more tax they pay which boosts government revenue and reduces the deficit. In addition, the more people earn the more they spend, boosting profitability of business and increasing tax revenue while reducing the deficit.

In the 2012-13 budget, the LNP dropped $1 billion into the coffers of big business. In addition, businesses took $300 billion of earnings off-shore to avoid tax⁽⁷⁾. All of this, while the government bemoaned the cost of welfare and wanted to force people to wait six months before claiming the dole⁽⁸⁾. Six months without any income? The LNP has an idealistic view that people should either 'earn or learn'. There is no abundance of jobs, so how do people feed, house or clothe themselves and their families? If we're not earning we should be learning according to the LNP. Learn? At a time when the government is deregulating universities fees which will result in education becoming unaffordable for many. At a time when LNP governments have reduced funding to TAFE colleges. Earn or learn? More like, earn or burn! The LNP is happy to sacrifice the lives of the unemployed for political expediency. And sadly, many people who are impacted by these policies are happy to vote LNP.

Australia - a country of lifters and leaners according to the LNP. Who's doing the lifting? The heavy lifting is being done by workers, not by big business. It is the large companies and the wealthy that exploit the workers and then cry poor.

Take Luke Mangan for instance. He has an $80 million food empire. Apparently, paying Sunday penalty rates has unacceptable impact on the price of steak, so he doesn't even bother opening his restaurant ⁽⁹⁾. An $80 million empire that doesn't want to pay penalty rates. Even Campbell Newman, the illustrious former Premier of Queensland, rued the impact of penalty rates on the cost of spaghetti ⁽¹⁰⁾! Paint me pink and cover me in peppercorn sauce ... since when did industrial relations come down to the price of spaghetti or an eye-fillet! I'd rather pay more for a steak or a spaghetti and know that the people who are working hard to prepare my meal are getting paid a fair wage. How could I enjoy my meal if said staff are getting screwed over so that some greedy business owner can get fat and rich off the weekends or evenings sacrificed by the hard work of their employees.

Penalty rates may not seem like a great deal for those who don't get them, but they can have a massive impact on those who do. For instance, a retail worker could lose around a quarter of their wage if penalty rates are abolished ⁽¹¹⁾. The retail sector is one of the largest employment sectors in the country. That is a lot of money to take off people who are already barely making ends meet on minimum wage.

And then there is the Hoteliers Association who figure that they should pay penalty rates. Bravo to them! Except they want a two-tiered system in which workers get paid lower penalty rates for working State public holidays (such as Melbourne Cup) than if they worked national public holidays such as Christmas or New Year ⁽¹²⁾.

Abolishing penalty rates would have a dramatic impact on the economy. Many workers rely on penalties to survive. If they don't have the money, at best they won't spend. At worst, they will require welfare to meet the bills.

Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey has presided over one of the lowest wages growth in 20 years and he believes this is good news ⁽¹³⁾. In the meantime, his government continues on a path to sack public servants, adding to the unemployment queue, while offering minimal pay rises for those who remain. In fact, at one stage, the staff of Employment Minister Eric Abetz were only offered a 0.5% pay rise. It's an insult to all workers ⁽¹⁴⁾.

The LNP may claim that WorkChoices is 'dead, buried and cremated', however, they're having a wow of a time raising it from the dead and giving it a new identity; patching it together like an industrial relations frankenstein, made up of the body parts of economic rationalism and the selected organs and limbs of the 'dead' WorkChoices. It's Zombie IR.

The Productivity Commission (an Orwellian term for 'worker exploitation') has been commissioned to review wages, penalty rates and workplace mobility. One of the recommendations from the Productivity Commission is to reduce the minimum wage by 1% per annum over the next 10 years ⁽¹⁵⁾. No mention of reducing the vulgar executive salaries that many companies pay. No. Instead, hit the minimum wage. Hit the people perceived to have the least power. Obviously people on the minimum wage have too much money and can afford to subside CEOs being paid a motza.

Karl Marx nailed it when he wrote, 'from each according to his ability, to each according to his need'. Rather than screwing low-paid workers down even further, it's time for the higher paid, for business owners, for big business, to step up and pay their dues.

It's the hard working efforts of workers and the money they spend as consumers, that ensures the success of business. So why do many of these workers oppose Unions and vote for their oppressors? Many have fallen for the lie of trickle down economics. The idea that the more the wealthy have, the more will trickle down to the plebs at the bottom. What rot! The more the wealthy have the more they keep. Trickle down economics was discredited years ago when it failed under Thatcher and Reagan, costing the livelihoods of thousands of workers.

