Starry, starry eyed …

If you are naive to this issue start by reading this blog post by Professor Don Aitkin.

The next step … ask yourself if it insults anyone, except perhaps professor Aitkin’s ancestors.

Would you sue?

FORMER University of Canberra vice-chancellor and former chairman of the National Capital Authority Don Aitkin is being sued for $6 million for alleged racial discrimination.

Ngambri Aboriginal elder Shane Mortimer alleges the adjunct professor’s blog contravenes Section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act and has lodged an application for damages in the Federal Magistrates Court. <Canberra Times>.

Is there any truth to the suggestion that Mr. Mortimer is as pale skinned as Professor Aitkin? Judge for yourelf.

Is being called pale skinned worth $6million in compensation? Don’t anyone say thin-skinned, that could cost even more.

Mr Mortimer said the case was very similar to that of Herald Sun columnist Andrew Bolt. Bolt was accused of breaching the Racial Discrimination Act and was found to have contravened Section 18C of the act.

But Professor Aitkin said there was no comparison. ‘’That’s stupid, I’m an academic, I’m an emeritus professor of the University of Canberra….”

… and just writing a blog, a blog that doesn’t suggest any overtly racist tendencies in the good professor, but the law of the land applies to everyone. Bad laws have bad consequences for everyone.

18c is a very bad law, it should be repealed.

Without principle …

The Australian, interjections and emphasis mine …

Ms Gillard has acknowledged helping to set up the AWU Workplace Reform Association, which she has classified as a “slush fund” for the re-election of union officials, but has repeatedly denied knowledge of its operations. It was used to defraud hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Australian Workers Union.

On Thursday, the Deputy Opposition Leader asked Ms Gillard in parliament why she did not “report the fraud” and cited former High Court judge Michael Kirby, saying it was a citizen’s duty to report serious crimes to the police.

Ms Gillard replied: “By the time the matters she refers to came to my attention, they were already the subject of inquiry and investigation.”

But, but, but …

… affidavit material shows the national leadership of the AWU did not know about the existence of the slush fund until the Commonwealth Bank told the union of related bank accounts in April 1996.

This was eight months after Ms Gillard had become aware, though an internal investigation by Slater & Gordon, of fraud concerns involving her client and boyfriend, Mr Wilson.

During the investigation, Ms Gillard was questioned by senior partner Peter Gordon.

She was asked about the slush fund; Mr Wilson and his fellow official and AWU bagman Ralph Blewitt; Mr Blewitt’s purchase of a $230,000 terrace house in Melbourne’s Fitzroy in 1993; and renovations at Ms Gillard’s house.

A Victorian Police Fraud Squad investigation requested by the AWU leadership in September 1995 was undermined because the union and police were unaware of the slush fund, with Ms Gillard and Slater & Gordon failing to disclose its existence to the union or authorities.

You’re kidding, right …?

Nathan Scott, 20, pleaded guilty to a charge of manslaughter and failing to stop after an accident. It was the second time Scott had tried to run people down after becoming enraged.

The court heard Scott, who has never had regular employment and been on a disability pension for depression since the age of 17, had good prospects of rehabilitation.

Nine years’ imprisonment, with a minimum of six.

Paramedics worked to save Ms McLaren, 34, but she died later in hospital.

She has no prospect of rehabilitation.

Justice has been served …

Well, a small step has been taken in …

CLEVELAND – A woman who was caught on camera passing a Cleveland school bus on the sidewalk, while the bus was loading and unloading kids, was ordered by a judge to stand at the intersection and wear an “idiot” sign.

Shena Hardin, 32, appeared in Cleveland Municipal court Monday after being cited for driving along the sidewalk to avoid a school bus.

The judge sentenced Hardin to pay $250 in court costs and suspended her license for 30 days and more.

Hardin must also stand at the intersection of E. 38th Street and Payne Avenue wearing a sign next Tuesday and Wednesday that says “Only an idiot drives on the sidewalk to avoid a school bus.” She has been ordered to wear the sign from 7:45 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. both days.

You can read the full story and watch the video of the original bust <HERE>. Clearly, it was not the first occasion she’d done it. Be nice to see her photo with her sign on …

Unforgiving …

Australia can be a harsh and unforgiving land.

Mauritz ‘Mo’ Pieterse, 25, died when he and a workmate became stranded while inspecting bores on the Ethabuka nature reserve, in Queensland’s southwest on Monday.

Police say the men tried to walk about 10km back to a house on the reserve in 45-degree heat, but Mr Pieterse couldn’t make the distance. <The Australian>.

Ethabuka is a Bush Heritage property acquired in 2004. It is situated on the northern rim of the Simpson desert.

Mo was experienced in outback conditions but paid the ultimate price anyway. He certainly isn’t the first.

Caroline Grossmueller’s story can be found <HERE>. There are a number of lessons to be learnt from the trail of events that led to her entirely unnecessary death.

Bird watching attracts a few of us to these remote places. Australia’s top twitcher, Mike Carter  and his wife were stranded for 15 days near Jupiter Well on the Gary Junction Highway in 1991 due to vehicle failure. Their plight was compounded by the failure of a responsible local to act on their non-return. They did everything they could to avoid the heat and unnecessary water loss and were rescued alive.

Even well maintained vehicles can get bogged or break down. Be prepared, know how to rescue a bogged vehicle, winch and shovel are essential.

Let someone know where you are going and set a deadline for action if you don’t get back.

Take plenty of water and then some more.

Take a satellite phone or radio … it’s the 21st century.

Stay with the vehicle … it’s way easier to find than a person on foot.

Make shade, rest in it to keep as cool as you can, drink thoughtfully … don’t waste it but remember it’s the water in your body that keeps you alive not the water in your water bottle!

Patience.