Law & Crime

ICAC was set up by the Liberals and it seems its sole purpose was to go after crooked Labor politicians. It has now turned into Frankenstein’s monster, devouring its creators.

Abbott doesn’t set out to break the law. That’s not the point. But when the law stands between him and a quick win, he shows contempt for its values, its customs and the part they play in national life.

I am not the sort of person who will stand beside the prime minister and smile while nothing is done.

If the court finds that constitutionally it is not possible to prevent the liquor, gambling, tobacco and property interests from cashing up their political favourites, then vast chunks of ICAC’s work will collapse.

For me, this was not a terrorist incident. There was no co-ordinated media plan, no clear message, no obvious outcome the gunman was seeking.

While Australia is busily seeking to expand the horizons of data retention, in Europe and the US there have been processes working in the opposite direction.

The flawed policy of prohibition must be superseded by serious consideration of law reform.

The finance industry applauds crackdowns on insider trading, as a distraction from the uneven playing field of the market.

Euthanasia can’t be considered voluntary in a society that stigmatises the disabled, the suffering and the aged.