Workers instead should be voting against attacks on their conditions. They should be members of Unions and fight against any attempt to undermine their livelihoods and rights.

Business and Government needs workers and it needs a cashed-up market place for revenue. Workers with no money are more damaging to business and the economy than workers being paid penalty rates.

Workers of the world unite.

Collectively fight against exploitation.

United we stand, divided we fall.

References

1. Business Insider Australia, Sarah Kimmorley, 19 November 2014, 'Australians Give Up $110 Billion To Their Employers in Unpaid Overtime Every Year', http://www.businessinsider.com.au/australians-give-up-110-billion-to-their-employers-in-unpaid-overtime-every-year-2014-11. Accessed 8 February 2015.

2. Brisbane Times, Phillip Thomson, 20 February, 2015, ''I regret': Defence boss' tough email to 20,000 staff over pay offer', http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/public-service/i-regret-defence-boss-tough-email-to-20000-staff-over-pay-offer-20150219-13j73i.html. Accessed 22 February 2015

3. The Australian, Sarah Martin, 'Defence boss rues bum pay deal', 20 February 2015, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/defence/defence-boss-rues-bum-pay-deal/story-e6frg8yo-1227226118331. Accessed 22 February 2015.

4. Sydney Morning Herald, Phillip Thomson, 'Anger spreads: Australian Taxation Office moves toward industrial action', 20 February 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/national/public-service/anger-spreads-australian-taxation-office-moves-toward-industrial-action-20150220-13ki1y.html. Accessed 22 February 2015.

5. The Canberra Times, Nassim Khadem and Noel Towell, 'Blood letting at Tax Office takes hold', 17 January 2015, http://www.canberratimes.com.au/business/blood-letting-at-tax-office-takes-hold-20150115-12f2kc.html. Accessed 25 February 2015.

6. Canberra Times, Noel Towell, 'Public servants face fast-track to the sack', 2 March 2015, http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/public-servants-face-fasttrack-to-the-sack-20150302-13sbmp.html. Accessed 3 March 2015.

7. Australian Labor, 'Their fair share - stopping multinational tax avoidance', http://www.alp.org.au/fairshare. Accessed 2 March 2015.

8. News.com.au, 'Peta Credlin's power trip over dole policy', 15 February 2015, http://www.news.com.au/national/peta-credlins-power-trip-over-dole-policy/story-fncynjr2-1227220063210. Accessed 17 February 2015.

9. Daily Telegraph, John Lehmann, 'Restaurateur Luke Mangan blasts “ridiculous” penalty rates and lost work ethic', 21 February 2015, http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/restaurateur-luke-mangan-blasts-ridiculous-penalty-rates-and-lost-work-ethic/story-fni0cx12-1227232937517. Accessed 28 February 2015.

10. Brisbane Times, Daniel Hurst, 'Newman weighs into Howard, Abbott IR debate', 28 August 2012, http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/newman-weighs-into-howard-abbott-ir-debate-20120828-24xkx.html. Accessed 22 February 2015.

11. The Age, Josh Gordon, 'Premier Daniel Andrews accuses Tony Abbott of secret plan to cut Victorians' wages by up to one-third', 27 February 2015, http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/premier-daniel-andrews-accuses-tony-abbott-of-secret-plan-to-cut-victorians-wages-by-up-to-onethird-20150226-13pf1i.html. Accessed 28 February 2015.

12. The Australian, 'Push for two-tiered public holidays', 23 February 2015, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/push-for-two-tiered-public-holidays/story-fn3dxiwe-1227235472750. Accessed 28 February 2015.

13. The Guardian, Greg Jericho, 'The worst wages growth in 20 years is Joe Hockey's 'good news' '. 2 March 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/business/grogonomics/2015/mar/02/the-worst-wages-growth-in-20-years-is-joe-hockeys-good-news. Accessed 2 March 2015.

14. Sydney Morning Herald, Anna Patty, 'Strikes looming against Abbott's industrial relations agenda', 19 February 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/strikes-looming-against-abbotts-industrial-relations-agenda-20150219-13i221.html. Accessed 22 February 2015.

15. The Guardian, Van Badham, 'The only certainty of a reduced minimum wage is a lot more poor people', 27 January 2015, http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/27/the-only-certainty-of-a-reduced-minimum-wage-is-a-lot-more-poor-people. Accessed 2 February 2015.

