Today Kevin Andrews had this to say about the character of Dr. Mohamed Haneef.
His lawyers indicated to my department … that he wanted to get out of Australia as soon as possible. If anything that rather heightens, rather than lessens, my suspicions.
So, what did you think of the man that aroused such suspicion in the Minister for Immigration and Citizenship?
The whole ‘character test’ idea seems to be the delegation of critical decisions to Kevin Andrews’ personal gut feelings about a person he’s never met.
You gotta love Kevin Bloody Andrews. Faced with the prospect of being the scapegoat for this snafu (at least three times in the last few days the PM has emphasised that s 503 is Andrews’ decision alone) he’s still reading sinister motives into everything.
Watched the interview, and must say that the Minister and Mick Keelty must resign promptly on Monday morning. This was a monumental own goal.
Haneef is more than credible he is a gentlemen.
“…he wanted to get out of Australia as soon as possible. If anything that rather heightens, rather than lessens, my suspicions”
Yes, but what suspicions? The suspicion, Kevin, that you have ruined a good, innocent, doctor’s career?
I think that it is now time for Andrews to become another scapegoat. When the Rodent is cornered, anyone can be jettisoned.
Andrews and Campbell can hold hands on the backbench.
Rudd is sitting on the sidelines watching the ‘master politician’ at work?
Haneef wants to come back, after seeing this if I were Kevin Rudd I’d make the pledge that if he won Govt that he would do that, it’s cheap political capital I know but the Govt has totally self destructed on this and now is the time to apply the coup de gras on this issue.
I’m totally mystified at Andrews’s remark about his suspicions. What suspicions would these be? If you’re genuinely suspicious about the man, why on earth would you give him back his passport and allow him to leave. If Andrews does get cast adrift (and what a fine idea it is), it’d be really nice to think he’d take a few with him. Ruddock and Howard for starters.
And while we’re casting stones, where are the Georgiou-small ‘l’ liberals on this? Their silence is deafening.
“His lawyers indicated to my department … that he wanted to get out of Australia as soon as possible.”
For just a moment there I thought Andrews was referring to Howard and not Haneef.
How anyone with an ounce of intellligence could think Haneef was a terrorist after watching this soft,sincere man in the 60 minutes interview
Yes ’suspicious’ that he had to leave because he had a newborn child and his visa was cancelled.
They should give Kevin Andrews a new portfolio. Maybe make him the Minister for Fuck Ups. First WorkChoices and now this. I wonder how much damage his incompetence has done to the Liberals chances.
60 Minutes is watched by middle Australia and I’m sure this will have at least an atmospheric impact in that a lot of folks would be sitting there saying “you’ve got to be kidding! This guy is no terrorist”
Goodbye Kevin.
(** Crosses fingers**)
** Only because we no longer have Ministerial responsibility.
Gosh, I don’t know… wanted to see his family? Not enamoured of this country at the moment after the way he’s been treated?
This tells us a lot more about Andrews’ character than Haneef’s.
I knew eventually 60 Minutes would be good for something!
Let Rudd continue to poison himself,after all, would you want to be treated in hospital by Rudd!? Haneef is very lucky,he knows many Australians supported him,and his Government was ready to act. Seeing India is somewhat of a superpower in comparison to ourselves,and I am opposed to their agreement with the U.S.A.,not because I think India irresponsible,but signing on now would mean a attitude that needs to be enforced,rather than denied..with the U.S.A. as a agreement partner.Both Labor and Liberals having quite got round to in a way that resonates with Australians and the Indian population, that, this relationship is important at a individual level.We cannot go on exchanging rapists and child molesters,and have to admit that there is an obligation on Nationals whereever they are. Haneef would not want to comeback if he had a serious obligation to terrorism,but, have Australians got a commitment not to be terrorised and accept that as fate when Uncle Sam reaches out with more than medical isotopes!? I think they are trying to poison off the Russian Indian relationship..we dont need that in our neighbourhood thanks. No nukes makes common sense.Haneef has been a pawn in a greater game and the mushrooms could of also included Andrews who doesnt seem too smart also.
