A broken promise is not a lie, it's a broken promise ! A lie is when denying a fact to a question or telling something that is not true.
Politicians make promises with the intend to go through with it but then Greens go ape crap & oppositions throw a spanner in the works & then call the other a liar because they are unable to keep their promise because of the hangers-on traitors.
The best way to start rehabilitating Australia is to severely cut the public service bureaucracy & introduce a national service. No national service , no entry into the public service.

Paul,

I am commenting on today not 40 years ago. In the 70s there were far fewer cameras and far less police accountability. The short answer is that the leopard has changed its spots. Perhaps you should too.

The uni students are protesting the wrong way - on their own territory. To be effective they must take their protests to the politicians' territory. That is, marginal electorates. Then being sensible students they should give their reasons logically and quietly to the voters there. More important, they should ask the voters in those marginal electorates what those voters would like the government to do better.This will win more hearts and votes than any demonstration. Votes are the currency of democracy. Those who cannot afford to bribe political parties or politicians or are disinclined to do so, should use their ability to campaign in marginals and to vote against the offending politicians in their own seats. That is what changes policy, if necessary, by changing MPs.

Dear Residents Roundtables,

<<That is what changes policy, if necessary, by changing MPs.>>

Except that they are all members of the same cartel. Like trained professional boxers they put on a fight and snarl at each other for the camera as their day-job, then come evening they drink and toast together at the pub, joking how cleverly they managed to deceive us all.

Here's a few links that may be of some interest:

http://www.teachingheritage.nsw.edu.au/section03/timeenviron.php

http://melbourneprotests.wordpress.com/

Paul1405, "As someone who over many years has attended lots of protests, both large and small. Maybe, the 'Usual Suspects' will label me a professional protester"

Most would accept your self description. You obviously take pride in being a professional demonstrator.

There are the eminently reasonable people with a legitimate complaint and usually a workable solution who protest.

Then there are the attention-seeking serial pests who turn up everywhere to hijack legitimate protests. They are well known to police. Serial protesters boost their low self esteem through confrontation of 'authority' and frustrating or forcing decision makers to back down. For them it is all a bloody-minded game to get the power they do not see in their own unsuccessful lives.

Tony Jones and the ABC were right to reject the disorganised rabble of disruptive, bullying protesters who took advantage of the free access that applies in many public and private organisations. Their only lasting effect will be the costly security that the ABC and other public agencies will be obliged to take. See here,

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/media/broadcast/socialist-alternative-protest-sparks-qa-review/story-fna045gd-1226907504809

The public is not so easily fooled by selfish, disruptive attention-seekers like that pompously titled crew, and would believe they are treated far too leniently by Courts.