Alternative Law Journal
Media Release
Volume 27, No. 4, August 2002
Alternative
Law Journal releases 'Truth in Law' issue
The August issue of the Alternative Law Journal
explores the concept of 'truth in law' in a variety of areas.
Rodney Allen examines terrorism and truth claiming
that 'if terrorism as such is a crime, one with a general definition,
then established and powerful nation states can be guilty of it too.'
And 'to be on the side of good against evil in the geo-politics of
the first decades of the 21st century it will not be sufficient just
to be anti-terrorist. Anti-terrorism can still be terrorism.' The
article also examines the similarities and differences between terrorist
and genocidal crimes.
Is the new Australia the liberal, open, democratic,
multicultural Australia it presents itself as being through various
cultural promotions? Or is it a country which is gradually becoming
more restrictive in its approaches to immigrants, less tolerant of
difference and lacking compassion for those who seek to find solace
within its shores? Cheryl Simpson asks 'which truth?' while
examining conflicting cultural and political images of Australia.
Judith Bessant outlines the criteria normally
used to assess the welfare of all children and young people and what
those criteria would imply when considering the circumstances of those
children and young people currently in Australian detention centres.
The idea that government ought itself to be subject to the rule of
law is a long standing and widely held liberal principle employed
to guard against the arbitrary exercise of power. The author argues
that the criteria for identifying when the welfare of children is
at risk, which are found in some 12 separate and current Australian
legislative enactments, point unequivocally to the serious plight
of young people in Australia's immigration detention centres.
What do we know from Victoria's experiment with privatisation,
and what has 20 years of privatisation around the world taught us?
Much, if we throw away the political rhetoric, the economic dogma
and the quick one liner and learn from the evidence. Graeme Hodge
argues it is timely to take stock and review learnings to date about
privatisation. He separates the privatisation rhetoric offered by
political and investment actors from the empirical realities of citizens
and consumers. There is a particular focus on Victoria's experience.
Also in this issue:
• the wife as legal subject in equity and commercial law
• prostitution law reform.
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