In political terms, Rudd should continue his present course.
Put simply, he should stay out of it. Haneef in the minds of most punters still looks ’suspicious’. He is a Muslim. He has a beard. He departed (original intention and at the first opportunity} in haste. And as any terrorist expert will tell you:
is crucial to the terrorist persona.
Rudd is playing the smart political game; much as I detest it.
Had Kevin Andrew been able to brandish a blood srained confession note from Haneef admitting to terrorist acts a fortnight ago, none of this would be happening today.
Australia’s terrorist laws need to be modified and strengthened so that the archaic laws can no longer interfere with the lawful interrogation of terrorists. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.
No more truer words were said than by Tara Brown in a sound bite for that interview. “No one has walked away with more dignity from the incident than Haneef”.
Contrast the gentle young face of Haneef on 60 Minutes to the rough evil looking drawings in the right wing print media.
The only thing suspicious in this whole fiasco is the politically motivated actions of Andrews, Bugg, “Lap Dogâ€? Keelty, Ruddock and, of course, John Winston Howard. The only reason the case collapsed, IMO, is because Rudd refused to take the bait and fall for a wedge.
Gee, I have no idea why he would want to leave now. Perhaps because he was on his way out to see his new family when he was picked up in the first place. Surely it would arouse more suspicion if he suddenly didn’t want to leave?
Oh, plus the cops wrecked his apartment and his landlord evicted him. On ya Kev.
Kevin Andrews faces his own character test at the hands of the Australian people later this year; Bring.it.on.
Bloody hell. If I’d been treated as Haneef has been treated, I’d have been out of here as fast as I could.
After all, the capricious Andrews might find a new excuse to lock me up.
Gobshites. They make me furious.
There’s this nifty move in judo where you let your opponent’s attack carry him thru face-planted into the mat. The attack has to be crude and badly formulated for this passive defensive move to work.
Howard meet mat. Rudd wins.
And Haneef is some classy guy:
New born baby; worried wife and family; treated abominably; career in jeopardy; smeared incessantly by Howard’s flunkies at the GG and elsewhere and he says:
and he wants TO GO HOME—FFS!!!
The inherent ‘guilt’ of it Mr Andrews, standing out like dogs balls, ONLY to you!
I agree with Mark, it tells us more about Andrews than Haneef.
Beatty is the other person who comes up smelling of roses in this case, giving Andrews another serve on Network 10:
In similar circumstances I’d be very shat off with Australia, & would get out of the country asap.
Be interested to see if he ever returns.
I still come back to the briefing given to KR. Was it any more than Andrew’s gut feelings, or more likely just doing what JWH wanted done to create an issue. Come on boys let us all share your the same information, you can trust us not to tell anyone else.
Andrews is claiming he “may release the protected information which he used as the basis for his decision to cancel the visa of Dr Mohamed Haneef” in the near future.
I wonder if that protected information is going to be as convincing, as, say, the ONA report that became famous in the children overboard affair?
The Condom National Terrorist Security (CNTS) policy of the Howard government: Withholding production and giving a false sense of security to a mob of pricks being stuffed.
Rudd would do very well to stay right out of this as I can guarantee as soon as he bites they will come out with some fantastic bullshit secret evidence and then make Rudd look like a dill.
I would not put it past this govt to come out with some concocted evidence just to save some face. It will of course after the election seen to be in error. Much in the way they used faked evidence in Parliament to character assasinate Justice Kirby.
You would think Kevin Andrews would show some humility after such a flawed and, for Haneef, destructive process – especially given that it has been largely driven by the minister himself. That Andrews chooses instead to cast further suspicion on Haneef because of his departure just reinforces that the flaws in the process were not simply accidents, but the signs of a fatally impaired judgment coupled with a pathological case of political expedience.
How does the minister reconcile his suspicion with the fact that the charges were dropped after a review showing there was insufficient evidence to sustain them? Kevin Andrews must resign, but the focus must remain on the government on this issue right up to the election. Mr Rudd, where the bloody hell are you?
