Prev
Next

Bali survivor: Bashir’s 15 year sentence is much too soft

Anthony Sharwood

by Anthony Sharwood

17 Jun 05:45am

Must Reads

Booyah for boobs, booze, brotherhood and bikies! - this is a caption

Booyah for boobs, booze, brotherhood and bikies!

80

Labor’s new strategy of Speaking No Evil - this is a caption

Labor’s new strategy of Speaking No Evil

100

A few good men and The Gaps they face - this is a caption

A few good men and The Gaps they face

44

Filed under: Abu Bakar Bashir, Bali Bombings, Indonesia, Sentencing, Terrorism

123 comments

So radical Indonesian cleric Abu Bakar Bashir will spend the next 15 years eating porridge, or bubur as rice porridge is known in Indonesia. It is not long enough. The only thing softer than bubur is his sentence.

Eat gruel, sucker

In the mid 2000s, Bashir served 26 months of a 30 month sentence for being part of an “evil conspiracy” behind the Bali Bombings. Many felt he should have been put away for life then.

Bashir has just been found “legally and convincingly guilty” of planning and motivating others to commit terrorism, and of using violence or the threat of violence to create fear. Well, how does all that warrant a meagre 15 years when Schappelle Corby copped 20 for her boogie board bag full of dope?

The Punch contacted a source at the Coogee Dolphins Rugby League Club Thursday evening, as soon as the news of the Bashir verdict came through. The Dolphins, you’ll recall, are one of the amateur sporting clubs affected by the Bali bombing. They lost six members, and symbolise the tragedy in the eyes of many people.

The source we spoke to is an original foundation member of the club. He preferred not to be named, but his message was unmistakeably clear.

“It’s not long enough. They should have got rid of him.”

We pointed out that at age 72, Bashir will likely spend the rest of his life in jail, but our source was adamant that death is the only suitable punishment.

“Hang him,” our source replied. “He’ll still control and organise things from inside of jail.”

As we write this, an expert on Sky News is confirming that Indonesian prisons are hotbeds of terrorist organisation, with well-established networks of Jihadists on the inside.

Meanwhile, our source at the Dolphins says that the 15 year sentence is insufficient to ease the pain of Bali.

“For me, there is no closure, I don’t even know if I hold Bashir directly responsible for Bali, but I can never forgive him for his role.”

“I just feel sorry for the parents who can never put this behind them.”

While it is presumptuous in the extreme for Australians to ponder the vagaries of the Indonesian justice system, it’s hard not to feel a little mystified this evening.

Bashir funded a paramilitary terrorist training camp in Aceh. One of the formal charges against him was “incitement to commit terror”. That usually carries the death penalty in Indonesia. Why did prosecutors not proceed with this?

And what more did Bashir have to do to be put away for life?

Most commented

271Class war: sounds crazy but it just might work
270Modern Christians can trump Bible thumping fundies
266Even New Zealand supports gay marriage
263Climate change and the crisis of communication
257Tell it to the court, Craig
24112 bigger issues than gay change and climate marriage
222Welfare for breeders is a bonus for everyone
214Voters won't forget the way Labor has conducted itself

123 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • Leopard says:

      06:25pm | 16/06/11

      He should be hanged

      Reply

    • ZSRenn says:

      07:10am | 17/06/11

      20 years for pot
      15 years for mass murder
      Indonesia is laughing at us
      Too bad we don’t have a Prime Minister with the balls to tell Indonesia where to shove it!

    • acotrel says:

      08:04am | 17/06/11

      He should be given 15 years hard labour in an abattoir?

    • Vaunted says:

      11:13am | 17/06/11

      Martyrdom for Bashir is too lenient, it’s probably what he wants, Let him rot in jail. If he survives even 15 years he will be too old to care about 27 virgins and they probably took that into account.

    • Jordan Rastrick says:

      01:20pm | 17/06/11

      “15 years for mass murder”

      Its not mass murder. Bashir has not been successfully prosecuted for his links to any specific terroist act, precisely because those links are hard to prove.

      The charge is incitement - essentially encouraging people to be terroists, which is not as serious a charge as actually being a terroist. It seems pretty likely Bashir is more than just an inciter and in fact is directly involved in criminal acts including the Bali bombing, but “innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt” is an intentionally tough standard.

      It would have been just as hard or harder to make a stronger charge stick in a Western court.

      Nonetheless, we can all be thankful now that the man is going to jail, probably for the rest of his life.

    • Govt@FauxCitizen says:

      01:41am | 18/06/11

      @Acotrel, think hard mate what you just said, this evil son of a bitch would thrive in a place where barbarism is a pleasurable ritual for like minded rockapes , instead I want this arsewipe oxygen theif for 15 minutes to wipe the evil smirk from his face. The sad truth is that he will be a revered celebrity in jail.

    • acotrel says:

      07:51am | 19/06/11

      @Govt Have a look at his face in the pic.  Couldn’t you just see him smashing some poor animal with an iron bar? That’s about how much he cared for the victims of the Bali bombings!

    • Marilyn Shepherd says:

      06:31pm | 16/06/11

      Australia started two wars against people who had not harmed us and we get off scott free.

      Why?

      And this man has been found over and over again to have had no connection to the Bali bombings so why does that man at the Dolphin football club keep chiming in?

      It’s funny how we want this man destroyed but we are happy to jail innocent refugees in the country of terrorism isn’t it.

      Then you might want to watch this film and read what Gillard said last year.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rz_eCLcp1Mc
      Last night, the UNHCR published its revised eligibility guidelines on Sri Lanka.
      The guidelines are just one source of information which has helped to inform
      the Government about the changing situation in Sri Lanka.
      The UNHCR report confirmed the improved human rights and security
      situation in Sri Lanka and that displaced people continue to return to their
      homes. Instead of automatically presuming that particular groups in Sri Lanka
      are refugees, the UNCHR states that all asylum claims must now be
      considered on a case by case basis, noting that some groups may still be at
      risk.
      With the new information, acceptance rates are likely to fall.
      Today, in light of these circumstances, I am announcing the Government has
      decided to lift immediately the suspension on processing claims for Sri
      Lankan. Those currently in detention will have their claims processed against
      a range of country information including the revised UNHCR report I have
      described.
      So I have a message for people in Sri Lanka who might be considering
      attempting the journey to Australia. Do not pay a people smuggler, do not risk
      your life, only to arrive in Australian waters and find that far, far more likely
      than not you will be quickly sent home by plane.

