“Why I have joined the Greens” – Website commentary by Tony Kevin , 4 September 2006

“Good Neighbour, Bad Neighbour: What’s the difference? Australian Indonesian Relations” – address by Tony Kevin, at Uniya Jesuit Social Justice Centre seminar, Adelaide, 22 August 2006

Homily given by Archbishop Mark Coleridge at his installation as the Sixth Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, at St Christopher’s Cathedral, Canberra on Thursday 17 August 2006

People of open and liberal minds are open to finding wisdom and truth wherever it appears. I found this printed text when I went to Mass at my church last Sunday morning - the text of the inspiring homily by the newly installed Catholic Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Mark Coleridge the previous Thursday. It would be presumptious of me to comment on the content of Bishop Coleridge’s text, except to say that for anyone who cares about Australia’s future, it is well worth the time to read - regardless of your religious beliefs or lack thereof ...

Two new essays on Israel and its neighbours , and the current conflict in Lebanon

"Two new files today, on Israel and Lebanon, the accompanying file reproducing an opinion essay in the Canberra Times yesterday by former Australian diplomat and commentator Bruce Haigh , and the second (below) by me in On Line Opinion published the same day . Both pieces were written entirely independently, but clearly share much common ground. This is a minefield area to get into public debate on. Obviously, neither Bruce Haigh nor I are in any way anti-Semitic. We have a public obligation to draw attention to the cruelty and self-harming stupidity of what Israel is now doing in Lebanon, and the implications for our own country..."

“It's time to shed mantle of a victim”, Bruce Haigh , Canberra Times , Opinion, 9 August 2006

"Experience should have taught the Israelis that the use of overwhelming force against its neighbours will always generate an equal and opposite reaction. But Israel is locked into a pattern of behaviour which shapes and dictates the reaction of its enemies, of which there is an increasing number. Israel has learnt nothing; it believes compassion and negotiation are a sign of weakness...."

“ Lebanon : war takes root”, Paul Rogers , Open Democracy website, 3 August 2006

“The combination of United States global strategy, Israeli determination and Hizbollah resilience mean only one thing: a long war.”- Paul Rogers

Rogers tells us what we are not yet seeing in Australia: how and why this war may now go on for a long time, and how there are real risks of Israel deciding to widen it. It is important for Australians to know these things, in considering whether present Australian policy of standing firmly behind Israel and the US , and even considering being part of a UN peacekeeping force in South Lebanon set up to meet US-Israeli preferences, is appropriate policy for Australia .....  Tony Kevin, Canberra , 4 August 2006.

www.tonykevin.com is back in business – 25 July 2006

I returned from my 1250 kilometer pilgrimage walk in Spain two weeks ago, refreshed and invigorated both physically and mentally.  

My politics have not changed – I still find the values and policies of the Howard Government thoroughly immoral and destructive of Australia's real national interest, which is in our rebuilding a civilised liberal society both within our country and in our country's damaged relationships with the rest of the world.

But the bitterness and angry despair that was mounting inside me has been balanced, I'm glad to say, with a better appreciation of Australia's basic strengths. We are still, even after 10 years of John Howard at the helm, a generally decent people.  It is therefore worth the effort for a person of my political orientation to try to maintain a civilized and useful conversation with the Australian people, those in the middle of the bell-shaped curve of public opinion. As for those whom Guy Rundle recently aptly described as “the broken bottle wielders of the Right”, my intellectual and emotional energy is better spent elsewhere than in debating with them.  

I am not quite at the stage of “hate the sin, love the sinner” where John Howard and his most reprehensible Ministers are concerned, but there is a broader perspective and longer-term view now – even some optimism over the longer term. Prime Ministers do change a country (Paul Keating), but it takes an awful lot of change to destroy a country's basic decency and fair-mindedness. When I see how well Spain has recovered from the horrors of the Civil War and the repressive Franco years, I have hope for Australia.       

I think that this site, and my public activity generally, will be more effective as a result of things learned on the road to Santiago. It has put the worst features of current Australian politics back into a larger perspective, and increased my respect for the basic strength and commonsense of the Australian people. 

I wish to put on record that shortly before going to Spain, in May 2006, I joined the ACT Branch of the Australian Greens party. I see Greens policies as a pretty good fit with the kinds of views I have been expressing and archiving on this site, since it opened three years ago. The Greens party will have an important role to play in the next federal election: I am proud to have become part of this democratic endeavour.  

