Tag Archives: Julia Gillard

What Is The Next Hearing About? (Or: Towards Reeling)

Image: (with apologies to Tandberg) The next hearings of the Australian Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will begin on 9th December, in Sydney. More than a year after the announcement of the Royal Commission by former … Continue reading

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Where Are We Now, Friends (Or: The Silence Is Deafening)

The reason given by the federal government for appointing six commissioners to the Royal Commission was that the enormous volume of work would require multiple hearings being conducted simultaneously. So far, only a single hearing has been held with all … Continue reading

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On the Eve of Battle (Or: It’s ON!)

At almost 12 months since the Royal Commission was announced by former Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, public hearings will commence tomorrow. The battle will begin. As churches sharpen their financial swords, others sharpen their pens. There will be much comment, … Continue reading

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Transparency Issues (Or: Judged By Your Betters)

Authority derives from legitimacy. Credibility derives from transparency. By these definitions, the Royal Commission has fair authority but lesser credibility, for a few reasons, which should be addressed. Established, under public pressure, by former Labor Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, the … Continue reading

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George Goes to Turkey, Again and Again …. (Or: Peak Season)

Cardinal George Pell of Australia has been staying for some time at his Roman holiday home, the palatial $30 million “Domus Australia, getting in, according to press reports, some serious “reading”, among other things. Last month, he took time off … Continue reading

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Media Opposition (Or: If You’re Right the Royal Commission’s Wrong)

Image: George Pell (Source: http://www.optuszoo.com.au/news/top/herald-sun/priests-not-above-the-law-mps/840633) Opposition to a royal commission is professed by only 3% of Australian voters. Only about 1% of mainstream journalists and media commentators do the same. The leading apologist for the Catholic Church here appears to … Continue reading

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Who Opposed the Royal Commission and Why (Or: Fools Rush In)

The short answer is that virtually nobody opposed the royal commission. However, many changed their views, the most notable being the Prime Minister Julia Gillard herself. On the Friday before the announcement on the following Monday, while she was visiting … Continue reading

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The Attorneys-General (Or: The Inevitable Baton Change)

The royal commission’s recommendations will be considered by a different federal Attorney-General to the one who established it, and probably by a different government, if opinion polls are to be believed. Former Attorney-General, Nicola Roxon (pictured below), last week announced her … Continue reading

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