      But of course none have been sent home

      Reply

    • Richard M says:

      06:47pm | 16/06/11

      Still peddling your twisted rubbish, Marilyn Shepherd.  You are a disgrace. It is, and never has been, worth spending time and energy arguing with you, because your arguments are so absurd that they are, like all fantasies, impossible to answer with logic.  You should get some help.  What really amazes and disgusts me is that sites like this still publish your poison.

    • TimB says:

      06:59pm | 16/06/11

      Marilyn Shepard, apologist for a terrorist.

      Just when I thought she couldn’t be any more ridiculous.

      Way to go Marilyn. You are certifiably insane.

    • Norm says:

      07:20pm | 16/06/11

      couldnt be bothered reading your whole novel but am at a loss to see the relevance between sri lanka and jail sentence handed down in bali?

    • NicoleG says:

      07:50pm | 16/06/11

      Did I miss something? I actually read the article and was under the impression that is was about an evil murdering bastard, who instigated the death of 202 innocent people. So why in God’s name are you baning on about refugees Marilyn? And why are you defending him? You really are a park short of a picnic. You’re disgusting.

    • GB says:

      07:57pm | 16/06/11

      Maz Maz Maz. Why don’t you shut your trap you tree hugging hippy. Sick of reading your tripe on this forum. You’re a disgrace to this country. Just do yourself and the rest of us a favour and move to one of these peaceful lands and see how you get on.

    • Adrian H says:

      08:00am | 17/06/11

      Really? REALLY? You are defending a terrorist who caused the death of 202 people in a bar and you want to rave on about how we are sending people who ILLEGALLY enter our country to a “country of terrorism”

      Look at the facts they go through multiple countries which are considered UN safe havens then continue on to us throwing documentation from there boats so they dont get deported…

      You dont want to hear it but i here i go, close the borders from sea, it costs just as much as air travel to be smuggled by sea is more dangerous but requires no documentation… SECURITY RISK!

      Stop living in a dream Marilyn

    • acotrel says:

      08:37am | 17/06/11

      @Marilyn
      ‘Australia started two wars against people who had not harmed us and we get off scott free.’

      Not ‘scott free’!  It’s costing us, big time.  Can you really claim our involvement is not justified.  Surely you acknowledge that when two buildings crash down due to terrorists taking over jumbo jets, we have a problem?  What would be YOUR answer to it?

    • wolfie says:

      03:23pm | 17/06/11

      Marilyn, you seem to be the only sane voice here!
      In cases like this Australians expose themselves as being extremely self righteous and blood thirsty.
      Australians on their adventures are always absolved from atrocities in the name of “doing good” or helping al these savages to become civilized.
      The simple fact is that there is no such thin as a good or bad person but people being subject to brainwashing and propaganda in varying degrees. Here and there! Everywhere, including Australia.

    • acotrel says:

      08:02am | 19/06/11

      @Wolfie
      ‘The simple fact is that there is no such thin as a good or bad person but people being subject to brainwashing and propaganda in varying degrees. Here and there! Everywhere, including Australia. ‘
      I often have arguments with my wife about whether there is good and evil in the world.  My attitute is that there is only sanity and insanity.  If someone is delusional enough to oppose the prevailing paradigm, they are probably insane.  In communist Russia they declared opponents of the regime ‘insane’ and locked them up, and their approach was probably somehow correct in a cynical sort of way.  Have look at the photo of Bashir.  If he’s not a looney, I don’t know who is?  You can call him ‘evil’, but he obviously believes he was justified in his subversive activities.

    • Sony B Goode says:

      10:16am | 19/06/11

      No such thing as good and bad???

      Socialist cognitive dissonance at its best folks.

    • nihonin says:

      06:35pm | 16/06/11

      Sharia law Anthony, you blow up innocent people up in the name of Allah, all good, especially if you’re a Muslim .  You bring drugs into the country and you’re not Muslim and can’t prove you’re doing it in the name of Allah, all bad. Simple law for simple people.

      Reply

    • TChong says:

      06:52pm | 16/06/11

      nihoin
      do you realise just how absurd your statement is ?
      Sharia law does not codone terrorism/murder , nor allow muslims to push illegal drugs , in the name of allah, or anyone else.
      why make such ill informed comments?

    • nihonin says:

      06:13am | 17/06/11

      TChong, I was making on comment on what I got from the article, looking at most of the comments, people are pretty much saying the same.  Shame I’m not an apologist.

    • TChong says:

      09:06am | 17/06/11

      nihonin
      thats your level of debate ?- look at what the comments are, decide on the mood, post something in keeping with the majority, regardless of how wrong you are, then claim I’m an apologist ? Of what?
      BTW ,why dont you grow a pair, instead of just waiting to post whatever everyone else thinks, and toadying along. Sheep.

    • acotrel says:

      09:31am | 17/06/11

      @TChong.  It might not be shariah law or even islam we have a problem with.  In recent history, every time Australia has a major defence purchase we hear rumbilngs from Indonesia, including one about ‘territorial aims’.  In the recent meat scandal, Indonesia says it’s about to complain to the International Trade Organisation that they’re being unfairly treated.  Now we have Bashir getting leniency.  Their whole mindset tends to be a bit poisonous. I have a problem with a culture which promotes sadism, and accomodates terrorism.

    • TChong says:

      10:07am | 17/06/11

      acotrel
      ( and others)  I wish to make it clear, that I’m not defending Bashir, ( 15 years not long enough for someone of his intention in my POV)  or extemist/ murderers of any persuasion, just thisbelief that Sharia law would somehow condone mass murder, or selling drugs in allahs name.
      Usually Sharia law is ( rightly) condemed ( by western standards) as being too harsh on offenders., now, for not been harsh enough.

    • nihonin says:

      11:20am | 17/06/11

      I don’t have to apologise to you, for my opinions, and if you think back, you posted your reply to my comment last night, before any other comments were posted, so I’m not following the popular line. 

      ‘BTW ,why dont you grow a pair, instead of just waiting to post whatever everyone else thinks, and toadying along. Sheep.’  That all you have, insults, by that count what I said obviously points hit home to you some how.  Cretin

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      11:27am | 17/06/11

      TChong. You can throw out all the empty pedantry you want. Everywhere Sharia law flourishes, safety, security, civility and common decency evaporate. That is a fact. And you know it.

    • Jordan Rastrick says:

      01:25pm | 17/06/11

      “don’t have to apologise to you, for my opinions,”

      No, but you are still wrong. You are entitled to your own opinions, but not your own facts. The case doesn’t have anything to do with Sharia, and in fact outside Aceh, Indonesia does not have Sharia law .