**

 Two new files are going up on this site today:

 1.   “SIEV X and the Banality of Evil: an interview with Tony Kevin”, A. Ashbolt and T. Kevin (2006),  a conversation held in April 2006 for “Illawarra Unity”, the journal of the Illawarra Branch of the Australian Society for the Study of Labour History. The transcript can be read in its original form in Volume 6, issue 1, of the printed journal, or on this URL     http://ro.uow.edu.au/unity/vol6/iss1/or this one http://www.uow.edu.au/~morgan/unity.htm

 2.      Letter from Bruce Haigh on the AWB affair, published in the Australian Financial Review on  19 July 2006. This letter explores important, previously unexamined, policy linkages between the government's (clearly reported) pressure on the AWB in the months before the coalition invasion of Iraq, and the Government's concern not to give weight to the arguments of the anti-war movement in Australia that joining this illegal war was not in Australia's national interest .

Tony Kevin, Canberra , 25 July 2006

& SPEAKING NOTES FROM A RECENT FORUM IN COBARGO – “ABUSES OF AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT POWER, AND WHAT WE AS CITIZENS CAN DO ABOUT IT” - Tony Kevin , 1 May 2006

Ed – I’m putting these speaking notes up here now, because they sum up pretty well where I stand politically, as my site goes into temporary hibernation for three months .....

Message from Tony Kevin read out at Refugee Protest Rally at Kirribilli House , Sydney, on Easter Sunday morning, 16 April 2006

“We must not bow to threats over refugees” – commentary by Tony Kevin, The Advertiser ( Adelaide), Opinion Page, 7 April 2006

“Boat People Again” – commentary by Tony Kevin, first published in Online Opinion, 6 April 2006

“Facing criticism” – Letter from Tony Kevin published in the Canberra Times, 5 April 2005

“Democracy not ours to export” - commentary by Neville Wran, Former Premier of NSW, in SMH, 4 April 2006

”Who Cops It in the ACT” – New Matilda, “Last Friday afternoon, in the pre-weekend dead news hours, ACT Government Police Minister John Hargreaves and ACT Deputy Chief Police Officer Steve Lancaster released a few summary findings of the completed AFP internal investigation into a hit-and-run incident that took place at 12:15am on Saturday, 30 July 2005. On that night, Clea Rose, 21, was hit by a speeding car driven through the East Row bus interchange in the centre of Canberra — a pedestrian area, at that time of night. Clea Rose died of her injuries three weeks later. What made this tragic event the subject of an eight-month internal investigation by the AFP was the fact that the speeding car was stolen and was being chased by a vehicle driven by ACT Police (a branch of the AFP) …”

http://www.newmatilda.com/home/articledetailmagazine.asp?
ArticleID=1463&HomepageID=134

Tony Blair, public welcome rally, Parliament House, Canberra, Monday 27 March 2006 

Ed. There was a small but committed crowd (100-200) at this public rally representing many organizations and concerned individuals.  The focus was on freedom for Iraq, non-discrimination against Muslims in Australia, and civil liberties for all.  Lead speakers were Senator Kerry Nettle and her parliamentary guest Terry Hicks, David’s father.

The important thing we did there was to bear witness to how many people feel on these issues – our numbers on the day were unimportant. I’m publishing here my speech notes and Keysar Trad’s speech text – a powerful statement which he kindly sent me.

TK,  31 March 2006

“The Targeting of Julia Gillard” - Essay - © Tony Kevin 20 March 2006

Julia Gillard is an interesting politician with particular charisma. At least until an awful ten days for her in early March 2006, many saw her as a “genuine” politician attuned to ordinary people’s concerns, and a potential future Labor Prime Minister of Australia, as Helen Clark has been a successful NZ prime minister. As Kim Beazley’s star seemed to be waning, Gillard’s seemed to be rising.

Something went very wrong for Gillard between 6 and 15 March 2006 ....

“Hard to see any winners emerging from the Cole AWB Commission” – commentary by Bruce Haigh , 9 March 2006. Here is a classic commentary by Bruce Haigh of Mudgee - tough, hardhitting (on all the players involved) and - above all – accurately based in facts. I’m delighted to reproduce this commentary. Tony Kevin, Canberra, 9 March 2006

“Howard’s 10 years – An alternative political analysis” – commentary by Tony Kevin, as yet unpublished, 2 March 2006.

“Are Muslims the only real Australians?” - Anti-immigrant backlash betrays the multiculturalism on which this country was built by Tessa Morris-Suzuki. This fine commentary first appeared on the Korea-based “OhMyNews” international news website.

“John Pilger refuses to fly the flag”, John Pilger, New Statesman, 27th February 2006

Americans wrapped themselves in their flag, but not we Australians. This was never part of Australian life, writes John Pilger

The other day, one of my favourite cinemas closed down. The boards went up on the art-deco Valhalla in Sydney, one of the world's best at putting out powerful, political documentaries ..