Shooting the messenger

It's no secret that the current Australian government has a responsibility problem. Every interview, every soundbite is scripted to blame others, and Labor in particular. Recently, Queensland and Victoria's LNP governments went down in history as one-termers. Outgoing Queensland Premier, Campbell Newman, unable to take responsibility for the loss, turned on his colleagues, claiming it was their fault. Just after the election he blamed Labor and Unions as if there was something wrong with them campaigning against his attacks on workers.

This blame game, apparently in the DNA of the LNP, has now morphed into shooting the messenger ... the whistle-blower.

Freya Newman blew the whistle on Prime Minister Abbott's daughter, Frances, being granted a $60,000 scholarship for a Bachelor of Design course. The revelations were published on New Matilda ⁽¹⁾. While the Abbott government was planning to deregulate university fees that would drive up the cost of degrees, Freya Newman revealed that a secret deal was done in 2011 while Abbott was Opposition leader, with the Whitehouse Institute of Design which granted the scholarship. This was at a time when the Whitehouse Institute claimed on its website that it didn't provide scholarships. Abbott failed to disclose the gift which he was required to do as an MP.  Freya Newman worked in the Institute's library and had illegally accessed files through the college's computer network to reveal the gift. The Whitehouse Institute is chaired by Les Taylor, a Liberal Party donor and long-term friend of Tony Abbott ⁽²⁾. It raises the question of lobbying and whether the Whitehouse Institute was expecting benefits to flow their way. The Whitehouse Institute, like many private colleges, is a recipient of government funding ⁽³⁾. Abbott claims that the college didn't lobby for funds ... then again, he also said he complied with the rules of disclosure ⁽⁴⁾.

How did Abbott respond to this allegation of an undeclared personal gift? He attacked the whistleblower and Freya Newman was subsequently charged. After five harrowing months, Freya Newman faced court and pleaded guilty. The Magistrate sentenced her to a two year bond but did not record a conviction as Newman's actions were not 'driven by greed or any desire to embarrass Ms Abbott'. ⁽⁵⁾

Prime Minister Abbott has attacked the ABC on a number of occasions for blowing the whistle. For instance, when the ABC reported allegations of abuse of asylum seekers by Royal Australian Navy personnel. Surely it would have been prudent to investigate the matter rather than shoot the piano player.

Of course, this isn't the only report that Abbott and his government have criticised the ABC for. It seems any report that criticises the government is 'biased' according to the government. The ABC may be funded by the Australian government but it isn't Pravda ... it isn't the mouthpiece of the government.

The ABC reported, along with the Guardian, a phone hacking scandal in which the Australian government under former Prime Minister Rudd had been monitoring phone calls from senior Indonesian government officials, including the wife of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono⁽⁶⁾. The report was based on National Security Agency documents that were leaked by Edward Snowden, former computer contractor with the NSA.

In relation to both of these events, Abbott accused the ABC of being unpatriotic and stated that the ABC was on 'everybody's side but Australia's'. He accused Edward Snowden of being a traitor for revealing illegal behaviour by the Australian and American governments. Ironically, Abbott also stated that the ABC should give the Navy the 'benefit of the doubt'⁽⁷⁾. Ironic because Abbott declared that Australia had to stop giving the benefit of the doubt to asylum seekers ⁽⁸⁾. So, based on this logic it's ok to give benefit of the doubt for allegations of abuse by military personnel but not to give the benefit of the doubt to people fleeing persecution and abuse.

Recently, the Australian Human Rights Commission released its 'Forgotten Children' report which blew the whistle on systemic abuse of asylum seekers, particularly children, in immigration detention on Nauru and Manus Island. The report documented serious issues of abuse that had resulted in physical and mental illness in children. It reported suicide attempts, deteriorating mental and physical health and a basic lack of human rights by the Australian government. The report called for a Royal Commission into the treatment of children in immigration detention. Instead of acting on the report to ensure children were not abused, that their human rights were respected and a Royal Commission held, Abbott tried to have the President of Human Rights Commission, Gillian Triggs, sacked for the report ⁽⁹⁾. He accused the report of being partisan even though the abuse it documented commenced under the previous Labor government. Triggs revealed the information while Abbott and his then Immigration Minister, Scott Morrison, perpetuated the abuse.