Fire Kevin Andrews facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10674883784
Yeah, he should have stuck around to see what face-saving new charges the government could invent.
I see Ruddock wants to ban books containing insurrectionist history now. In case mad people read them, or some equally ludicrous wedge replacement. You know, the dangerous messages of 1776, East Timor’s liberation struggle, and Nelson Mandela’s ‘terrorism’.
Those whom the Gods would destroy…
Do you think these clowns realise they just went under for the third time? They cant be taken seriously on national security. Nice one Kev!
Rudd has come through with flying colours. The overall message is: He agrees its a priority - but feels it may work better if the relevant Minister wasn’t, say, Bozo the Adenoidal Clown.
Dead Government Walking.
Kevin Andrews excuse should be obvious. I’m off to bed now. But when I wake up all I want to see in tomorrow’s papers is the headline:
Andrews’ Defence: An older boy told me to do it!
Lomandra, you said
Yea verily and amen!!! Me too!!!
Phil:
I haven’t the foggiest idea if Dr. Mohd. Haneef is guilty, innocent or otherwise [However, he did deserve to be questioned - swiftly, thoroughly and professionally - over possible associations with terrorists and over the perception that his behavior was suspicious …. and then either released or charged].
What is crystal-clear from this whole farce is that -
[1] A ten-tonne truck can be driven straight through all the holes in the vicious half-baked “anti-terror” laws. [2] The legal system in Australia is incapable of dragging itself out of the 19th Century and into the 21st. whereas the terrorists have proven that they can move at internet speed and adapt very rapidly to changing situations. [3] It doesn’t matter if you are innocent or guilty - you can still get caught up in this cockeyed system.
And [4] Conventient scapegoats in the Australian Federal Police and in the DPP will be found [or invented] and sacrificed in the media’s circus maximus - whilst no penalties at all will be imposed on the real culprits …. whom I believe are the staff of faculties of Law and certain prominent lawyers who, for decades, have fostered the culture of sloppiness, laziness, obscurantism, wilful ignorance and tardiness that got Australia into this current scandal.
Terrorists everywhere must be rejoicing at our fumbling.
I can visualise some book burning in the future if this lot gets back in LeftyE, but then AG Dracula might have to burn some of those tubes on the Inter-Tubes as well. Google might complain when Dracula legislates to forbid searches beginning with “B” for ‘boemb’ [Inspector Clouseau terminology] and “T” for terrorist.
Mind you, there will have to a re-write of some Children’s books, like “The Wind Schuttle in the Willows” for example, but “The Official Version of History” for Schools edited by John Winston Howard might be something he does in his retirement rather than roll out of the GG’s book publishing division anytime soon.
And according to Jon on RTS, apparently Andrews said just yesterday that:
“After taking advice, including from the Australian Federal Police, I have indicated that the Commonwealth has no objection to Dr Haneef leaving Australia. Indeed the effect of the visa cancellation is that he should remove himself, he should depart Australia in any event.�
http://www.roadtosurfdom.com/2007/07/27/detention-at-ministerial-pleasure/#comment-322384
I’m not surprised that Andrews is set to be the scapegoat for this one; he’s non-essential to Howard, played the most egregious part in the Haneef affair (but was far from the only Minister to do the wrong thing), and he was already under fire from many, so the PM just has to join the chorus. What astounds me, though, is that he’s still trying to play on suspicion that Haneef may be a terrorist, and using something as obvious as the “he was running away, so he must be guilty of something” gambit.
Now that Haneef has told (and been paid for) his story, I wonder whether we’ll see Ruddock try to change the proceeds of crime laws to apply to those who haven’t been convicted. I’m sure that’s the kind of tightening our legislation needs to protect us from the terrorist threat.
Don’t we have some laws in this country that we could enforce, to prevent ignorant, incompetent, paranoid racists operating in influential decision-making and opinion-forming positions in government, the police and the media?
Abbott defends Andrews:
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22153043-5005961,00.html
FFS, LeftyE, there’s 64,900,000 google entries for ‘boemb’; 255,000 entries for “glorify terrorism” that Attorney General Clouseau will have to expunge from Google! I guess he’ll have a mountain of work at Yahoo as well.