"AWB Inquiry – the truth, the whole truth …” , political commentary by Tony Kevin, posted on Online Opinion, 17 February 2006 http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=4169

“We must sheet home the blame where it rightly belongs”, opinion piece by Tony Kevin, Canberra Times, 9 February 2006 ( on AWB issue)

Website Update for www.tonykevin.com - 18 February 2003 (on AWB issue, and a separate commentary on AFP, Bali Nine and SIEV X)

“Book Review Article: ”Lost at sea scandal”, by Christopher Bantick, The Mercury (Hobart), Weekend 14 January 2006, page B13 . "A Certain Maritime Incident: The Sinking of SIEV X”, by Tony Kevin, Scribe Publications, $32.95

“Iraq's people ultimate victims of corrupt wheat deals” – Opinion essay by Tony Kevin, The Age, 3 February 2006
This text is accessible at The Age website, http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/feeding-them-chaff/2006/02/02/1138836366588.html

"What now that West Papuans got under our guard?", feature by Tony Kevin, “Canberra Times” Forum section page B5, 21 January 2006

“SIEV X – an author’s postscript”, by Tony Kevin, as published in Overland issue 181, Summer 2005, pages 107-111

Media Release: ACT 2005 Book of the Year Award goes to “A Certain Maritime Incident: the sinking of SIEV X” by Tony Kevin - 9 December 2005 On 8 December ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope at an ArtsACT awards ceremony in Garema Place, Canberra City Centre, announced that “A Certain Maritime Incident: the Sinking of SIEV X” by Tony Kevin had received the 2005 ACT Book of the Year Award ...

A RECENT EXCHANGE OF CORRESPONDENCE, TONY KEVIN – GERARD HENDERSON

Senator John Faulkner in the Senate on 5 December, commenting on the Anti-Terrorism law that is about to be passed today – commentary by Tony Kevin, 6 December 2005.

EVA SALLIS ON COUNTER-TERRORISM LAW: “ART AFTER TERROR”, FROM “NEW MATILDA” - commentary by Tony Kevin, Canberra 5 December 2005

Speech by Keysar Trad at the Canberra Rally to protest terror laws, Parliament House, Canberra, 28 November 2005

Letter sent by Tony Kevin to John Howard, 28 November 2005, on the counter-terrorism laws {excerpts of which I read out at the "Defend Our Freedoms" Rally , at Parliament House, Canberra, 28 November 2005)

Address to “Green Left Weekly” public forum in Canberra, “Anti-terror laws: making Australia safer, or creating a police state?” - 6.30 pm , November 22, ANU Manning Clark Theatre No 6

Please take a few minutes to read this file - with the Howard terror laws about to be passed in the Senate next week, there are ideas here that may be worth reflecting on ...

“The Subversion of Australian Democracy” - text of talk on the new terror laws etc., given by Tony Kevin at a Sydney Greens meeting, Mori Gallery, Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour, 17 November 2005. Other speakers were Federal Greens Senator Kerry Nettle, and Keysar Trad. ( An advance release of this text also appeared on Margo Kingston‘s Webdiary , on 17 November – with thanks to Margo)

Submission Number 173 to Senate Inquiry into the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Bill (No. 2) 2005 (as accepted and published by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee, on 15 November 2005) , from Tony Kevin, Forrest , ACT , 11 November 2005

"Migrations" in "SIEV X - Published" section, flagged on Home page as New Item, titled:

“Migrations: a sign of the times” - Message of Pope Benedict XVI for the 92nd World Day of Migrants and Refugees:, Vatican 18 October 2005.

FORTHCOMING EVENT IN SYDNEY: "The Subversion of Democracy: What we can do about the Assault on Freedom", organised by Sydney Greens Forum, 6.30pm Thursday 17th November, at The Mori Gallery, 168 Day St, Sydney (near Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour). Speakers include: TONY KEVIN (Visiting Fellow, ANU; SIEV X campaigner), KEYSAR TRAD (Islamic Friendship Association of Australia), KERRY NETTLE (Federal Greens Senator, NSW)

“Two kinds of reality concerning the Howard government’s counter-terrorism bills: the Sunday Telegraph as compared with Geoffrey Barker ”

– political commentary by Tony Kevin, 7 November 2005

SPEECH AT “STOP THE WAR COALITION” RALLY, CITY WALK FOUNTAIN, CANBERRA CITY, 12.30 pm SUNDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2005 – Tony Kevin

"SIEV X 4th Anniversary Speech", at North Sydney Friends of Refugees, meeting at Hutley Hall, North Sydney Council Chambers, on 26 October 2005, by Tony Kevin

Proposed SIEV X Memorial Design for Canberra

“The Howard counter-terrorism legislation, and me” - Media Release by Tony Kevin, Canberra 16 October 2005

“I address here the very personal question that will face those of us like me, who will want to continue to contribute to democratic public discourse in Australia after these proposed laws come into effect. What will these laws do to the way people like me exercise our rights to take part in Australia’s public political conversation as Australian citizens, residents and voters ?” … I can now see clearly how this legislation, clumsily or vindictively applied, could feasibly send me to prison as a criminal. Because I am now pretty sure that I would defy this law, if I were placed in the position it could place me in of being wrongfully detained, and then being told to keep quiet about it.”