      Bashir has gone to jail for inciting people to be terrorists. If prosecutors had been able to prove he had direct involvment in terrorist acts - which they have attempted to do so over the years, without success - he would have faced much harsher punishment, indeed probably the death penalty which of course would not have been on the cards in any Western country except the U.S.

    • Fiddler says:

      06:35pm | 16/06/11

      Wow, Shapelle got 20 and he got 15. Says it all really

      Reply

    • Monty says:

      10:48am | 17/06/11

      @Fiddler:  I couldn’t agree more Fiddler….the Indonesian Legal System is a bloody joke…the Indonesian Government is worried about repercussions from the community regarding Bashir’s sentence.  Who rules Indonesia the government or the terrorists?...their constitution accommodates a culture that promotes hypocrisy, terrorism, territorial gains, and sadism…..I have never considered Indonesia to be a sincere ally of Australia.

    • James1 says:

      02:44pm | 17/06/11

      “I have never considered Indonesia to be a sincere ally of Australia.”

      That’s good, because there has never been an alliance between Indonesia and Australia.

    • stephen says:

      06:55pm | 16/06/11

      When I saw this picture I thought of our cattle, who were treated worse, and then they would eat them.
      And whenever I saw pictures of this chap in the papers with the Indonesian Police behind him as escorts, I could see that this smiling idiot had support from all quarters, (coppers never smile as escorts before a verdict unless they like their quarry) and now we get animal-libbos damning our response to Indonesian atrocities by accusing us of hypocrisy.
      ‘Just what feet are you looking at, folks’.
      Now this bastard has done more damage, ( though I probably shouldn’t stress it) to relations between us and Asian nations than soccer could ever do - ‘sport, anyone’ ? - and Alexander Downer will say that 150 million given to Indie kiddies in school education programs that he instigated, to stop Muslims later on killing us…well, thats just shit.
      Spend the money on decent subs. If they sink, (as probably they will, if we build them) then sit’em off the Timor Sea, arm them, and wait.

      Reply

    • bikinis on top says:

      07:03pm | 16/06/11

      What isa soft jail term? What is a hard jail term?Have you ever been to jail?
      Have you ever had hard labor? Or have you only suffered soft labor?
      From 1949 to 1972, my parents got 23 years hard Liberal instead 23 years of hard Labor. It was worse than death.

      Reply

    • Anubis says:

      09:20am | 17/06/11

      huh ????

    • acotrel says:

      09:54am | 17/06/11

      @bikinis I lived through that period, and you are SO RIGHT! Gough & co were a bit outrageous, but we all gave a sigh of relief.  His social reforms were so long overdue, and today we still hear conservatives grizzle about them, even though they have all been beneficiaries.

    • jf says:

      05:56pm | 17/06/11

      “my parents got 23 years hard Liberal instead 23 years of hard Labor. It was worse than death. “

      How so bikinis?

    • bikinis on top says:

      07:08pm | 16/06/11

      have you ever done hard labor or hard Labor?
      The days of hard Labor could be over.
      Voters have gone soft on hard Labor.
      Graham Richardson reckonsthat Labor cannot win the next federal election as voters havestopped listening to her.
      TheGreens however take overAustralia from July 1 2011

      Reply

    • The Badger says:

      07:20pm | 16/06/11

      Bashir should sleep next to Osama bin Laden.

      Reply

    • Brad Martin says:

      07:26pm | 16/06/11

      Australia has been giving increasing aid to Indonesia in the millions of dollars each and every year for decades. Australia pays for Islamic schooling in Indoinesia. In return, Indonesia keeps rewarding Australia by crapping in our faces.

      Reply

    • DS says:

      05:07am | 17/06/11

      So Indonesia should fix its legal system to appease Australia? Right, whatever you say.

    • Peter says:

      12:04pm | 17/06/11

      DS, If they want us to continue providing them with aid then yes they should.

    • Stephen says:

      12:31pm | 17/06/11

      Right so the Indo government should interfer with the judiciary to appese Australians to ensure that we keep funding education for poor people? Nice logic there.

      Amusses me greatly how Australian’s are always calling for the Indo gov to interceed in the judicial process, so much for respect for democracy huh?

    • DS says:

      07:37pm | 17/06/11

      Peter, we provide them with aid because they need it, not so they fix their system for us. It’s called the independence of the judiciary. Look it up.

    • Fiddler says:

      01:46pm | 18/06/11

      @ DS. No Judiciary is completely independent and it is not intended to be that way. Parliament has certain controls over sentences etc (IE the Attorney General can make certain orders over the courts) even in Australia. Certainly the sentence can be appealed on inadequacy grounds. That said I don’t know enough about this individual case to say exactly what he has been convicted of (as in the facts of the matter>

    • DS says:

      04:34am | 19/06/11

      Fiddler, the question is whether Indonesia should fix its judicial system to appease Australia. That is a far cry from the things you mention.

    • Max Redlands says:

      07:32pm | 16/06/11

      Well, I presume, your concluding questions are rhetorical if not then they are naive. In either case the simple answer is clear: Indonesian realpolitik.

      For a closer view based on experience I’d be interested to hear from Brian Deegan, father of Josh (Sturt Football Club). He’s always been prepared to speak about this. If anyone can he can give you some real answers.You should ask him.

      And, fellow Punchers, I ask you, quite un-rhetorically, must we revisit the Corby experience?

      Reply

    • PolyWatcher says:

      07:34pm | 16/06/11

      He gets 15 years for killing 88 Australians.
      Corby gets life for a packet of grass.

      Give me a break!!

      Reply

    • MDG says:

      11:37am | 17/06/11

      Corby wasn’t given life, and I think you’ll find that a few Indonesians died as well.  And Bashir wasn’t charged with killing anybody.  Sentences are derived from the charges.  Courts have to work with what they’re given.

    • Ben81 says:

      08:09pm | 16/06/11

      This sentence and the response for his supporters tells me there’s no hope for that country in my lifetime at least.  It’s like travelling back in time 2000 years.

      Reply

    • Jordan Rastrick says:

      01:29pm | 17/06/11

      Impressive, given Islam isn’t much more than 1000 years old.

      Of course 50 years ago in Australia, indigenous people couldn’t vote, men were legally permitted to rape their wives, and so forth. So I like to think there is certainly hope for Indonesia in my lifetime. But maybe you don’t expect to live much longer.

