The wrong signal for Asia’s firing squads

Simply taking, and defending, a principled position would be a step forward, and would give Australia the moral credibility to argue for the lives of its own citizens.

Both Howard and Rudd have been trying to walk both sides of the issue, courting the part of the electorate that supports the death penalty, while arguing they haven’t abandoned a long-standing and bipartisan human rights policy.

My message to the Prime Minister is this: it isn’t possible. This sort of populism at home will backfire in the region.

If the government’s highest priority is saving Australian citizens from the noose and firing squad in Asia, which it should be, its hypocrisy will only undermine these efforts. As it has in the past, this inconsistency will put Australian lives at risk.

Is it too much to expect the Australian Government to have a view that no execution is acceptable, and to say it out loud when asked?