(Could be a certain US Senator volunteers to help with his hacksaw, f***en Tubes are everywhere.)
We need legisaltion to protect us from our government.
Who’s running the country while these half-arsed clowns pull idiot wedge stunts all days?
Im sure the Chinese could help Phil out, Peter.
I believe its called “Google Correct”.
Haneef is more than credible he is a gentlemen
Like GB I have no idea whether this guy is a crook either. I am amazed that you (Phil) can be so confident that he isn’t. How do you think his second cousin (currently in the burns ward in UK) would interview? What would be the giveaways that he was a failed mass murderer? These guys are both doctors, so of course they project well. And anyway, don’t you trust Kevin’s judgement on the appropriateness of revoking the guy’s visa?
I just don’t think there is much of a story here. The police obviously stuffed up, but that is hardly uncommon. And a work visa has been revoked. So what? Visas are a privilege. Bring in another doctor - or better still, train a local.
Kevin Andrews. What a dope.
He’s still banging away, trying to support his Visa-pulling stunt, when blind Freddie (who was probably listening to, if not watching 60 Minutes) out there in voterland, can see that Haneef’s no terrorist.
The ground disappeared beneath Andrews’ feet days ago and he’s still trying to tap-dance.
Don’t reckon he’ll be a Minsiter after tomorrow.
Howard will use the policical equivalent of the Vaudeville hook to get him off-stage before he buries the Liberals even deeper.
If Anrew’s is sacrificed I wonder at the continued cohesion within the Liberal party? For this reason we might get govt friendly Galaxy - they might just do their polling in the right areas.
Now we have to wonder how far the Coalition is willing to go, given Rudd’s ability to pick the wedges and avoid them. Will they become extreme? Will we get some bizar revelations about Rudd? Will some looney Liberal party supporter go and blow something up or make threatening phone calls? Will Howard bring in subscription as a wedge or nominate the Pope as GG. Will Andrews and Ruddock come out of the closet together and admit they are androids.
God forbid if this government is returned. Goodbye justice and democracy.
Andyc:
We probably do have a heap of laws, policies, regulations and guidelines to keep ignorant, incompetent racits out of such positions …. but like so much else in Howard’s Soviet Australia, they are conveniently ignored.
Graham Bell: my question was a mite rhetorical, and I agree with you completely.
Lefty E“We need legisaltion to protect us from our government.”
Well said. That is what Constitutions are for. We need a proper one.
“Who’s running the country while these half-arsed clowns pull idiot wedge stunts all days?”
The clowns’ puppetmasters, presumably, to mix metaphors.
But then, it could be argued that a country which allows foreign companies to ship out its considerable mineral wealth, minimally processed, allows water-hungry crops to be grown in semi-desert, and prefers to buy in skilled people and manufactured goods rather than invest in producing its own, can hardly be regarded as “run” by anyone…
I can’t see Andrews being sacrificed. It’d be an admission of a serious fuckup.
This is different to the sacking of Ian Campbell. In the Campbell case, Campbell had done something that the govt said should have been a sacking offence when Rudd did it - i.e. he met with Brian Burke.
There’s no parallel in the Andrews case. Andrews and the rest of them just did the standard fuckup, and the opposition didn’t get involved in it one way or the other. So it’s just bury it under the carpet time.
Howard and co still hope against hope that next time they will pull a rabbit out of that hat that ain’t had no rabbits in it for quite some time now.
PeterTB, the lack of evidence against Haneef supports my judgment. He acknowledges his family and it’s connections etc, he has concern for his cousins parents who are also doctors and respectable members of their community. The reality is that you can pick you friends, not your family. Once that was established he should have been released.
Matt Price had a good column today where he says no one begrudges the initial detention, I agree, I don’t and I’m sure that Haneef doesn’t either, it was understandable. But once past that stage there was unwarranted politicisation of the man. Kafka would be so proud.
BTW I have a side point. What is not understandable on the part of the AFP is the lack of understanding of how South Asian family structures work - the cultural chasm is enormous. Especially how they travel and the nature of remittences.
