Today, June 4th, is the sixteenth anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing. In April 1989, a massive and peaceful pro-democracy demonstration was begun by Chinese students. They were quickly joined by workers, intellectuals, journalists, and civil servants, until over a million people filled Tiananmen square. Lest we forget — An anniversary of an atrocity: Tiananmen Square Anniversary (The bitter-sweet sixteenth)
Eye on Politics & Law Lords: The Sydney we deserve
Doing just enough to cope with Sydney's growth is not working. On the surface, many Sydneysiders think the city's reputation for self-obsession is justified, while its 10 million annual visitors can be forgiven for assuming all is well if they stick to the Opera House, where all usually is well.
But talk to the experts, read the flood of letters and emails on the subject and it is clear swift and decisive action is needed to guide the city through the next two decades without destroying the city fiercely guarded by its residents. It seems Sydney increasingly relies on its good looks and wit to get by, hoping the charm of the destination will outweigh the trauma of getting there. But keeping up appearances is becoming difficult, because much is not working and much more isn't working well.
Sydney needs a transformation, a generational change. It needs a transport system capable of moving people quickly, safely and reliably; it needs to collect at least as much water as it sensibly uses; it needs to curb its obsessions with polluting cars and energy-hungry appliances; and it needs to provide homes that are pleasant to live in, easy to get to, and possible to pay for.
• Crisis? What crisis? says Sartor [Tiananmen Square Anniversary: Sydney-based Chinese diplomat seeks asylum ; Peter Cosgrove has a final mission as head of the Defence Force Operation protect, as SAS comes under fire ]
• · Three cheers for Bob Carr ... Finally, the chance to make use of that yellowcake; Quentin Dempster interviews Bob Carr- 3 June 2005 AD Stateline Coming soon Federalism, Industrial Democracy & The Decade of Decay - Sydney Political Spin; A commitment to openness would affirm democratic values and principles, write Rebecca LaForgia and Bryan Mercurio Promoting democracy through free trade agreements
• · · The Qantas security manager sacked for his association with fugitive Michael Hurley may have had access to leaked confidential information about passenger alert lists Ex-manager accused of list leaks ; Researchers have made significant progress in recent years in their efforts to understand, and deal with, one of society’s most puzzling illnesses Cannabis and cities linked to schizophrenia; Madeleine Byrne listens to the stories of those who worked at the immigration detention centres and finds the divide was as often between colleagues as it was between detainees and guards Tales from the desert camps ; In a talk in the History Department at the University of Melbourne, Klaus Neumann argued that a historical perspective throws vital light on current debates about mandatory detention The Cornelia Rau case: a historical perspective
• · · · The death of Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen set off an inevitable debate about his legacy. Jennifer Menzies examines his cabinet records and finds much that is very personal Bjelke-Petersen’s Private Cabinet ; ASIO doesn’t need all the emergency powers it was given two years ago, write George Williams and Ben Saul Will the PM welcome a compromise this time around?; Sally Neighbour reveals a massacre on foreign soil – and how an Australian company became implicated Massacre on foreign soil
• · · · · The Howard Government is moving to weaken the Senate committee system - one of its deepest sources of embarrassment and the Parliament's most effective means of scrutiny Howard moves to curb Senate watchdog ; Australian Institute of Family Studies In the driver’s seat: understanding young adults’ driving behaviour ;
• · · · · · ‘Any tax cut is good’ is a convenient mentality for the political right. It plays well in the electorate and keeps the political agenda free from pressures for greater spending. But evidence is amassing against the low tax model, and from some surprising quarters … A Little Bit of Alabama: On Australia’s Low Tax Consensus ; Mr Carmody should think a bit wider ("Tax man warns of waits for cuts under Beazley strategy," Herald, June 3). He only has to issue new tax schedules for the nine months beginning in September, giving a slightly increased cut for that period - that is, those on the lowest rate would get an $8 per week cut for 39 weeks instead of the proposed $6 per week for 52 weeks. I seem to recall the ATO doing something similar in the past. Albert Renshaw Gladesville Small change adds up ; Tax-cut-blocking strategy Van Gogh option falls on deaf ears