I agree wholeheartedly with this article.

If anybody seeks to argue that payback is or should be part of Australian legal systems, let's hear it, because I am unaware of any rational or reasonable justification for such behaviour.

As for payback and ARL: try using that approach on any sporting field and you will very soon find yourself in conflict with the referee and the rules of the game. This is exactly the same in life generally.

...This article, although I agree in principal with it, stretches the argument in favour of the status-quo, by extreme example.

...More interesting is an aside from one of the examples of inequality; the national pass-time of the police to force drivers to abandon their vehicles on the side of the road when found to be driving unregistered vehicles.

...A butcherous and totally arbitrary bit of State collaboration with Insurance companies this practice is, which highlights the ineffectiveness of a system which extracts money on a “median-charge” of user pays, afflicting the poor of our community with an overburden of unaffordable premium content, to the drain on scarce family resources and the imperative personal transport (the car), is to families in the modern age.

Customary law has no place in any society when it uses violence as a means of punishment. And there is nothing customary about being attacked with a machete or any other weapon made using modern materials. Aboriginal culutures have been corrupted ever since they had contact with non-indigenous people (including the Macassans).

The problem seems to be with the notion that if it is cultural (or labelled cultural) then it should be protected. What a load of rubbish. Just because it is cultural doesn't mean it is good or should be kept. There are many aspects of any given culture that need to be eradicated.

Aboriginal customary law is too far removed from what it used to be to have any relevance. The new generations of Aborigines (mainly in remote areas) are losing touch with their past and have no respect for elders. Many can barely speak their own language let alone English. Traditional cultures do nothing to give hope to Aborigines in a modern world or help them engage in the mainstream economy.

What a breath of fresh air! Cultural relativism is a standby excuse for paternalism masquerading as sensitivity.

Very refreshing to see someone bold enough to write the truth. Be careful you might end up with the Bolt haters wanting you charged. It seems the Labour party are doing there very best to have free (and truthful speach) silenced.

Chris Graham has established himself in Indigenous affairs by favourable reporting on indigenous issues.
And over a number of years. He was the founding ( ? ) editor and still is part owner of The National Indigenous Times.
And is now employed by the NSW Adoriginal Land Council.
He is also editor of Traker Magazine funded by the NSW Aboriginal Land Council.
I have heard him described as their favourite “pet whitefella”.
But they do pay him a good wage for the privilege !

for more info www.whitc.info/ and soon www.whitc.net/

Arthur Bell. aka bully.