On 16 February 2015, ABC's Four Corners program revealed wide-spread incidence of live-baiting within the greyhound racing industry. Live-baiting includes the use of live animals, such as rabbits, piglets and possums, to train greyhounds who run them down and kill them. It is illegal and it is cruel. The report resulted in the entire board of Greyhound Racing NSW being stood down ⁽¹⁰⁾. Agriculture Minister, Barnaby Joyce, attacked the ABC and the whistle-blowers who had trespassed in order to gain the evidence⁽¹¹⁾. Of course, had they not trespassed the scandal wouldn't have been exposed.

Contrast this to when Four Corners revealed allegations of the brutal slaughter of live exports to Indonesia. Then Prime Minister Gillard banned live exports until Indonesia could prove animal welfare safeguards were in place ⁽¹²⁾. Although she eventually gave into agriculturalists and resumed live trade, she didn't shoot the messenger.

Former Prime Minister Howard had a record of attacking whistle-blowers too. He attacked and attempted to discredit intelligence analyst, Andrew Wilkie, who blew the whistle over the false 'weapons of mass destruction' claims being used to justify the illegal invasion of Iraq in 2003 ⁽¹³⁾. Wilkie quit his job and entered politics, initially as a Greens candidate and then as an independent member.

Attorney-General George Brandis has called for the jailing of an ASIS officer who revealed that Australia had been spying on East Timor Cabinet during negotiations for the Timor Sea Treaty ⁽¹⁴⁾.

These are not facetious or trivial claims, so why is the government attacking the whistle-blower instead of taking action on the claims. The Abbott government is introducing legislation to jail journalists who publish Snowden-style leaks⁽¹⁵⁾. The government is clearly opposed to freedom of speech and particularly opposed to those who reveal the misconduct, or the possibility of misconduct, by the government or its agencies.

In 2014 the government changed the rules for whistle-blowing which made it an offence for a whistle-blower to go public rather than keep the matter internal⁽¹⁶⁾. This means that those within an agency, or even the Minister, could try to shut down the whistle-blowing without ever acting on it. Given the government's history of shooting the messenger, federal public servants may be more inclined to 'leak' the information rather than come out as the whistle-blower.

Gonzo journalist, Hunter S. Thompson said, 'There are always risks in challenging excessive police power, but the risks of not challenging it are more dangerous, even fatal'. This quote doesn't just apply to police powers, but to government power, behaviour, policy ... and those things they government wants suppressed or hidden.

What ever happened to transparency and good government?

Surely good government includes doing the right thing, caring for people and acting on allegations of impropriety.

Rather than shooting the messenger, the government should heed the message.

Update 9 March 2015

The United Nations has released a report into Australia's detention centres and found that they breach the international convention on torture. Abbott's response? Shoot the messenger! Instead of being horrified by the report, Abbott stated that Australians are 'sick of being lectured by the United Nations' ⁽¹⁷⁾.

The report found a number of breaches of the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, including the indefinite detention of children and the deportation of Sri Lankan asylum seekers. It's no surprise that Abbott has shot the messenger. After all, Abbott and his government unleashed an unprecedented attack on Gillian Triggs, President of the Human Rights Commission for reporting the systemic physical and mental abuse of children in Australia's detention centres.

Abbott's behaviour clearly shows that he has no concern with child abuse or torture. Instead, he is genuinely horrified that someone would dare call him out on it. His behaviour, and that of his minister's, condones child abuse, condones torture, condones human rights abuses.

What sort of amoral human being ignores abuse and torture, ignores the perpetrators of it, ignores the role his government and government policies have played, but attacks the whistle-blower.

Abbott provided Sri Lanka with two naval vessels to hunt down and capture anyone who dared try to escape the brutality of the Sri Lankan government. Four days before the release of the UN report, the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice reported that 84% of people in north-east Sri Lanka have experienced a family member being detained ⁽¹⁸⁾. The Campaign was pleading with the British Home Office not to tighten rules on asylum seekers from Sri Lanka because the situation is as dangerous as it ever was. Disturbingly, they warned of reprisal actions by Sri Lanka's paramilitary organisations. The UN has also stated serious concerns about the level of torture in this country. The same country whose torture and human rights abuses Abbott sponsors and is happy to return asylum seekers to.

Is it any wonder then, that Abbott has not grasped the gravity of the UN report into Australia's breaches of the torture convention. This is a government of cruel, fascist politicians who consolidate power through fear-mongering. They attack the most vulnerable in the world purely for political expediency.

