Dear Paul,

I'll repeat what I've stated in the past.
Access to information is one of the pre-requisites
for Democracy. A democracy requires its citizens
to make informed choices. If citizens and their
representatives are denied access to the
information they need to make these choices, or if
they are given false or misleading information, the
democratic process becomes a sham. It's therefore
important that the media not be censored, that
citizens have the right of free speech, and that
public officials tell the truth - and are accountable
and transparent. When politicians and political
parties conceal information from, or lie to
Parliament and the public, their actions are contrary
to democratic values and damage public faith in
our political institutions. Under such circumstances
the people can't use their rights in a meaningful
way. It is a concern therefore the lack of transparency
in the current government. As is their control of the
military in their - "sovereign borders," strategy.

cont'd ...

The Australian Defence Force should raise concerns
that having a military officer (Major -General Angus
Campbell) answer directly as a Commander to a
civilian - (the Immigration Minister, Scott Morrison),
could breach the Defence Act and the Westminster Convention
of separating military command from civil control of
the military.

Paul,
You said, "One of my worries is the erosion of civil liberties in our society, and the ready acceptance by some that it is necessary for the good of the majority"

Coming from a Green that has to be the most hypocritical statement ever. The greens have done more to take away our liberties than all other groups combined.

Christ! you cannot cut down a tree, collect roadside firewood, shoot or fish without a licence, build what you want on your land, dig a dam, carry out hazard reduction, ride a bike without a helmet, must wear a seatbelt in a car, smoke in the open, and any number of other regulations by councils and governments. Mostly for 'enviromental' reasons.

You greens claim humans damage the environment but you advocate an open door policy for people to come here illegally.

Greens have been at the forefront in implementing most of the regulations that curtail our freedoms and you have the hide to say you are concerned about the erosion of our liberties.

You could not lie straight in bed.

You could not lie straight in bed.
Banjo,
that doesn't pose a problem for those lacking all that makes sense & is decent. They don't care about others who in actual fact are keeping the aforementioned.

Foxy,

Under the Westminster system the Military are always answerable to civilians.

Dear Is Mise,

Under the Westminster System there is a
Separation of Powers. A civilian does not
command the military.