The responsibilities are extensive and specific, the other family member sent here was appointed by the families because he had anglo western experience, he’d only met Haneef for a few hours in the past, but his responsibilities meant that he could not say no.
For reasons I won’t go into here I have some some idea about this, when I first heard of the connections and what they entailed I knew right away that they had that bit wrong too.
The man is innocent and a victim of circumstance, I have nothing but contempt for anyone not accepting that. And that includes the minister.
The Government Gazette is now going for Andrews too:
Looks like he is being cut adrift and will probably take a dive (to mix metaphors), and so he should.
Go back 3 weeks - see who said what. End of discussion.
GALAXY 54 per cent to the government’s 46 per cent.
What I expected and conveniently 1% lower than 55/45 from before.
Problem is Galaxy hasnt covered itself in glory this year.
Trying to think what great things the govt has done to increase its votes in the past week..haha.
Morgan was 59/41 Newspoll 55/45? Since then the govt has been self-destructing. So what is going on with this Galaxy?
Cheer up Kina any week that no progress is made by the Federal Government is a good week and the Icing will come with the infighting and panic as their more distance supporters smell a rat and dessert them.
It’s plain that Andrews is heavily emotionally invested in saving his own face and cannot be taken seriously as as an unbiased commentator.
“Dead Government Walking.” Lefty E, that’s beautiful.
Q. How can you tell when a goverment has become cheap Political Mayonnaise?
A. When it’s a 60 cent spread.
CBet: Labor 1.65 Coalition 2.25.
Meanwhile, Howard govt. Minister Andrews, a long time situational ethicist, is pondering the possibility of his imminent political euthanasia. Everyone wishes him well.
everyone had a good time laughing at the government? and you think kevvie is different?
the australian government accurately reflects the education and character of the people. you get a government like this, when you are people willing to submit to political gangs.
it’s going to get worse, because you’re too ignorant, too lazy, too self indulgent to get off your bums and make yourselves into citizens.
Well actually we have a thing called the common law that used to do the job. To defend us from the Terrorist Threat at Our Doorstep (HT Miranda Devine), legislation has been passed to degrade that protection. I don’t recall Labor opposing the legislation and Rudd has confirmed that Labor won’t be changing it if they win government.
Does anyone seriously want to argue that all potential ALP ministers could be trusted to do a better job than Andrews?
No, but who was responsible for immediately giving the names, addresses, personal details etc of all concerned, both in Queensland and WA, to the media, thus creating a major political story?
Dear oh Dear, the GG has joined the brigade to put Andrews in the Outer Barcoo Ministry.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22155705-601,00.html
The ALP knows that the wedgeability of the issue has gone up in a puff of smoke:
Some ministerial accountability is about to be necessarily if belatedly applied, but as we all know, the puppet master will have no regrets in casting Andrews aside, in the National interest of the LNP of course.
The worm will turn, even at the Government Gazette, but with Albrechsten sucking on the lone hind teat of fear mongering on this occasion with “No Time to Lose our Nerve.”
The responsibilities are extensive and specific, the other family member sent here was appointed by the families because he had anglo western experience, he’d only met Haneef for a few hours in the past, but his responsibilities meant that he could not say no.
This is generally the attitude of 99.9% of Muslims. They feel duty-bound to help humans with whom they realise they share an inner divinity. Eg. If they see someone engaging in self abuse, they feel compelled to do or say something to help stop that person abusing his body and his spirit–which they share. Non-Muslim westerners have a ‘mind my own business / nothing to do with me / not my problem’ attitude, even towards family members. Perhaps especially towards family members.
I’m not at odds with a ‘live and let live’ attitude necessarily, but I greatly admire Muslims for not running with the selfish individualism theme the west is characterised by (that will probably turn out to be its undoing). We talk about the importance of ‘communities’ because we know we cannot survive without each other. I think however the ‘I’m alright jack’ mentality is actually more in line with the prevailing reality.
We have thoroughly demonised one of the most humane groups of people on the planet.
Tch.
