INCREASING FRUSTRATION WITH RELIGION IN GOVERNMENT INCREASES SECULAR PARTY MEMBERSHIP

20 NOVEMBER 2007

NSW Secretary and No. 2 NSW Senate Candidate John August comments:

"Over the past year or two I've talked to many Australians frustrated with the growing religious influence on Australian politics. It's like
a switch has been flipped inside them.

“Point of order Mister Speaker: I have a Warrant for the arrest of John Howard, Alexander Downer, Philip Ruddock, & Brendan Nelson as War Criminals.” said anti-war activist Peter McGregor from the vistor's gallery in Federal Parliament on Wednesday Sept 19. Peter McGregor, a retired academic from Newcastle, was himself then arrested, & charged with ‘unlawful entry on inclosed lands’ & taken into custody.

On July 5th Mcgregor attempted a Citizens Arrest of Attorney-General Philip Ruddock as a War Criminal at a law symposium at the University of NSW.

Poll: Should John Howard, Phillip Ruddock, Alexander Downer, and Brendan Nelson be arrested and tried for War Crimes?

Several thousand gathered outside the Sydney Town Hall between 9.30 and
10 am to protest against Bush, the war in Iraq and the Asia Pacific
Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum leaders meeting. There was a heavy
police presence with George, Pitt and Castlereagh streets barricaded by
Police buses and police lining the Park street route to Hyde Park
North. Despite the heavy police presence and provocation the rally and
march was largely peaceful.

See also: Police Violence at a Park Meeting, Rally Numbers, Burning the US Flag,
Police remove badges - more Police violence,
Media Coverage

Photos: Collage of Rally, Rally photos on Perth IMC

Videos: Speeches 1, Speeches 2, Rally and March, Police at APEC, Water Cannon Inaction

Two ice sculptures of Australian Prime Minister John Howard and President George Bush are touring round Sydney during the APEC forum slowly melting in the sun as a reminder of the impact of climate change and the failure of these two leaders to ratify the Kyoto Protocol or set firm target for greenhouse gas reduction.

The ice sculptures (watch video) were made for Make Poverty History – a coalition of more than 60 aid agencies, community groups and religious organisations – to highlight its report on 'APEC: An End to Extreme Poverty – An Alternative APEC Agenda.' (PDF 1.1MB)

The NSW Supreme Court granted Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione's application for an order to prevent Saturday's antiwar march moving from Town Hall down George Street, but qualified the decision with statements on people's right to free speech and assembly. Some reporters continue the media and police beat-up of 'violent protestors'.

The Stop the War Coalition are considering march options. Outside Court Alex Bainbridge said "our rally and demonstration will be going ahead. As we have always said we intend for this to be a peaceful protest. We have never ruled out non-violent civil disobedience." It is also likely that several banned protesters will defy police at Saturday's march regarding being placed on an exclusion list without judicial reason. Read more for summary to date....