The Greens oppose the CPRS not because it is too weak, but because it will point Australia in the wrong direction with little prospect of turning it around in the timeframe within which emissions must peak, says Senator Christine Milne.
Kerr: For all his failings, the PM deserves applause
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What was last night’s effort by the Prime Minister at the Sydney Institute all about? A last minute effort to hang onto votes in Mosman? An attempt to at least put an issue on the agenda so history can record it was J W Howard, Prime Minister from 1996-2007, who said it first? Well, yes. There was certainly a tacit admission of political mortality amongst the PM’s other admissions last night. But we should also give John Howard the benefit of the doubt. In the past few months, Crikey has become a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Aboriginal misery industry – the bureaucrats, academics, administrators, lobbyists and general parasites who have taken billions from taxpayers and given sod all to indigenous Australians. It’s also become the house journal for a noisy little group who are either too naïve, too ignorant or too fanatical to understand that democracy is about compromise and that government is a matter of give and take. As the old saying says, you shouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth. John Howard claimed last night “The challenge I have faced around indigenous identity politics is in part an artefact of who I am and the time in which I grew up.” Yes, he’s a politician desperate to be re-elected. But, yes, he’s probably telling the truth. Australians aren’t racist. They are, however, embarrassed about the plight of indigenous people in this wealthy country. Embarrassed, ignorant of the subtleties – and powerless, too. All of these have combined to produce a very human, very understandable response – inaction. John Howard is suggesting action. He’s admitting to the failings most white Australians share. He’s late, but at least he’s admitting them. He deserves at least some applause. |
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11 Comments
do your job, be a journo and stop force feeding us with garlic flavoured tripe.
SORRY
Pretty politicians stealing
Everything you got
Mining corporations
Trying to take the lot
Stole their dreamtime
And their art
Now we’re trying to steal their heart.
Sorry every aborigine
Sorry kids are dying of disease
Sorry - Who shld be ashamed
He’s late, very late. Constitutional change is material, if it happens. But it is like asking to applaud a brickie who laid a foundation stone 10yrs late, and still didnt apologise for the delay. You wouldnt applaud that guy, much less re-employ him.
applause for what? I cant even call this a damascene conversion. St Paul was sincere Howard aint.
as to the aboriginal lobby bit yhow dare you what has the Howard Government ever given?
If Mr Howard is sincere about reconciliation (just as he was sincere about poker machine reform until the States screamed blue murder), then let’s see some changes to the draconian NT “emergency” laws.
Christian, what ‘Aboriginal misery industry’?
Well to go against the tide here… I’m going to have to agree with Christian. Sure the timing is questionable. However, at least he is finally doing something. Just like Christian said, he deserves at least some applause.
If Mr Howard is sincere about reconciliation (just as he was sincere about poker machine reform until the States screamed blue murder), then let’s see some changes to the draconian NT “emergency” laws.
Christian, what ‘Aboriginal misery industry’?
John Howard never does anything unless it’s to help him win the next election…he doesn’t care a stuff about Aboriginal problems, the intervention is all about grabbing land to dump other countries nuclear waste on..
Is this new one non-core?.
Briilliant satire from Christian Kerr.
With talents like these, he’s wasted at Crikey. The Chaser beckons…
Bollocks! This is all about JWH suddenly realising on his electoral death bed, what he is going to be remembered for. Kind of like confessing the sins before shuffling off the mortal coil is supposed to get you into heaven.
SORRY
Pretty politicians stealing
Everything you got
Mining corporations
Trying to take the lot
Stole their dreamtime
And their art
Now we’re trying to steal their heart.
Sorry every aborigine
Sorry kids are dying of disease
Sorry - Who shld be ashamed