Jesus wept.
(As well he might).
Well said Link. It’s a sad reflection on humanity that while individuals may nurture their own demons, the propensity to demonise groups is a major part of the tool kit of politicians.
Poor old Andrews, couldn’t make the grade with WorkChoices, now he’s stuffed up WedgeChoices.
Q. How can you tell when a goverment has become cheap Political Margarine?
A. When it’s front bench is 60 cent poly-moronsaturated.
So NOBODY is accountable for this stuff up? Not Andrews, Ruddock, Howard, the DPP nor the AFP?
There is consensus this case has been badly mishandled and politically motivated and Howard’s much vaunted anti terror laws are a dog’s breakfast.
Quite clearly we have an unaccountable Government, Executive (ministers) and public service. So much for Westminster government and democracy.
This whole rotten mess needs a complete overall. Tossing out the nuff nuffs would be a good start.
Maybe Andrews is a double scapegoat.
Once for Howard.
Secondly for deeply flawed legislation.
Is anyone meaningfully debtaing the merits of the legislation?
I notice on the radio this morning that Beattie is talking about an apology to Haneef. Labor federally (Senator Ludwig) was talking about an “external review” of the DPP role and for Andrews to explain himself. But they are still being very careful and proper wrt to legal processes currently in train:
That last bit, the AFP further investigations, looks like backside covering to me.
There has still been a tendency to say (including by Channel 9) that Haneef gave his SIM card to a terrorist suspect, which appears to be quite untrue.
Goes nicely with Dead Man Jogging.
Nothing proves that the entire actions by the government on Haneef were a political wedge than Andrews this morning stating he may, after getting advice, “selectively” release some of the secret information he has that proves he was right in cancelling Haneef’s visa.
This wouldn’t be the secret information that wasn’t given to Kevin Rudd in his brief on the situation and was being held back for the moment Kevin went into the fray? Kevin is just now starting to make the right noises on this affair, again on the proviso the entire information on Haneef is released. Kevin played the dead bat perfectly and allowed enough string to be paid out for the government to hang itself.
Just heard on the radio Downer trying to blame shift to the AFP and away from the government, by stating that the government bought in tough and necessary anti-terrorist laws but it was solely up to the AFP to enforce them.
The media and politicians started the rot when they consistently called these murderers terrorists ‘Mulsim terrorists’ therby maligning a whole religion and population plus giving credibility and glory to the animal killers. They should have simply called them terrorists, anti-human terrorists, murderers etc from the begining. The terrorists loved the fact that we kept identifying their acts with ‘Muslim’ - a call to arms for some, helping to divided communities in western societies etc … all from name calling at the begining. And of course Howard enjoyed helping the xenophobia and intolerance along as well.
Is Downer too dense to notice that it has already been established that government mininsters, namely Ruddock and Andrews, have already admitted sitting on evidence that may have been material in determining the outcome of Dr Haneef’s bail hearing?
And it is on the public record that the National Security Committee of the Federal Cabinet, which includes Howard, Ruddock and Andrews, met to set government strategy on this issue.
In other words, contrary to Downer’s denials, this process was thoroughly politicised from the beginning.
So much for separation of powers.
Downer has misled the Australian people and must resign.
I do not understand the logic of Minister Andrews. He revoked Dr Haneef’s visa and did not restore it even when the charges were dropped.
If Dr Haneef does not have a visa and is unable to work how can he support himself in Australia? Will he be allowed to apply to Centrelink or does the government expect him to grateful to stay in Australia at Villawood?
What would a sane person do? Agree to stay in Villawood for an indeterminate period or go back home to freedom, family and friends.
What is suspicious about this? I think this minister is clutching at straws and his behaviour and that of the Howard government is downright despicable .
How strange that the Murdoch papers are taking the lead in going for Andrews’ throat: about time.
AndrewE it’s because it’s screwed up their precious national security narrative on how the Coalition is the only party that can be trusted to save us from the Muslim hordes that help give us medical care
Don’t you love this from Bonsai and Dolly ?
“I don’t think that the Australian authorities victimised him – I reject that,” Mr Howard said in Sydney today.