A UN report that identifies Australia's detention policies amount to torture and human rights abuses. An Australian Human Rights Commission report that identifies ongoing abuse of children because of Australia's detention policies. For each report, the Abbott government attacked the author rather than defending the victims against the abuse and torture reported.

What next? Will the government start blaming rape victims for being raped?

Blaming the victim is the hallmark of the coward and the corrupt.

Based on the government's response to these reports, it's failure to act or take responsibility, it is clear that Abbott presides over a depraved, corrupt and criminal government.


References

1. New Matilda, Chris Graham and Max Chalmers, 21 May 2014, 'Leaked Documents Cast Doubt On Abbott's $60k Scholarship Claims', https://newmatilda.com/2014/05/21/leaked-documents-cast-doubt-abbotts-60k-scholarship-claims. Accessed 19 February 2015.

2. Sydney Morning Herald, Dan Harrison and Daisy Dumas, 21 May 2014, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbotts-friend-linked-to-60000-scholarship-for-frances-abbott-at-private-college-20140521-38olh.html. Accessed 19 February 2015.

3. Whitehouse Institute of Design, http://whitehouse-design.edu.au/courses/vetis/general-information.html. Accessed 19 February 2015.

4. SBS, Source AAP, 'College didn't lobby for funds: Abbott', 23 May 2014, http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/05/23/college-didnt-lobby-funds-abbott. Accessed 19 February 2015.

5. SBS, Gary Cox with AAP, 'No conviction for student who leaked Frances Abbott's scholarship details', 25 November 2014, http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2014/11/25/no-conviction-student-who-leaked-francis-abbotts-scholarship-details. Accessed 19 February 2015.

6. ABC, Michael Brissenden, 'Australia spied on Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, leaked Edward Snowden documents reveal', 5 December 2014, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-18/australia-spied-on-indonesian-president-leaked-documents-reveal/5098860. Accessed 19 February 2015.

7. ABC, Latika Bourke, 'Prime Minister Tony Abbott says ABC not on Australia's side in interview with 2GB', 4 February 2014, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-01-29/tony-abbott-steps-up-criticism-of-abc/5224676. Accessed 19 February 2015.

8. Sydney Morning Herald, Liam Mannix, 'Bad people' treating us as mugs: Abbott's national security warning, 15 February 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bad-people-treating-us-as-mugs-abbotts-national-security-warning-20150215-13f3bd.html. Accessed 19 February 2015.

9. Sydney Morning Herald, Michael Gordon, 'Revealed: Abbott government tried to remove Gillian Triggs as head of the Australian Human Rights Commission', 14 February 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/revealed-abbott-government-tried-to-remove-gillian-triggs-as-head-of-the-australian-human-rights-commission-20150213-13du7s.html. Accessed 19 February 2015.

10. Sydney Morning Herald, Natalie O'Brien and Chris Roots, 'NSW Racing boss says no excuses for live baiting of greyhounds at training', 19 February 2015, http://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw-racing-boss-says-no-excuses-for-live-baiting-of-greyhounds-at-training-20150219-13iwj7.html. Accessed 19 February 2015.

11. The Australian, Jared Owens, 'Barnaby Joyce criticises activists in greyhound live-bait expose', 17 February 2015, http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/barnaby-joyce-criticises-activists-in-greyhound-live-bait-expose/story-e6frg6nf-1227223167503. Accessed 19 February 2015.

12. Sydney Morning Herald, Richard Willingham and Tom Allard, 'Ban on live cattle trade to Indonesia', 8 June 2011, http://www.smh.com.au/national/ban-on-live-cattle-trade-to-indonesia-20110607-1frdg.html. Accessed 19 February 2015.

13. The Age, AAP, 'Personal attacks don't explain war: Wilkie', 23 August 2003, http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/23/1061529370330.html?from=storyrhs. Accessed 19 February 2015.

14. Crikey, Bernard Keane, 'Brandis moves to jail whistleblower and lawyer for revealing ASIS scandal', 1 September 2014, http://www.crikey.com.au/2014/09/01/brandis-moves-to-jail-whistleblower-and-lawyer-for-revealing-asis-scandal. Accessed 19 February 2015.

15. The Guardian, Paul Farrell and Daniel Hurst, 'Journalists will face jail over spy leaks under new security laws', 16 July 2014, http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jul/16/journalists-face-jail-leaks-security-laws. Accessed 19 February 2015.