    • Phil S says:

      08:44pm | 16/06/11

      Corby got 20 years for some dope, and this dope gets 15 years for murder and terrorism. Funny idea of justice.

      Reply

    • john says:

      09:07pm | 16/06/11

      @ Phil S ...“and this dope gets 15 years for murder”

      In Australia with a good lawyer you could get off ‘scot free’ with reasonable doubt or good excuse.  We should take a good hard long look at our soft -cock laws here first.

      What did the boat smugglers get for killing about 50 people in illegal boat smuggling..possibly in the multiple hundreds over the years?

      What do drunk drivers get for killing other road users?

      If our society is soft on people who commit crime then we should not expect more from other countries, they merely reflect our values from their point of view that Australia is a SOFT country, simple as that.

      How unfortunate for all concerned, including our Chief Justices who have become ‘passive’ with the passing of decades.

    • Ben81 says:

      10:13pm | 16/06/11

      John, “In Australia with a good lawyer you could get off ‘scot free’ with reasonable doubt or good excuse.  We should take a good hard long look at our soft -cock laws here first. “

      That’s a simplistic way of putting it, but those a very much good things.

    • Kevin says:

      07:52am | 17/06/11

      Put Corby and Bashir in the same cell together and punish them both.

      @john, you have obviously never read the sentencing remarks for a drunk driver who has killed another road user.

    • James says:

      09:10pm | 16/06/11

      Indonesia seems to be at a fork in the road, one path leads to Pakistan the other leads to Turkey, I hope for everyone’s sakes they choose Turkey.

      Reply

    • Sony B Goode says:

      11:34pm | 16/06/11

      turkey is trying hard to go the pakistan route, not long before they gut the secular constitution, there is a good reason why europe is keeping turkey out of the union

    • James1 says:

      02:57pm | 17/06/11

      Sony, the military would step in at that point.  There is no greater supporter of Ataturk’s approach to governance than the Turkish military, you can rest assured on that.

    • AdamC says:

      04:54pm | 17/06/11

      James1, they certainly would have in the past, but that does not mean they would today.

      A common mistake made by people involved in foreign affairs is that they tend to believe history will always repeat itself. However, the rules can change. Indeed, the political influence of islam is changing many rules around the world, including those that derive from Turkey’s much mooted secular exceptionalism. Erdogan has cowed the military already; I doubt it would be able to stand against him. 

      You can see how Turkey is re-Ottomanising, especially in terms of its foreign policy. I don’t necessarily believe Turkey is going down the Gaza path, but it is definitely moving away from Attaturk’s original vision.

    • stevie says:

      10:35pm | 16/06/11

      My near neighbour lost a father in the Bali bombings. He was a coach from the Sturt FC in Adelaide. I would like to lock this evil little bastard up for life and throw away the key for ever.

      Reply

    • Geoff says:

      11:04pm | 16/06/11

      The best legal system that money can buy.
      Don’t judge it by our standards, that would be silly.

      Reply

    • Axella says:

      11:49pm | 16/06/11

      You know what gets me? People still spend money to holiday in that place! I find that unbelievable, because surely they’d know that there still exist many people there who would drool at the chance to blow up some more of us.

      Reply

    • Marilyn Shepherd says:

      02:27am | 17/06/11

      He had nothing to do with killing 88 Australians.  Ant always tells me off for vitriol, but never attacks the slugs that cannot see past the ends of their noses.

      Saying he didn’t have anything to do with the Bali bombings is simply the fact and has nothing to do with the fact that he has now genuinely and freely been found to be a terrorists.

      As he will be almost 90 by the time the term runs out what on earth is the point at baying at the moon for more?

      Perhaps most people didn’t sit in on any of the Bali hearings that the liberal party tried hard to have shut down but I did.  I heard folk from the Sturt football club who lost some of their young people, I listened to the most compelling and devastating speech I have ever heard being given by Brian Deegan, I heard gorgeous young girls burnt and scarred for life telling how they got no warnings that Bali had been declared at risk of terrorist attacks.

      They didn’t get those warnings because the Howard government chose not to frighten Indonesia by making them public but they most certainly got warnings galore in the 2 weeks before the attacks in Bali.

      The hearings shattered everyone who was there.  George Brandis smarmy and smirking trying to blame the victims with hideous injuries, with the loss of family or friends, - he tried very hard to have the hearings shut down.

      And then Howard let the investigation report sink without trace because it was so damning of the government and their incompetence.

      I don’t believe in vengeance nor revenge.  Nor do I believe that any terrorist should be allowed to walk free, but I don’t believe in the death penalty.

      That is entirely rational,  I think Bashir is an evil and vindictive old man and always have but continual claims that he did something we know he didn’t is pointless and continually having victims calling for death makes them as bad as him.  They won’t feel one bit better when the old man dies.

      Now watch the video from Sri Lanka and tell me why the criminals in that horror should not be charged.

      Reply

    • philip says:

      09:44am | 17/06/11

      by your logic marilyn hitler had nothing to do with the 6 million people who died in places like aushwitz by the way bashir had ordered the bombing if he hadnt ordered the bombing and had of instead reported that it was going to happen he wouldnt be in jail he would be elsewhere.

    • Gregg says:

      06:40am | 17/06/11

      Indonesia is a muslim dominant country and there have been a few examples of attrocities perpetrated against other religions to emphasise that, police or paramilitary standing by if not involved.

      That being the case, you will always have a justice system tinged by politics of religion and that is exactly what has occurred here.
      Whether or not he had direct involvement with Bali, I can understand that no ammount of sentencing will ever do too much for victims and families of those killed and maimed that evening.

      Reply

    • Jim says:

      08:45am | 17/06/11

      These are the people that the Greens would welcome into this country with open arms…I hope voters see through the enviro-facade they throw up and realise that.

      As ridiculous as the sentencing was, Australia cannot really get upset when we see white collar crimes punished more than murderers and serial criminals, and convicted child molesters winning appeals to be able to work with children (yesterdays headlines).

      Reply

    • MDG says:

      11:33am | 17/06/11

      You’re going to have to point to the bit where the Greens said that they’d welcome Bashir to Australia.

    • Jim says:

      12:10pm | 17/06/11

      You’ll have to point out the bit where the Greens open borders for all policies - with or without identification - will prevent people like Bashir coming in.

    • Knemon says:

      01:07pm | 17/06/11

      @ Jim - “These are the people that the Greens would welcome into this country with open arms” - That’s bullshit Jim and you know it is.