Mr Howard said Australia would not be apologising to Dr Haneef, rejecting suggestions the doctor was victimised.
Foreign Minister Alexander Downer was blunter.
“What do you expect them to do - fall on the ground and grovel, eat dirt? I mean, get real,” he said today.
I suggest this tune for both of them.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aqx9moZh6kg (YouTube)
I’d suggest that reality is a concept with which Alexander Downer has but a passing acquaintance.
Not difficult to predict that an apology was not exactly on the agenda for this pack of grubs.
We decide who leaves this country and the manner in which they leave.
Get real indeed!
Hands up all those who are surprised that Janet Albrechtsen has commited a logical flaw whose effects are favourable to the position of the discredited Federal Government?
None surprised? I thought not.
Albrechtsen has commited the stale old false dichotomy illogicality.
Albrechtsen appears to need reminding that the Lindy Chamberlain case aroused huge concern on at least two issues:
1. The prejudicial effects of media coverage.
2. Uncritical acceptance of forensic evidence (e.g., the so-called foetal blood that turned out to be be sound-proffing compound.)
And so we fast forward a quarter of a century and what do we find causing huge concern in the Haneef case?
1. The prejudicial effects of media coverage, as manimuplated by government and law enforcement authorities.
2. Uncritical acceptance of untested evidence, as manipulated by government and law enforcement authorities.
Looks like Chamberlain’s dingo has bitten Albrechtsen on the bum!
Its pretty clear that senior libs believe the Haneef episode is playing well in the moron demographic.
Maybe they’re right - but they’re losing a doctor’s wife for every talkback patsy they win.
More importantly, they’ve lost the smarter RWDB opinion makers (eg Faris, the GG), who smell the stench of rank incompetence and don’t want to be associated.
I think that this confirms that Kevin Andrews is unable to perform his duties as Minister for Immigration because this paranoid idiot is not capable of holding a “reasonable” suspicion.
This is what I think Howard et al. were relying on as irrefutable evidence of Haneef’s ‘bad character’.
I’d like to know how an unreviewable ’suspicion’, taken in secret, and apparently based on information not provided to the court of law reviewing the case qualifies as “reasonable” in any sense of the word, let alone in a democracy based on rule of law.
I agree. Traction with the moron demographic can be the only reason Andrews is pursuing his ridiculous line, as everybody else sees it for what it is.
The GG may be going Andrews because they have smelt blood and are part of the scapegoating exercise.
Still nobody accountable for the stuff up. Just some “secret intelligence” that Andrews claims justifies his approach. And more smears and disinformation from him and the AFP on “still continuing investigations”.
Well that’s one more dud rabbit out of the hat. How many more will we see?
Has “Herr Rudd2dick gone overseas?
The average gestation period for a human is 9 months. One assumes that Dr Haneef has a reasonable idea when his wife was going to give birth and would have booked his flight/leave well in advance. There was no medical emergency that dictated emergency-leave. To suddenly pack bags and get a one way ticket out of Australia at a moments notice is slightly suspicious to say the least.
Dezza,
Nice try, thanks for playing. Don’t you have a cabinet department to be running?
As far as the one-way ticket - I suggest you try flying overseas with a “flexible” return ticket. The airlines make it almost impossible to use. If you are genuinely not sure when you’ll be back (like, for instance, if you have a newborn baby that is unwell) getting a one way ticket is about your only option.
No-one is saying the police were wrong to at least question him initially. The problem is that once it became clear that they had nothing, nothing at all, the correct thing to do was to release him. Instead, the Minister for Fixed Staring Into The Middle Distance met with his superiors in cabinet and decided to turn this into political theatre.
On the subject, I haven’t seen this piece mentioned anywhere. Keelty is pulling the full Rodent here - it’s everyone else’s fault, and for a bonus, there’s a shot of him jogging.
From that piece, btw, is this magnificent quote that almost beats Andrews for sheer gall:
Mr Keelty said the case had been “poorly handled by some sections of the media”.
