I agree with all you have said, Ian----There is always hope with Labor.
The coalition in Queensland is now talking about mandatory sentencing, and I
just wonder whether this might not be the time to really put the wood on
Labor to begin holding the line against the worst excesses of the Tories---I
have the feeling that we are fast approaching a situation where it will take
decades to return to a more just and egalitarian society.
Whether in government or not,I believe it is time for Labor to take on the
Right.
Laurie
Laurie and Desley Forde [EMAIL PROTECTED]
-------------------------
-----Original Message-----
From: Ian Henderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Monday, July 17, 2000 4:56 PM
Subject: Re: [recoznet2] WA's Gallop promises fight over mandatory
sentencing
>Laurie
>
>Whilst I agree with your sentiments I believe that if Labor forms
Government
>there is far more chance of mandatory sentencing at least being alleviated.
>And at the same time, we would have the opportunity to improve the Native
>Title legislation to more reflect an atmosphere of cooperation and
>negotiation as opposed to the present adversarial provisions. And, if you
>want to see a more conducive police force in the area of Aboriginal Affairs
>then I would back Labor anytime rather than Court et al. There are many
more
>areas of Aboriginal Affairs that could be reformed. It may only be a
>possibility with Labor but with the Coalition it is a certainty - NO!!
>
>Laurie, as a constituent of Western Australia, I have seen what is
happening
>at the moment and mandatory sentencing is a different animal in the West to
>that in the N.T. It is not mandatory sentencing that is underlying the over
>the top number of deaths in custody, it is the jails administration
>(Ministry of Justice) and overcrowding. If we wish to save the lives of
>these young prisoners then the only chance is with Labor. Mandatory
>sentencing can be wound back, given the right administration as can all the
>other perversions that have arisen as a result of the Court Government
>actions. Anyway, my legal friends tell me that it is a very different
kettle
>of fish trying to overturn State legislation, even with the assistance of
>the external powers. In reality we could lose the next State election and
>then find that the Federal government can't do anything about it anyway.
The
>N.T. is a different proposition because as we saw with the Euthanasia Bill,
>the Federal Government still maintains a power of veto over their
>legislation. In the case of W.A. I think you would find the Feds. fighting
>all the States because it would provide a frightening precedent if the
>Commonwealth won. Think of Howard or Costello with the knowledge of that
>sort of power!
>
>Sorry to be seen as pouring cold water but unfortunately we only have a
>voting choice of Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee.
>________________________________________________
>Ian Henderson Murdoch University
>24 Harfleur Place Murdoch 6150
>Hamilton Hill Tel: 61 8 94183972
>Western Australia 6163 E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Perfection suffers from a profound defect; it is invariably dull. Somerset
>Maughan
>______________________________________________
>
>
>
>> Maybe this is a case where ,even if it means losing the next election
>,Labor
>> should oppose mandatory sentencing for no other reason than it is unjust.
>>
>> Once people wake to the cons like mandatory sentencing that have been
>> perpetrated against them by Howard, Court and their fellow lowlifes, they
>> will be looking for an alternative---Unfortunately, the way things are
>> going, they won't find one in the Labor Party----they will be down in
the
>> political gutter with the Coalition.
>>
>> As far as the ALP is concerned,I think that unprincipled pragmatism has
>had
>> a fair run---time for a dose of untrammelled principle.
>>
>> Laurie
>
>
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