Sadly, unemployment in Australia is at a quite unacceptable level, bringing with it financial hardship and emotional trauma. Yet the politicians who collectively caused this mess, far from seeking to rectify the problem or even to discuss it meaningfully, focus instead on relatively minor issues, such as the design of the Australian flag. They try to divert the attention of the electorate by raising cosmetic questions, such as: "Should Australia become a republic?" The correct answer may well be "yes", but the priorities of those who raise it leave a lot to be desired. Even in the context of constitutional reform generally, other topics - such as the abolition of the States - are much more worthy of early detailed attention. This said, it is pleasing to note that the Republican Party of Australia started its "Statement of Principles and Values" as follows: "We are committed to the application of reason and science to the understanding of the universe and to the solving of human problems." Less impressive are the actions of the religious bigots who protest against the ordination of women - a minor issue - but not against the major outrages being conducted in the name of religion - for example, the IRA bombing of innocent women and children in London, or even the incitement to the murder of a well-known author by Islamic fundamentalists. The "ordination of women" question also raises another matter of concern. The tying up of Australian courts in attempts to solve the internal problems of what is really a private club constitutes a crass waste of scarce resources. The queues of people wanting justice from the courts in cases involving much more important issues are already tragically long. Another case which involved the rights of women and which has religious overtones surfaced some time ago. An unsuccessful attempt was made to force a municipality to introduce in its public baths sessions confined exclusively to women - partly for the benefit of Islamic women who wanted this exclusivity for reasons connected with their superstitious beliefs. It seemed quite illogical that some of those who had fought hard for the adoption of anti-discrimination legislation in earlier times should then agitate for a specific act of discrimination affecting a community-owned resource. They might have been better off working for the repeal of the whole expensive legislation, which is just one more example of how the nation's resources are being devoted to cosmetic trivia instead of to significant real issues. |