Dezza, the range of delivery dates in a normal, healthy, term pregnancy spans at least a month. It’s entirely reasonable that Dr Haneef may not have felt he had enough money/leave time to take six weeks or so off work on the odd chance that his wife would deliver within that time frame.
Similarly, it’s feasible that he planned to visit home a little later if all was well, and that the early delivery, emergency C section, and ill baby changed his mind.
Junior medical training programs don’t just offer unlimited leave whenever doctors feel like it, and even if leave is available, it can be difficult to complete all the mandatory rotations for a training program’s requirements if a doctor takes substantial time off in the middle of it.
Either way - the point is, it’s none of anyone else’s damn business. Free people can travel internationally whenever they like, without being forced to explain their reasons in detail to you, the government, or anyone else’s satisfaction.
What a fart in the bath all this is. And what a bunch of drama queens you are. Friend and relative of international terrorists gets questioned and charged. After a couple of weeks, prosecution case too weak to take to trial, charges dropped, man goes free.
NEXT! This happens all the time. Haneef is lucky he was in Australia. If he’d been suspected in India, he wouldn’t be seeing his baby for many moons yet.
Spotted this on Tim Dunlop’s site. Thought it might lighten the mood and provide a humerous side to the issue.
John Howard, the wizard of spin, the Shane Warne of Australian politics comes in at the kiribilly end to bowl the final ball of the over to crafty right-hand batsman, Rudd.
“Smack�, Rudd to mid on, takes a quick single.
Andrews, the slow/medium pacer comes on at the Dr Kaneef end to deliver his typical Howard delivery into his own half of the pitch.
“Wack�, six, what a shot by Rudd, all he did was hold his bat out in front of him and the bounce of the ball from Andrews did all the damage.
What a game!
This test looks like turning out much different to the previous 4 that were won convincingly by the experienced Howard team.
Rudd and his team mates seem to have learnt quite a lot from the L/NP teams tactics and are turning it against them.
Labor, none for 780, L/NP all out for 51, what a match.
What will Rudd do with the next delivery from Andrews? Will Howard be forced to take him off if Rudd decides to really take to him and hit six 6’s off his bowling in this over?
We all wait the outcome with baited breath.
And this one.
Welcome back to the SCG. Your commentators through to stumps are Richie Bentlow and Bill Unreliable.
Well Richie, how do you see the game unfolding, given the extraordinary happenings over the last few days?
It is quite extraordinary Bill, during the Tea break, I mingled amongst the crowd in the Haneef stand and found in general a lot of support for the tactics that Rudd’s team have been adopting in this match.
At the moment, 56% believe that Rudd’s team will win the match whereas only 44% think that Howard has any chance of pulling the match out of the fire being directed towards them.
Nevertheless Richie, as the old saying goes, “it’s not over till the fat lady sings�, and I thought I heard her warming up back in the Rudd changing room.
Yeah, Bill, its certainly turning into one hell of a cracker match eh?
Dezza: I think the story was that Haneef’s father in law bought the ticket because Haneef didnt have any money. Also the child was born by CZ, went home and had to go back into hospital because of jaundice or some such thing. He booked the time off with his employer no secret and even discussed the birth on-line.
It is truly unfair to say it is supicious. I have had to book an emergency flight for similar reasons. I have also tried to use open tickets in the past - but found it impossible to get a seat back to Australia on stand-by in Singapore. Never do that again! Not easy sleeping on their floors.
I think we need to avoid looking for sinister actions in everyday events to simply justify a pre-held position such as Andrews has stuck himself with.
Andrew E says: “How strange that the Murdoch papers are taking the lead in going for Andrews’ throat…”
Noticed that myself this morning too….and nearly choked on my wheeties.
I reckon the penny’s finally dropped at the Government Gazette that Howard’s finished and they’re thrashing about, trying to regain a bit of credibility with an electorate that’s fixing to bury the old coot in a few short months. Thus the backflip with reverse spin.
So far as I’m concerned, after years of servile sucking-up to Howard and his loathesome mob, they’ve a whole lot more to do before I’ll have any time for the spinmeisters at the GG.