There's an insidious invasion of populist BS taking over Australia, and it's being perpetuated by numpties in the press. Numpty is a word I learned today, and I'm rather liking it. I hope I'm using it in the correct context. I was having a browse of a Murdoch newspaper, and there's an article about 'Evil Aid', which is supposed to be some brain-bustingly clever pun on Legal Aid. If anyone reading this has been following my rants for the past few years on my previous blog, you might have gleaned my background is actually law. I have dealt with the Legal Aid Commission many a time, mostly positive, and sometimes wanting to go out and club baby seals after dealing with bureaucracy and red tape. I guess the clerks have to scrimp and scrounge when dealing with tax payers' money. Hell, I've even dated a Legal Aid solicitor (we're still mates). Now, what's got my gears grinding is the controversy the press is trying to stir up over the funding given to the convicted killer of Jill Meagher for an appeal. The appeal was dismissed, btw. Victim's families have been approached for quotes, and with all due respect and my heart out in their direction, they are hardly going to give an unbiased opinion, are they? And possibly not an informed one. Here's the thing: if someone is entitled to pursue an avenue to an appellate court, then they are entitled to do so. Somebody with legal nous no doubt looked at the grounds for this bloke's appeal, and made a considered and qualified opinion that there was possibly merit, and therefore the appeal was funded. Everybody is entitled to the best legal representation possible, and I am more than happy for my tax dollars to go to that funding. To the blowhards trying to whip up controversy, I say: Fucken deal with it.
As if keeping the news about asylum seeking boat arrivals from us isn't enough of a cat-kicker, the PM said that in relation to the possible strained relations between Australia and Indonesia the issue of boats will be a 'passing irritant'. Oh yeah, Mr Abbott. Boatloads of people fleeing persecution and putting themselves in danger to get to a safe haven, and breaking NO FRIGGING LAWS IN SEEKING ASYLUM, are just such pesky little things, aren't they?
I have to start practising reading some of my manuscript for the upcoming creative arts fair, but don't think I'll bother tonight.
On a lighter note, ladies of a certain age might be interested to know that today is Shaun Cassidy's birthday. Seriously, how bloody hot was that guy?
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