      I’m surprised the Americans haven’t taken him out prior to this, I’m assuming they haven’t because he’s a cleric.

    • jf says:

      06:00pm | 17/06/11

      Knemon says:01:07pm | 17/06/11

      “@ Jim - “These are the people that the Greens would welcome into this country with open arms” - That’s bullshit Jim and you know it is.”

      Why Knemon? The Greens don’t believe in security checks for refugees. How would the Greens stop a Bashir entering the country?

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      09:31am | 17/06/11

      The Indonesian government despises white westerners.

      There is a deep seeded self loathing based on requiring tourist dollars to survive and secretly harbouring jealousy for the people who provide them. The rich westerner is both a saviour and an enemy. 

      Men like Abu Bakar Bashir parasitically feed on this loathing with, of course, Muslim relish.

      I will never travel to Bali. And frankly, I’m disgusted by the cheapness of those who do. Trading a cheap holiday for your own safety. Pathetic.

      Reply

    • MDG says:

      11:35am | 17/06/11

      “Muslim relish”?  Is that anything to do with Muslim Chutney or Muslim Jam?

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      11:52am | 17/06/11

      It’s the glee in the vile ignoramuses eye captured above.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      12:12pm | 17/06/11

      How many Indonesians do you know SSR? I had one live with me for several weeks. I noticed a deep, deep anger at people who had trashed his nation’s reputation by commiting heinous murders. Not so much relish…must have been really hateful of whites like me to offer me an “anytime you like free accomodation in Indonesia”. All other travellers I’ve know there report corrupt police but warm people

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      12:25pm | 17/06/11

      htpm. You base your argument on one man. I base mine on the hundreds of thousands of supporters of the creature in that photo above.

    • RB says:

      01:02pm | 17/06/11

      SSR, once again you are spot on. Well said. Why we continue to support this backward, dishonest country with our aid dollars is beyond me.We would be better off spending it on ships & subs & parking them off the top end to keep indonesia in line.When Indonesia can crawl out of the stone age maybe then we should reconsider their aid.Until then, it should be spent at home.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      01:04pm | 17/06/11

      What evidence is there for hundreds of thousands? Also, if there is evidence, how can you generalise about the attitudes of Indonesians even from hundreds of thousands? Hundreds of thousands is still a pretty small minority in a nation of 200 million.

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      01:22pm | 17/06/11

      You might want to travel to a destination where hundreds of thousands of people think you should be blown apart by rust nails. I however do not. And I pity those that do. So blinded by political correctness that you would risk your own life and those of your family simply to save a few bucks on your annual vacation. It turns my stomach.

      A small minority. Don’t worry about cancer mate. It’s just a small minority of cells in your body. Nothing to worry about. Great advice.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      01:41pm | 17/06/11

      Oh come SSR, that’s a man made o’ straw and I reckon your smart enough to know it too.

      More accurate would be to say, hmmm the greens got what 14% of votes at the federal election? Is it therefore accurate to say Australians are Green?

    • hot tub political machine says:

      01:42pm | 17/06/11

      Oh, you dodged the evidence question too. 2nd chance

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      02:01pm | 17/06/11

      You worry about the percentages you pedant. I’ll worry about keeping my head attached to my body. If you want to fund a nation that protects terrorists, you do it. But no mistake that is exactly what you are doing.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      02:09pm | 17/06/11

      Mmm, two dodges. No alarms and no surprises then.

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      02:25pm | 17/06/11

      2nd chance? Dodges? I answer to you do I keyboard jockey? What a self-important sad case you are. As if I’m going to spend my afternoon tracking down websites that will be immediately rejected unread by a person who honestly believes a country that harbours terrorists is a great place to holiday. You keep risking you life to save a buck. Have a blast.

    • Jordan Rastrick says:

      02:40pm | 17/06/11

      By Sad Sad Reality’s argument, it seems, if you talk about percentages, that’s just pedantry. So if there were say a singe terrorist or terrorist sympathiser in Australia, none of us should pay taxes because we wouldn’t want to fund a nation that “protects terrorists”.

      That’s pretty Sad Sad Reasoning, if you ask me. No alarms, and no surprises, indeed.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      03:07pm | 17/06/11

      Add the ad homs to the straw men, shall we go for a logical fallacy tri-fector? I think slipperly slope is the 3rd most common

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      03:08pm | 17/06/11

      Jordan, what an idiotic comment. The most pathetic of bleeding heart straw men.

      It’s always the diversion. Always the slight of hand.

      Obviously a nation where Jemaah Islamiyah flourishes there are hundreds of thousands of terrorist sympathisers - maybe millions. There are 202.9 million Muslims in Indonesia, how many do you think support Bashir?

      A bleeding heart will say next to none. A realist will know it’s hundreds of thousands.

      Make no mistake, Indonesia is another Pakistan. No place to be a white westerner.

    • hot tub poltical machine says:

      03:24pm | 17/06/11

      No need to get hot n bothered SSR.

      Look, if you don’t feel like backing your opinions with evidence no one will make you…but just be aware it isn’t a very good way to persuade people that your opinion is correct.

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      03:50pm | 17/06/11

      As if any information will change your mind.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      04:06pm | 17/06/11

      You won’t know till you try will you SSR? wink

    • Dan says:

      04:20pm | 17/06/11

      SSR - I’ve been to Indonesia, not Bali - Jakarta. The people I met, and I met more than you’ll ever meet, were generally hard working and optimistic. There was corruption, everywhere, but the people themselves were unbelievably generous. A Javan guy who worked behind the bar at my hotel and I had a chat one night about Jakarta and he ended up coming in on his day off to show me around the place. If you listen to the experts its the ones from Java you have to worry about.

      I didn’t go there because I’m a bleeding heart. I went there for a meeting that I would have been sacked if I didn’t go to. I am so glad I chose to go and I recommend it fully to anyone else.

      You on the other hand are a racist - thats what we call people who judge an entire country on the basis of one person (in this case Bashir). There are good and bad people everywhere SSR, including on the Punch.

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      04:23pm | 17/06/11

      The emoticon seals it. What are you 14?

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      04:32pm | 17/06/11

      You roll the dice with your life, Dan. I won’t be.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      04:42pm | 17/06/11

      Add a multiplication symbol and a two and you’re thereabouts. Anywhoo, now that’ve I’ve humoured you, will you humour me?

