More to the point - where the bloody hell are you Peter Garrett?
Tasmanian forests?
Tamar Valley Pulp Mill?

I guess he's burning the midnight oil

Strewth! The Howard Toadies have really got their knickers in a knot.
Wonder why they're in such a panic; is there an election on this year or what?

I would hate to have to rely on a barrister so sloppy as to confound the concept of 'race' with 'nationality' as Alexander Deane has.

Since when does being an immigrant disqualify one from criticising the practise of disempowering local labor by importing foreign labour?

If immigrants must be silent just because they have profited by luck from an unfair situation, then immigrants are dangerous to democracy.

So, I have to say that I would rather an honest immigrant than one who refused to speak out for fear of admitting functional hippocrisy any day. As long as immigrants don't come here with the conscious intention of competing against the natives they can continue to hold their heads up, albeit as exacerbators of democratic melt-down via "Workchoices" or whatever the current term is for the current legislation.

It would be better if the international worker showed international solidarity with Australian workers and thus stayed away until our laws were reformed, but at least we must be able to talk about the danger of one-sided legislation and labor importation.

JAMES ... her marital status ? why of course that doesn't matter.. just like the PM married to a dog doesn't matter.. or that he had 3 mistresses doesn't matter.. or that Kevin Rudd does such and such doesn't matter.. or union bosses beat their way into work sites doesn't matter... after all.. its 'how they can do their job' isn't it ? and of course if we have a hard drinking, wife abusing, animal beating, Prime Minister..how could that POSSIBLY have any impact on the community, or its perception of him, or the self image they have when they compare their own 'minor' sins with those of the BIG bloke?

All I'm doing is pointing out the social ramifications of your idea about 'Their sexual preference is irrelevant'....

LIKE HELL IT IS IRRELEVANT!

Julia Guillard, Rudd, Howard, Costello, Abbot..and ALLLL our politicians SHOULD be seeking to reflect and live by 'decent' values (Don't you love that bit) which the community can observe and be encouraged by.

OR.. we can always take the other approach "Aah.. what the hell, Rudd goes into a strip club and is pissed out of his brain, Costello wants to 'destroy' Howard, Abbot beats his dog.. what does it matter if I do the same?"

Bottom line, it always boils down to what kind of society we want, and what values underpin us. If our primary value is "We have lots of values..and they are different for every person and often in conflict" then..... you can imagine what kind of society we will end up with.

Nope.. we need politicians who represent the BEST in human relations, not the worst. Are you one ? :)

"Why is it that women in power are always attacked for their appearance, ..."
(Posted by MARVAL, Friday, 24 August 2007 3:55:47 PM)
"Alexander Deane? is he another Alex D's lovechild? The both have very similar smiles."
(Posted by ruawake, Friday, 24 August 2007 1:26:45 PM)

I did but see her passing by -
- yet I will love her 'till I die.

--

Half of what I say is meaningless
But I say it just to reach you,
Julia

Julia, Julia, oceanchild, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
Julia, seashell eyes, breezy smile, calls me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

Her hair of floating sky is shimmering, glimmering,
In the sun

Julia, Julia, morning moon, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia

When I cannot sing my heart
I can only speak my mind, Julia

Julia, sleeping sand, silent cloud, touch me
So I sing a song of love, Julia
Hum hum hum...calls me
So I sing a song of love for Jooooooooooooliiaaaaa...!

--

She'll be a hit!