16. Lowy Institute, The Interpreter, 'The silence of the lambs: The public service, leaks, and whistleblowing in Australia', 2 May 2014, http://www.lowyinterpreter.org/post/2014/05/02/The-silence-of-the-lambs-Leaks-and-whistle-blowing-in-Australia.aspx. Accessed 19 February 2015.

17. The Age, Lisa Cox, 'Tony Abbott: Australians 'sick of being lectured to' by the United Nations, after report finds anti-torture breach', 9 March 2015, http://www.theage.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/tony-abbott-australians-sick-of-being-lectured-to-by-united-nations-after-report-finds-antitorture-breach-20150309-13z3j0.html. Accessed 9 March 2015.

18. Tamil Guardian, '84% of people in North-East have had a family member detained, says Sri Lanka Campaign', 5 March 2015, http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=14000. Accessed 6 March 2015.

Australia's manufactured debt crisis

Treasurer Joe Hockey has been sounding the drums of economic war by proclaiming the Australian economy faces a 'budget emergency'. Key to this is his claim that Australia is borrowing $100 million a day.

The ABC, bless their hearts, fact-checked this claim and found it was true ⁽¹⁾. In fact, they found Hockey had slightly under-stated it. Australia is borrowing $110 million a day using the Hockey formula of dividing the deficit ($40.362 billion as of December 2014) by 365 days which equals a tad over $110 million a day. At the time of the claim, the Australian Office of Financial Management reported Australia's gross debt at $350.734 billion.

These are big numbers. Big scary numbers which fit well with the LNP script to scare the bejesus out of the electorate ... you know, scare us with terrorism (Labor's fault), asylum seekers (Labor's fault), budget emergency (Labor's fault). Labor is all that is wrong with the world if you listen to the LNP MPs who sound more like Doomsday Parrots then members of parliament.

The ABC Fact Check then quotes Professor Jakob Madsen of Monash University who states, 'I think it's a bit alarmist'. You think? He then goes on to point out that measuring the deficit as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is a better measure of an economy's health. The deficit is 2.5% of GDP. Scary stuff that.

That means that GDP is 40 times the deficit. Hardly an emergency.

What it indicates is that in this society of 'lifters and leaners' (to quote one of Abbott's insightful three word slogans), there are some who could lift a tad more.

Numerous economists have been pointing out that Australia does not have a spending problem, but it does have a revenue problem. And that problem isn't because of a lack of sources of revenue, but a structural problem with its tax system that sees the lifters being at the lower end of the income spectrum while the upper end shirk their responsibilities ... are in effect, leaners. ABC Fact Check quotes Richard Robinson from BIS Shrapnel who succinctly sums it up, 'In my opinion, a large chunk of the revenue problem is due to large tax benefits to already wealthy people, with the largest of these being superannuation breaks, capital gains tax breaks and negative gearing'.

Hockey has extrapolated the fear-mongering further by claiming that by 2037 Australia's debt will reach a whopping $1 trillion ⁽²⁾. Another huge number. But what about GDP?

Australia's economy is growing at 2.7% per annum ⁽³⁾. This is around average for the last 20 years in which its growth generally ranged between around 1% to 5%. Erring on the side of the conservative, let's extrapolate this to 2037 using 2.7% as average (it's actually a tad under if anything). If Australia's economy continues to grow on average over the next 22 years as it did over the last 20, GDP will be $3 trillion by 2037. Around THREE TIMES the debt. Hardly a debt crises. By comparison, the United Kingdom's debt to GDP ratio is more than 90% and the United States is 71%. Australia's debt to GDP is the lowest in the OECD ⁽⁴⁾. At 30% or so, that is an enviable position.

Imagine having a mortage of $33,000 with a $100,000 income.

Would you panic?

No, of course not. You would make sure you were paying for it, but you wouldn't slash investments (spending) if it would cut into your revenue (income). That sort of policy is what's known as austerity ... and it is economic suicide.

LNP economics is one dimensional. It gives one side of the story while failing to consider other aspects. It fails to mention what bang we get for our buck. While some money is wasted, for instance the $1 billion a year on the illegal treatment and human rights abuses of asylum seekers ⁽⁵⁾, other money is well spent ... such as on infrastructure and tax concessions for the lower paid to increase their disposable income so they can spend it in order to help keep business afloat and increase consumer confidence.

If anything, Hockey's scare-mongering confirms one thing: Australia's economy is sound, strong and resilient. It is able to weather its current debt and deficit without attacking and demonising welfare or workers.