    • Jordan Rastrick says:

      05:55pm | 17/06/11

      “Obviously a nation where Jemaah Islamiyah flourishes there are hundreds of thousands of terrorist sympathisers - maybe millions”

      So you concede that percentages do in fact matter, and are willing to make wild, unsubstantiated guesses about what they might be?

      ” There are 202.9 million Muslims in Indonesia, how many do you think support Bashir?  A bleeding heart will say next to none. A realist will know it’s hundreds of thousands.”

      Obviously there must be a third category of people, since I certainly don’t think its next to none, and would suspect tens of thousands at a minimum; certainly it could be more, but I wouldn’t claim to “know” it in the absence of any real evidence. Of course, it depends on what you mean by support. Support, as in express some sympathy for his ideology? Very many, I would guess. Support, as in give material aid to actual terrorist causes, or commit acts of violence against Westerners themselves, given the chance? A lot fewer, evidently, or else terrorism commited by Indonesians would be much more widespread than it actually is.

      Likewise, I’d suspect a shockingly high proportion of people in Western countries would express some sympathies with Maoist, Anarchist, Facist etc. causes if say asked in a survey, but the numbers who actually join radical parties let alone try to violently promote such ideologies are tiny.

      “Make no mistake, Indonesia is another Pakistan. No place to be a white westerner.”

      My white westerner ex-flatmate grew up in Indonesia and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Anecdotal, yes, but I don’t see you supplying any actual data that counteracts the anecdotes others are relying on for their impresions. I suspect its because you have none.

      “You roll the dice with your life, Dan. I won’t be.”

      What proportion of Westerners who have travelled to Indonesia have died or been hurt as a result of violence associated with Islamic extremism?

      Again, off the top of my head I don’t claim to know, but I suspect if I researched it the actual risk would be quite small - certainly comparable to risks of suffering from violence for other reasons when travelling to any poor country.

      Anyway, given your “I don’t have to provide any evidence to back up my wild generalisations because you’re all closed minded leftes”, I begin to suspect you are simply trolling….

    • Stiffy says:

      09:58am | 17/06/11

      I doubt if he will serve much time anyway. Like previous convictions they seem to be appealed and overturned. Even if it ‘sticks’ he will likely be released quietly to some sort of home detention.
      To many Indonesians he is considered a hero. Just a preacher with very strong religious views. Many Indonesians wish to see their country become a fundamentalist Islamic state.  His supporters are now targeting the police. A recent attempt to poison a district police centre with cyanide was foiled only a few weeks ago. 
      In the vision on TV last night the young supporter standing up with the megaphone had a large pitcher of Bin Laden sewn on to the back of his jacket and they blame Australia for his conviction.

      Reply

    • I remember Bali says:

      10:21am | 17/06/11

      I don’t think the snivelling little nobody got off lightly.  He has been belted by the “ugly stick” every day of his life.  He has no soul, no empathy, no conscience.  A set of industrial braces and a heart transplant would not improve him.  He is a bad imitation of a human being, devoid of any positive elements.  Think of him as The Incredible Husk who will eventually blow away.  I hope the families he destroyed (those that perished and those that are forced to live on without their loved ones by their side) have some level of peace knowing he is in a cage where he belongs.

      Reply

    • RB says:

      01:06pm | 17/06/11

      He is pretty typical of many muslims in his attitude & actions.They should be kept out of Australia & our aid to muslim countrys should be stopped until they can prove they deserve it.

    • hot tub political machine says:

      10:27am | 17/06/11

      Look at the evil guy in jail! He got a soft sentance not like Ozzie Corby, hey photographer can you get a picture of him with an evil smile? Sweet. No mate, we can’t put the evil music behind him this is for a website not Today/Tonight.

      Now whip up some outrage about how the Indonesian justice system ain’t as good as ours. Now lets put it a glib sentence saying it would be “presumptuous” of Aussies to judge another country’s justice system while we do exactly that, can we somehow tie this into a story about a celebrity’s sex life? No? Bugger.

      Why would we do the story this way? Mate have you never watched Border security? Everyone loves their righteous indignation, loves it. I know this news business I do.

      Reply

    • Gerry says:

      11:14am | 17/06/11

      NO radical Muslim Clerics should be allowed to live or visit Australia who teach KILL the Infidels etc they are sick stupid people.

      Reply

    • Jade (the other one) says:

      11:44am | 17/06/11

      Does that go for the radical Christian pastors at the Baptist, Mormon, Pentecostal, and other evangelical churches I have attended that preach the same thing about heretics and idolators?

      I’ve sat in many a church and been told the end of days is nigh, and we must be prepared to be part of the army of god and cleanse the sinful. Children being told to affirm that if Jesus asked them to tomorrow, they would kill their parents.  Parents being asked to say they would kill their children at the direction of God.

      What should be done with these people?

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      01:24pm | 17/06/11

      No Jade. Not until they start savagely murdering people in 2011. Until then, it’s just talk. Such a shame you can’t see the difference.

    • zealot says:

      01:41pm | 17/06/11

      Funny thing is Gerry, that they keen to kill “infidels” but they not so keen to meet their beloved ‘allah maker’ themselves.

      Jade : regardles of teaching of God of the Bible - J.Christ , killing men by men is constant over the history of the world.

    • jade (the other one) says:

      03:12pm | 17/06/11

      @Sad Sad Reality. Last year radical Christians in America murdered a prominent abortion provider. One attempted to murder a politician. In Northern Ireland, the IRA killed a police officer and was found to be plotting bomb attacks. Several Christian groups in America were discovered to be plotting terror attacks last year.

      A Christian Church in the US is currently under fire for protecting a member of their congregation who raped several young girls. While the church did nothing to the elder who committed this disgusting crime, the girls were forced to apologise to the congregation for their “sins”.

      Gerry is not suggesting that we stop those who actually commit these crimes from living here. He is suggesting that those who preach evil and disgusting rhetoric from one particular religion be prevented from living here. I simply wish to know if he is consistent in his beliefs.

      And don’t get me started on the disgusting behaviour by Christians in Uganda and some other parts of Africa.

    • Sad Sad Reality says:

      04:03pm | 17/06/11

      Wow that’s bad four murders.

      In the last week alone, Islam has killed 168 people in 50 violent attacks.

      Islam is responsible for 17,333 violent attacks since 9/11.

      No other religion is even in the same ball park, let alone the same security risk. To suggest otherwise is a blatant lie, one commonly engaged in by those with dreams of a global caliphate.

    • Jade (the other one) says:

      04:35pm | 17/06/11

      @Sad Sad Reality, the Ugandans might disagree with you there. The Lord’s Resistance Army does like to kill pretty much any non-Christian. They also conscript children into their army.

