These Coalition racists aren't bad, are they? Here is whinging, whining Borbidge, accusing Chief Magistrate Singleton of acting politically because she has apologised to Indigenous people for their mistreatment before the Magistrates Court. He makes no criticism of Chief Justice Paul de Jersey, appointed under a Coalition regime, who says that no apology should be made. If an apology is a political act, so is a call for no apology. Laurie Laurie and Desley Forde Email. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Without a treaty, which spells out the obligations and rights of both parties, there can be no Reconciliation in Australia----Geoff Clark. ---------------------- ----- Original Message ----- From: "Trudy Bray" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "news-clip" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, August 09, 2000 2:07 PM Subject: AAP: Borbidge labels sorry move 'foolish and naive' > Borbidge labels sorry move 'foolish and naive' > > Source: AAP|Published: Wednesday August 9, 12:46 PM > > Sentencing may appear race-based following today's courtroom sorry ceremonies across Queensland, the state opposition said. > > Opposition leader Rob Borbidge said the ceremonies may create a public perception that magistrates could no longer dispense justice > equally. > > Mr Borbidge has slammed the decision by Chief Stipendiary Magistrate Diane Fingleton to push ahead with the ceremonies against the > wishes of Chief Justice Paul de Jersey. > > Queensland magistrates courts will apologise to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders for past wrongs in simultaneous ceremonies in > Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Southport and Mt Isa at 3pm. > > Ms Fingleton and Magistrate Brian Hine will conduct the Brisbane ceremony, presenting a deed of apology and commitment to local > Aboriginal elders. > > Mr Borbidge said the move was 'foolish and naive' and an attack on the principle of Separation of Powers. > > 'The question of an apology is one for executive government ... it's one f or elected politicians ... it's not one for appointed members of > the judiciary,' Mr Borbidge told reporters. > > 'It raises serious questions about the perception as to whether people may believe that justice is dispensed equally across the > community. > > 'If she's got a personal view that's fine, but I'm sorry, she's just not a citizen ... she is the chief magistrate ... I don't believe it is proper or > appropriate for the courts to be used to make a political statement.' > > Mr Borbidge said the move also raised concerns over the political nature of judicial appointments. > > 'She's gone far too far,' he said. > > 'We are seeing a political act from the judiciary ... it is happening under a Labor government and is happening with full support of a > Labor attorney-general.' > > But former federal attorney-general Michael Lavarch rejected suggestions that the independence of the judiciary was threatened by > the magistrates' actions. > > 'No I don't believe it's in any way jeopardised,' he said on ABC radio. > > 'When we talk about independence we talk about independence of the courts from the government ... and as far as I understand the > magistrates themselves and the chief magistrate have reached their own decision. > > 'It's nothing to do with the government. It hasn't been asked to be done by the government. I don't think it's any question about > independence.' > > > ************************************************************************* > This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without > permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, > scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal > copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of > the copyright owner, except for "fair use." > > > ------------------------------------------------------ RecOzNet2 has a page @ http://www.green.net.au/recoznet2 and is archived at http://www.mail-archive.com/ To unsubscribe from this list, mail [EMAIL PROTECTED], and in the body of the message, include the words: unsubscribe announce or click here mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20announce This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner, except for "fair use." RecOzNet2 is archived for members @ http://www.mail-archive.com/recoznet2%40paradigm4.com.au/