The Australia Institute released a paper in September 2014 that categorically shot down the LNP mantra about budget emergencies and all that fluff. At that time, Australia's debt was 13.8% of GDP ⁽⁶⁾. This report was signed by 63 of Australia's leading economists warning against austerity measures that had decimated European economies and which the LNP were willing to implement.

Where is the emergency? Well, I'm glad you asked. The emergency is in touted expenditure cuts. One of the reasons for Australia's decline in revenue is because of increases in unemployment as pointed out in the Australia Institute report. Only last week, Australia's unemployment reach 6.4% ⁽⁷⁾. The highest it has been in 10 years ... ironically, the last time it was this high, Australia's now Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, was Employment Minister. Coincidence? I think not.

We started with an ABC Fact Check so let's end on an ABC Fact Check. A few months after the 2013 election, Shadow Treasurer Chris Bowen claimed the LNP doubled the deficit within eight months of being elected. ABC checked this out and found it to be true ⁽⁸⁾. Reasons for this included:

• axing the carbon price - $2.8 billion over four years. (Remember, 'axe the tax' - another of Abbott's mindless three word slogans which was factually incorrect as the carbon PRICE was not a tax if anyone took the time to read the legislation, particularly Section 100, subsection 11 which states, ' ... it is not a law imposing taxation within the meaning of Section 55 of the Constitution' ⁽⁹⁾. I encourage you to read it, it's a ripping good yarn).
• giving the Reserve Bank of Australia $8.8 billion
• immigration detention - $2.8 billion over four years (obviously understated given the later report mentioned above that found Australia is spending $1 billion per annum)
• land transport infrastructure program - $5.6 billion over four years
• Students First Package - $1.2 billion over four years.

There is no budget emergency in Australia. The 'emergency' is purely a work of political fiction to shore up confidence in the LNP and to discredit the Labor Party. It makes for an effective sound bite. It feeds the mindless three word slogans of Prime Minister Abbott.

There will be an emergency however, if the government fails to increase revenue by sourcing the wealthy and continues programs that cut jobs, pay and conditions for the lower paid ... those cuts will plummet Australia into recession which won't be good for the economy.

References

1. ABC News, 'Fact check: Hockey over-eggs 'borrowing $100 million a day' claim', 13 February 2015, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-13/hockey-100-million/6085378. Accessed 14 February 2015.

2. The Daily Telegraph, Andrew Carswell, 13 February 2015, 'Australia’s debt crisis is a staggering $1 trillion nightmare, http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/australias-debt-crisis-is-a-staggering-1-trillion-nightmare/story-fnpn0zn5-1227217818739?nk=6381409c52c7ccad94a77deb7f404b1c. Accessed 14 February 2015.

3. The Sydney Morning Herald, Gareth Hutchens, 4 December 2014, 'Australia's economy is still growing, so why does it feel like we're struggling?, http://www.smh.com.au/business/the-economy/australias-economy-is-still-growing-so-why-does-it-feel-like-were-struggling-20141204-1200xg.html. Accessed 14 February 2015.

4. Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook, 'Country comparison: public debt', https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2186rank.html. Accessed 14 February 2015.

5. The Sydney Morning Herald, Sarah Whyte, 20 October 2014, 'Offshore detention centres: annual costs hit $1 billion, http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/offshore-detention-centres-annual-costs-hit-1-billion-20141020-118s6i.html. Accessed 14 February 2015.

6. The Australia Institute, Economists’ Statement on Commonwealth Budgetary and Economic Priorities, http://www.tai.org.au/content/economists%E2%80%99-statement-commonwealth-budgetary-and-economic-priorities. Accessed 14 February 2015.

7. The Sydney Morning Herald, Mark Kenny, Gareth Hutchins, 13 February 2015, 'Abbott government rocked as unemployment hits highest rate since 2002', http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/abbott-government-rocked-as-unemployment-hits-highest-rate-since-2002-20150213-13d9lr.html. Accessed 14 February 2015.

8. ABC News, 'Fact check: Has the Government doubled the budget deficit?', 10 June 2014, http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-06/has-the-government-doubled-the-budget-deficit/5423392. Accessed 14 February 2015.

9. Australian Government, ComLaw, 'Clean Energy Act 2011 (repealed)', http://www.comlaw.gov.au/Details/C2011A00131. Accessed 14 February 2015.