      Furthermore, the number of lives destroyed by the sexual crimes committed by various church ministers has destroyed the lives of thousands, if not millions of people.

      The only issue I take is with the suggestion that the evil and hateful rhetoric of one group should be singled out. I personally believe strongly in free speech. If you don’t, that is fine. But be consistent in your denial of rights.

    • MichaelM says:

      12:00pm | 17/06/11

      Why are people wasting their breath and their broadband whining about this? Indonesia is a soverign nation and has no subservience to us.

      Reply

    • RickyB says:

      01:11pm | 17/06/11

      Then maybe they dont deserve the billions in aid we give them either, do they MichaelM? They are so independant & successful & all arent they.No body said they had to be subservient, but they show little respect & thanks to Australia but are happy to keep their hand out.The fact that a terrorist got a lighter sentence than a pot peddlar says it all really.

    • MichaelM says:

      04:04pm | 17/06/11

      I think it’s a disgraceful country in so many ways, RickyB, but nothing is going to come of us worrying about it. It’s out of our control. I personally never plan on going to visit it.

    • ausspud says:

      02:54pm | 17/06/11

      this scummy prick is going to spend the next 15 years living a life of luxury.
      hell have support from the army,police & the bloody public.
      Justice my arse.

      Reply

    • wolfie says:

      03:35pm | 17/06/11

      I am always amazed at the red neck vitriol that emerges from under the rocks in Australia when it comes to hating others.
      I can only assume that most of the loudest critics are blinded with psychotic hate for people who are different from themselves. A very quick cure would be a little exploration and spending some time with those who you hate so much. You will find that Indonesians or others are people like yourselves who are subjected to influences, propaganda and ignorance.
      The same can be said for Australians, as can be seen on this forum.
      You will find delusional fanatics everywhere including Indonesia, America and Australia.

      Reply

    • wolfie says:

      03:37pm | 17/06/11

      I am always amazed at the red neck vitriol that emerges from under the rocks in Australia when it comes to hating others.
      I can only assume that most of the loudest critics are blinded with psychotic hate for people who are different from themselves. A very quick cure would be a little exploration and spending some time with those who you hate so much. You will find that Indonesians or others are people like yourselves who are subjected to influences, propaganda and ignorance.
      The same can be said for Australians, as can be seen on this forum.
      You will find delusional fanatics everywhere including Indonesia, America and Australia.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      11:27pm | 18/06/11

      We hate him cause he killed 200 people.
      That makes him different and that you see it as a matter of race, well, that makes you the racist.

    • Chris says:

      04:02pm | 17/06/11

      So you rang up someone who wasn’t involved in a crime this guy didn’t commit and somehow his opinion is worth reporting?

      If Bashir serves 15 years he will probably die in gaol. So just think about it like this - he’s received a life sentence. Then you’ll feel better

      Reply

    • jimmorris says:

      05:17pm | 17/06/11

      Jail? When Bashir is in ‘jail’ he is very comfortable with a computer, helpers, and everything he needs to continue the jihad. Does Australia realise the danger of Indonesia becoming a fundamentalist nation?

      Reply

    • John the Zombie says:

      06:34pm | 17/06/11

      its not use really looking into his sentence. Most likely at appeal his sentence will be reduced or squashed and he will be out but hey he doesnt care has already gotten a large following of supporters who will so be ready to carry out most gastly events.

      In regards to the money we send it is mainly funneled into govt members private accounts or put towards Indo defence force. Also who will see what is been taught at these Islamic schools. Why not give it to NGO’s to set up non religious schools.

      Also to many ppl who this we are a racist country I highly recomend you go nd live in a Islamic country for a whaile and see your treatment. I recomend Malaysia.

      Try starting a company thier as a non muslim, no chance as you need a muslim on your board.
      Apply for Uni with high marks again no use as the first preference in given to malay muslims.
      Apply for a Head of Surgery at a hospital. No luck there unless you are a muslim.

      Shouldnt this be seen as racist but hey just cos its point out Islamic countries double standards it will be deemed racist

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      07:59pm | 17/06/11

      His sentence suffers the same symptom as every other sentence in this and every other land : it’s too soft, cause everything, whether it be words, or deeds or even a raised eye-brow, is meant to send a message, (hey, this is the information age where one thing is for the sake of another) and Bashir is a bad guy but because of our ‘information’ we are to assume that everything is not finite, e.g. there is really no good or bad, but only a process to better information, and therefore, behaviour.
      He will change in jail, and we will get a better man out of it.

      Now, it is a symptom because we are reluctant to apply standards - any standards, whether they be of mind, behaviour, kindness -  and those who would tell us that we will turn into nazis because we indeed promulgate the highest and noblest feelings, well, they do us a disservice and lend this fool a silent re-appraisal.
      There is such a thing as evil.
      We are fighting it.
      Us and the Americans.
      Let the Europeans think that Erdogan, (the only relevant captain now near the Mediterranean) will save them from Islam. But they are fools.
      The future is the West.
      This is the Big Issue.

      Reply

    • Darragh Scully says:

      10:56pm | 17/06/11

      Im a little bit uptodate on these matters. We need to also check our own standards in Australia. Recently in Perth at a Bikers layer they found a huge stash of Mining Explosives (http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/bikie-wars-police-seize-explosives-from-rock-machine-bikie-clubhouse/story-e6frg13u-1226012486176). I havent heard anything about it since then. The media had their 5 minutes and that was that. A similar incident in Spain resulted in the bombing of the trains in Madrid, known as the Madrid Bombing. The perpetraters were sentenced to 40000 years in prison. The Miner who sold on the explosive got 36000 years (though it was rumoured he will be out in 50). Here is the catch. No reports have come up about where the Rock Machine, the bikers abovementioned got their Plastic Explosives from. Mind you after a quick search it could be from any number of the suppliers to the WA mining industry. And just imagine. Weve all been a witness to the Canadian Terror just when their HOCKEY TEAM LOOSES, but imagine what they might do when someone scams a root of one of their women, like they might get thrown out a window, which did happen. But if these kind of Organised Criminals can buy big bags of Plastic Explosives, well lets just say I didnt hesitate to recommend to Colin Barnett to purchase 500 at a minimum of the new Sabre 4000 for the State Security Branch and other sectors of the Western Australian police force. Especially with the CHOGM conference comming up later this year. Not that they ever take that much notice of me mind you because they seem to be Bullies right. lol. So yeah apart from that tangent you would have to think the evidence must of been pretty weak againt Bashir due to the fact that they are going to carry out the death penalty on that Chinnese Aussie guy who imported drugs into Bali. So you really have to think whats going on with 15 years.

