The State of Australian governance

Current policies harm people. The victims are victimised, some incarcerated without hope of release because of fear they may engage in acts of terrorism. Advice tended to ASIO by a discredited Sri Lankan government, who happened to be the winner of a cruel civil war. The deal being if we detain their nominees they will prevent asylum seekers coming to Australia by boat. How low can we go as a nation?

Deterrence amounts to an unconscionable and prolonged act of state bullying.

Asylum seekers have limited power. What power they have resides with the proper application of the UN Refugee Convention.

Why should kids on face book, in school or on the footy ground or netball court behave differently to the example being set by government; it should lead by example. It demonstrates cowardice in the face of challenge which in turn undermines social cohesion, one recent example being in sport.

Abbott has indicated he will return to Howard's policies on everything except Work Choices should he become prime minister. Incredibly he believes this is the issue that lost Howard the election. It was not. The electorate became very sick of Howard's inability to tell the truth.

Abbott is a strange man. He seems to need and enjoy the company of Cardinal Pell, the prelate of high Catholic Church office, who over the years has sought to cloud and obscure issues relating to acts of paedophilia committed by clergy of his faith in Australia, at the expense of the victims and their families. Pell has in common with Abbott a propensity to bully and to tinker with the truth.

The new Pope, Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was accused by some of ignoring the plight of victims of the military junta which terrorised Argentina in the late 1970's. In particular there was reference to two Jesuit priests who were detained, perhaps with the knowledge, or as some alleged the assistance of the new Pope. His defenders have been numerous including Cardinal Pell. He said on ABC radio that the allegations were investigated and dismissed by Amnesty International.

Contacted they replied, "In the case of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Amnesty International knows of a case opened in 2005 of the disappearance of two Jesuit priests, but has no documentation to prove or discount the participation of the new Pope in these events."

What does Abbott believe will be gained by bringing Cardinal Pell to centre stage of politics, particularly when Australia is a secular country?

Abbott is a bully and he encourages other bullies such as Scott Morrison, but as a bully he lacks substance. He has put forward few policies and nothing he has said indicates a capacity to be able to change Australia for the better. His bullying and blustering indicate yet another timid and weak leader.

Even before becoming Prime Minister, Abbott is behind the times. He is out of date and out of step with much of the electorate. His rise is due solely to the demise of Gillard.

Australia deserves better. It seems to me Australia, like Italy, achieves despite government.