by Chris Merritt | May 10, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Freedom of Speech, Media Article, Rule of Law Issue
Nine years ago, Colin Rubenstein identified weaknesses in the federal laws against inciting violence based on racial and religious hatred. Had his warning been heeded, it might have equipped federal authorities with some of what they need to crack down on the worst...
by Chris Merritt | Apr 11, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Human Rights, Media Article, Rule of Law Issue
The revolt over proposed restrictions on religious schools is close to uniform among the nation’s peak religious leaders. But that does not mean the threat to religious freedom is close to defeat. A parliamentary committee has been working on a second plan that could...
by Chris Merritt | Mar 19, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Media Article, Rule of Law Issue
The High Court, like all institutions, is not perfect; it has been known to make some decisions that are best described as unfortunate.It is, however, a bit rich to blame the judges for decisions that have not yet been made. But that seems to be the government’s...
by Chris Merritt | Feb 23, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Freedom of Speech, Media Article, Rule of Law Issue
There is only one thing worse than having no law to address criminal conduct, and that is having a law that is not enforced.This has the perverse effect of encouraging the very conduct that should have been suppressed, while destroying public confidence in one of the...
by Chris Merritt | Feb 16, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Media Article, Rule of Law Issue
Right now, nobody knows the religious or racial breakdown of the federal judiciary. And in the age of doxxing, that is how it should stay. As the Jewish community has learned, there is no shortage of racist ratbags in this country who are prepared to single out...
by Chris Merritt | Feb 8, 2024 | Chris Merritt, Media Article, Rule of Law Issue
In a turbulent world, the defenders of the principles underpinning democracy and the rule of law are sometimes found in surprising of places.One of the greatest champions of these ideas is to be found not in parliament but on the bench of the NSW Local Court – the...