      And yes thats what it comes down to. You need the hard evidence on the guy. You need witnesses that are willing to testify. Now if you know anything about the Mafia, you know that they run things from inside prison. Given his support and the poor standards of Corrections in Indonesia I wouldnt be surprised if he is allowed to mix with the General Population and get frequent visits etc, has a mobile phone with video conferencing to conduct his operational duties from inside the protection of the prison. Its not like hes going to be in SuperMax is it.

      Though its not over yet. He can still appeal. Im not sure if the Police have the advantages of the New Evidence Rules that we have here in Australia, just incase someone with a concience does in fact come forward or an Agent gets to the bottom of whats actually going on with that lot.

      All I know is that this conflict between Islam and Everyone else has being going on since Islam emerged. They had their Glory Days way back when just like the British Empire but just like the British Empire which is also irrelevant (well at least to me it is) Radical Islam has no place in the Modern Age. But like the punch published yesterday, its just another form of governance full of bullies that we supposidly will never be rid of. Oh and welcome to the Mind Palace oh so polluted with the pages of the Intelligence Mall book shop. In the eyes of the beholder there is a story to suit everyone. Ask George Washington whom used every piece of intelligence to his advantage at the Expense of the King George. awe.

      The truth is out there. 

      ps: Hitler also had a Perforated Ear Drum but survived an assaniation attack in Valkerie. Once upon a time in Nazi Occupied France…NORMANDY.
      RIP Bali Boming Victims WA.

      Reply

    • darragh scully says:

      11:20pm | 17/06/11

      Just for a minute and read this to. It just shows you that at any moment and any time we could all experience the same problem and we have allready had a few attacks in Australia by home grown nutjobs. lol
      Here is the example of a close call.
      http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article388160.ece

      Yet the Barnet Government now has the Police on Strike while it debates if we need a new football stadium, where we should put it among other things. Now they are on Strike, or Working to Rule as they call it. Lets hope no one tries to blow us up tonight yo.

      peace

      Reply

    • Knuckleduster says:

      04:03pm | 18/06/11

      15 years a rap over the knuckles - but the death penalty too easy - he’d think he was going to heaven to meet 72 virgins, not knowing that part of the Koran was mistranslated and he’ll get 72 grapes instead - a glass of wine.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      12:54pm | 19/06/11

      Nah the grapes go to the virgins.
      “Here comes another one sweetie…opps the towel-head in the front row cops another one, tee-hee ”

    • Phil Osopher says:

      04:12pm | 18/06/11

      Isn’t it time we all ignored Marilyn - it would save a lot of time and we could get on with reasonable commentary.

      Reply

    • Big Nuke Builder says:

      12:07am | 19/06/11

      Thank you Indonesia.
      You’ve shown that there’s diferrent rules for different people.

      Australians should be banned from travelling to that shithole. And all diplomatic relations suspended. Permanently.

      Reply

    • Jay says:

      06:38am | 19/06/11

      I bet he will be released within the next three years.We keep funding these schools where half of the Islamic teachers are tied up with Al Qaeda.

      Reply

    • OchreBunyip says:

      11:13am | 20/06/11

      Justice is not supposed to be about revenge and sometimes a death sentence is too easy; consider knowing you will most likely die in prison, that its environs are the last years of your life. That Bashir got any gaol time is a victory in itself. It means that some people in Indonesia have demonstrated they do think Bashir’s provable actions were criminal and that he should be punished for them. Perhaps this also demonstrates Indonesian society is as divided as Australian society when it comes to matters of justice, religion and government and they are not all part of some monolithic, hive-minded religious invasion poised to destroy the world. In short, Indonesia is made up of people not unlike Australia.

      No matter how criminals are punished, it does not undo the crime.

      Reply
 
Comment

Facebook Recommendations

Read all about it

Punch live

Up to the minute Twitter chatter

Malcolm Farr

farrm51 17 May 12 12:53PM

RT @toplitigator: @farrm51 Very difficult to believe the excitment of 'Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards Scheme' website doesn't have ppl all over it.

Malcolm Farr

farrm51 17 May 12 12:52PM

RT @toplitigator: @farrm51 As for the 'Intergovernmental Committee on Surveying and Mapping' website, just how do you contain your excitement?

Malcolm Farr

farrm51 17 May 12 12:38PM

RT @lynlinking: @farrm51 Well the links should be posted on Twitter more, by people that care about the Government. Perhaps the MSM could help cheers lyn

Malcolm Farr

farrm51 17 May 12 12:32PM

941 web sites and nothing to read. The rarely visited http://t.co/vPfJmesu sites. http://t.co/MhXMyvZv

See all tweets

Recent posts

The latest and greatest

They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments

by Anthony Sharwood

66

They must pay for one’s bitter disappointments

A private school girl’s family is sueing her elite, extremely expensive private school for not…

Our Budget blade didn’t cut aid, it’s being paid in spades

by Richard Marles

69

Our Budget blade didn’t cut aid, it’s being paid in spades

Ten million children vaccinated. 2.5 million people with access to safe drinking water. And 30 million…

An insecure workforce makes for an insecure society

by Tory Maguire

92

An insecure workforce makes for an insecure society

It’s usually best to avoid putting too many statistics in a post but reading the ACTU’s report…

Nosebleed Section

choice ringside rantings

From: The greatest ending to a football season ever?

Dave B says:

Congratulations & well deserved win! I've been a Utd supporter from 7 years of age, even stuck with them when they went down to the 2nd Div. However, despite the X-town rivalry & even as a devout MU fan, I can say that I truly admired the determination, courage & skill shown by the Blues - What a spectacle,… [read more]

From: Welfare for breeders is a bonus for everyone

Change Up! says:

I have no problem paying my taxes. As a single, childless person on a very decent income, I can afford it and not have my life severely altered. Plus I understand that my taxes paying for things like schools, childcare and infrastructure is ultimately a good thing. A better community is better for me… [read more]

Light weight

Gentle jabs to the ribs

Real women like men who drink beer

Real women like men who drink beer

British comedian John Cleese calls them “beer fairies”.  It’s a euphemism for… Read more

198 comments

Newsletter

Read all about it

Sign up to the free daily Punch newsletter

Subscribe to The Punch RSS feed