Is it honest to write on a topic, and not mention that you've been a player in that arena yourself ?

I see that Christian Kerr has written at Crikey.com:

"But the Kooyong Doc chose not to share some of the more interesting background with Hun readers. Donnelly is the serial pest of Victorian Liberal Party pre-selections, and most of his bids for a seat have taken place within the boundaries of Kooyong. They haven't succeeded. One of the reasons he is the past vice chair of the electorate committee is that he hasn't got the support of the local branches – or local state Liberal MPs Richard Dalla Riva and David Davis."

This is an illogical, poorly-researched, offensive, self-serving piece of ideological (factional?) twaddle - although thankfully Mr Donnelly spared us the 'ideological terrorist' sneer. Who does Mr Donnelly have in mind for the next preselection exercise in Kooyong?

Very few articles on this web site sink below the belt of ethical and intellectual acceptability. This is, alas, one such. Time to give Mr Donnelly the flick!

Hi guys,

As my grandmother use to say: take a bex and have a good lie down. How about addressing the issues. Simply look at why Kooyong is now known as the Kandahar of the south - falling membership, failure to raise funds, very few meetings and unable to assist marginals during elections. After 10 years, with a change of member, things could only improve.

Dear Doctor Donnelly

Of course your article in the Melbourne Herald Sun 21/6/05 is just your opinion. Poor and all as it was.

In fact you berate Petro Georgiou for standing up for Christian principles. Principles even devoted atheists support.

No worry to you that Petro Georgiou would not condone an outspoken Torture advocate who ironically was a member of the RRT

Not a worry to you that the loopy xenophobes ignited by John Howard’s politically contrived demonisation of people who are/were 90% proven refugees when armies of loopies are emerging and writing in this very ON LINE web page and advocate our navy use future boats as live target practice etc., I find that frightening and sickening. Obviously you do not . You are more concerned to denigrate someone who wants to stop the hatred so rampant now in our society

No worry to you that the same hatred Hitler fomented against Jews has now entrenched itself in the Australian psyche.

Not very flattering to Mr Howard and his spineless party followers who fear challenging him. No surprise people like you tune in to condemn champions like Perto Georgiou and his few equally concerned and brave friends. [Deleted for flaming]

Shame on you.

TIME TO GO KEVIN

Norm Bernard
26 Tarbenian Way
Brigadoon WA 6069
Phone:- (08) 9296-4323

"While the Liberal Party might be a broad church, the fact is the member for Kooyong's views on issues like mandatory detention and asylum-seekers are so out of the ball park that he would be better suited joining the Democrats or the Greens."
Unless he says we should accept people without any processing or accept everybody, (which would even then be more socially liberal than most Greens) his position is mainstream, so this is an untenable view.

"Political pundits argue that the 2001 federal election was won on the issue and last year the Australian electorate overwhelmingly endorsed the Government's stand."
Overwhelming endorsed? Yeah sure, the election was just about immigration policy, nothing about interest rates or the economy. No scare campaigns at *all*.

"As adviser to Malcolm Fraser and as head of the Institute of Multicultural Affairs, Mr Georgiou strongly supported multiculturalism. This was the time when millions were being wasted on the multicultural industry promoting diversity and difference at the expense of what we hold in common; when Australians were told they were racist and our Anglo-Celtic heritage was belittled and ignored."
He supports multiculturalism. Big deal, I didn't know xenophobia was a core value of the Liberal party. (Thought maybe, presumed even, didn't *know*)

"with a swing against Mr Georgiou of 1.39 per cent"
I don't know the district, but isn't it possible that it is more left-wing than others? That the support among moderates for Georgiou was countered by increased dislike for the current government?

After 3 more years of mandatory detention, with detainees being in there for another 3 years, there would probably have been a significant backlash against the Liberal party. Georgiou and others' early action may end up saving the party in the next election.

I agree with Deuc and would add that "has passed his use-by-date" hardly seems apt for one who has just proven how effective he is at changing government policy !

What a contradiction you are Kevin. At one moment you're raving about "values", the next you're quoting percentages of votes as if that's all that counted. Do you choose to watch television programs based on their ratings ? Desperate Housewives, Super Nanny, Big Brother ? - all very popular.

You say that Liberal Party membership is "static" in Kooyong - I would have thought that both major parties would be happy to have static membership figures because what I usually read is that membership is declining. What's the overall figure for Victoria ?

You didn't say whether it was intellectually dishonest not to mention that you were a player (apparently unsuccessful at pre-selection ?) involved in this Liberal Party business ?