Aeschylus’ Suppliants and Asylum: Moral Obligation and Political Danger
Throughout the ages, displacement and asylum have tested the willingness of states to balance compassion against risk.
11 Comments
August 25, 2026
The White Australia Policy: Origin and Evolution as Present-day Warning
The White Australia Policy enabled the usuary maltreatment of South Sea Islanders and Indigenous people, ultimately excluding them from society.
July 27, 2026
One Nation, the Farrer By-Election and the Sickness of Western Democracy
Farrer has become the canary in the electoral mine, highlighting that voters in regional areas have had enough of being ignored.
May 12, 2026
Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Racism / Refugee Policy / Respect / Shared humanity / Uncategorized
Riquet with the Quiff:A Fairy Tale for Australia’s Unfinished Multicultural Masterpiece
We are the princess. Reject Hanson’s othering. Love our unfinished multicultural nation enough to transform. Wish it so.
April 26, 2026
Australian Aborigines / Commonwealth Government / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Racism / Refugee Policy
Pauline Hanson: Why I Would Never Vote for One Nation
I have been voting in Australian elections for decades. Over that time I have supported a range of parties and individuals – Liberal when I thought they had the right…
March 9, 2026
Debunking Pauline Hanson’s Anti-Immigration Rhetoric: A Fact-Based Critique
Blaming the costs of living, lack of housing and cultural issues to migration ignores the benefits, including economic growth and prosperity.
October 9, 2025
Commonwealth Government / Discrimination/Racism / Racism / Refugee Policy / Refugees / Shared humanity / White Australia / Xenophobia
The Irreversibility of Multiculturalism and the Challenges of Divisive Leadership: A Case Study of Peter Dutton in Australia
The Opposition Leader's position on immigration and diversity demonstrate his divisive intent, rather than support for diversity and inclusion.
April 3, 2025
Commonwealth Government / Discrimination/Racism / Government / Hypocrisy / Propaganda / Refugee Policy
The Australian Jewish Association and Peter Dutton: Provoking Division
Peter Dutton exploits emotive, divisive tropes regarding immigration and race, with the current antisemitism debate being the latest grist for his mill.
February 26, 2025
The Intersection of Refugees, Crime, and Societal Perception
Simplistic correlations between culture and crime fall short of understanding the complex association between refugee culture and crime.
January 14, 2025
Former CT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope
ACT Government / Bill of Rights / Discrimination / Human Rights / Refugee Policy / Refugees / Stanhope Government
The Paradox of Jon Stanhope: Human Rights Champion or Hypocrite?
Former ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has been lauded as a champion of human rights, but an examination of his actions reveals a dissonance between his proclaimed values and the realities of his political decisions
September 15, 2024
Commonwealth Government / Discrimination/Racism / Government / Human Rights / Racism / Refugee Policy / Refugees / Religion / Shared humanity / Xenophobia
#WalkTogether to end #racism
The sign says it all. Since when should people need to rally to welcome others, to offer a helping hand? The annual #Walktogether held in both capital cities and regional…
October 26, 2014
Commonwealth Government / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Government / Human Rights / Racism / Refugee Policy / Refugees / Shared humanity
The “Unsettled” Great Southern Land
Where to start … where to start … After a protracted hiatus, Blak and Black is back! There’s so much to write about, so much in the news and the…
July 14, 2014
ACT Government / Asia-Pacific / Discrimination / Discrimination/Racism / Ernst & Young / Former Commissioner / Government / Human Rights / Refugee Policy / Refugees / Respect / Shared humanity / Solomon Islands / Stolen Generation
Charity begins at home
Charity begins at home. Some agree, some do not. But the simple fact is that our treatment of those close to us sets the foundations for our behaviours toward others.…
August 12, 2012
Australian Federal Police / Discrimination/Racism / Equality / Equality of opportunity / Genocide / Human Rights / International Law / Law / Law Enforcement / Original Refugee to Australia / Refugee Policy / Refugees / Respect / Rule of Law / Shared humanity
Concentric Circles of Death: refugees and a cynical and manipulative Australian polity
In the Twentieth Century of my trespass on earth, having exterminated one billion heathens, heretics, Jews, Moslems, witches, mystical seekers, black men, Asians, and Christian brothers, every one of them…
June 4, 2012
Arma virumque cano
The more classically minded among Blak and Black’s readers will recognise the title of this post as being the opening words of Virgil’s epic poem The Aeneid, “… sing of arms and…
March 17, 2012
ACT Government / Australian Defence Force / Australian Federal Police / Commonwealth Government / Commonwealth Ombudsman / Corporate profit / Corporate responsibility / Corruption / Discrimination/Racism / Ernst & Young / Former Commissioner / Government / Human Rights / Law Enforcement / Refugee Policy / Refugees / Respect / Rule of Law
Ernst & Young: A vehicle for hiding corruption in Canberra
Ernst & Young's role in breaching the confidentiality of a former Indigenous employee at the behest of ACT Treasury must be scrutinised.
September 26, 2011
Reconciliation week: a joke played by ‘white’ Australians on Indigenous Australians and the international community!
Racial discrimination against Indigenous Australians is as alive and well in Australia today as it ever was. In fact, under the lost years of opportunity known to history as the…
May 29, 2011
I think white fella speaks with ill intent!
"Australians have a great sense of fairness and when you do things like that we say 'get on your bike, fella' and get back out again. Don't take advantage of…
April 21, 2011