Chris Evans

It must be hard for a conservative politician to make a decision he or she knows will distress heartland followers. John Howard upset a certain hardcore group of loyalists – even within his own cabinet – by banning semi-automatic rifles after the Port Arthur massacre.

Immigration Minister Chris Evans has had a compassion bypass on this Sri Lankan case.

It is even harder when Labor politicians make decisions that might appear to lack compassion, because they are supposed to be the party that cares about social justice.

But there seems to be a greater willingness to find excuses for Labor politicians, as Melbourne barrister and civil libertarian, Robert Richter QC, demonstrated on Lateline Thursday night.

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  • PAL says:

    03:05pm | 03/09/10

    So were not some of us evoking racist stereotypes to describe the Vietnamese “boat people” in the 80’s? I’m told the Greeks and Italians “refos” suffered the same elitist demonising before them. Now we are being invaded by an East Indian horde. Could the haters please back down, and allow… Read more »

  • xen says:

    09:48am | 10/03/10

    @nic: Yes, I did read the article, but I was commenting on what annie said. @Mike: I think it depends which countries you immigrate to and where you come from. So, Mike, can you specify which of the 50 countries in Europe you are talking about? Immigration can only become… Read more »

 

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