“Our new terror laws too much like South Africa’s” - opinion essay by Bruce Haigh, in Canberra Times Opinion, 3 October 2005 - with thanks to Bruce Haigh, and to the Canberra Times for running this important piece for readers in the national capital, by this former Australian diplomat who served in apartheid-era South Africa. This essay deserves to be more widely read, which is why I am copying it here. I hope others may pick it up (The italics are mine). ...Very alert and very alarmed, Bruce Haigh outlines his fears for Australia under Howard ...

“We all have a great deal to fear from anti-terror laws” – letter in the “Canberra Times” from Neil James, Executive Director, Australian Defence Association, and response from Tony Kevin, on 5 and 6 October 2005. (I don‘t know if Neil plans to publish this correspondence in the ADA journal “Defender” but it would be good if he did, so that his readers could see the other point of view as well, and judge for themselves the merits of both arguments).

Q & A concerning SIEV X with Tony Kevin: from “Civil Liberty: Journal of the New South Wales Council for Civil Liberties Inc”, pages 16-18, September 2005.

Book review: “ A Certain Maritime Incident - the Sinking of SIEV X’. Review by Mark Hanna, Committee Member, NSW Council for Civil Liberties, published in “Civil Liberty: Journal of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties Inc”, pp 29-30, September 2005. .....“A Certain Maritime Incident—the sinking of SIEV X provides a compelling and engaging examination of an incident whose importance in Australian political and social history should not be underestimated”.

Two recent essays and letters threads on Margo Kingston’s Webdiary, relating to the war on terror and other examples of government misuse of the ADF - here are URLs to two recent Webdiary threads I initiated and took part in subsequent discussion of. (Or, you can access through the Webdiary Homepage, http://margokingston.typepad.com/ ). ... "Defending Canberra: who you gonna call?" and "ADF chain of command - accountability v subservience".

 NSW WRITERS CENTRE, ROZELLE , SYDNEY – “WRITING HISTORY FESTIVAL”, 24 SEPTEMBER 2005: “DECLINING TO LIVE IN CREATED REALITIES” , panel talking notes by Tony Kevin:

"For those of us who decline to live in John Howard’s created reality, the facts and questions about the sinking of SIEV X are part of our history now ...."

“Vilifying asylum-seekers, and falsifying SIEV history”- Open letter from Tony Kevin to David Marr, Marian Wilkinson, Marg Hutton, Margo Kingston, Julian Burnside, Hannie Rayson, Hilary McPhee, Robert Manne, William Maley, Frank Brennan, 11 September 2005

Will a SIEV X National Memorial be allowed to be built in Canberra ? – recent media readings, and website commentary by Tony Kevin 12 September 2005

“I have no doubt that there will be a permanent national memorial in Canberra sooner or later, because SIEV X is part of our national migration history now; as much part of our history as all the other immigrant vessels that sank on their way to Australia and are memorialized around our country. To those who feel uncertainty about the idea of a SIEV X national memorial, I suggest : this is about inclusion and tolerance , values that we Australians should cherish and share.” – Tony Kevin

The Australian Senate briefly considers the case of David Hicks and the US Military Commission :

- An agreed Senate opposition parties’ motion was voted down by Government numbers, and a Q and A exchange took place between Senator Natasha Stott Despoja and Justice Minister Ellison, on 5 September 2005 - texts and commentary herewith

"VP Day: commemoration or celebration?" – The Age, Opinion Page, 17 August 2005, commentary by Tony Kevin.

"A Letter from Robin Gollan: 'This two-faced Government rules through fear and lies' Canberra Times, 13 August 2005

Two significant recent public readings on freedom of speech and terrorism – Waleed Aly, George Monbiot
TK – We are going to hear a welter of words on this in coming weeks, as proposed tightened-up Australian legislation is discussed among politicians, commentators and (I hope) in the Australian community. A lot of this may be prejudiced and poorly informed discussion. But here are two "readings" ( the first is an ABC interview), by Waleed Aly (Australian lawyer) and George Monbiot (UK political philosopher) that I think are worth reflecting on. See especially Waleed Aly’s final comments about effective self-policing now getting underway in Australian Muslim communities. He makes a lot of sense to me. I hope he will to our legislators, too ....

Letter to the Editor, "Touching on raw nerves", by Tony Kevin, published in Australian Book Review, August 2005 issue

Terrorism and Australian values – two recent Canberra Times" readings - commentary by Tony Kevin, 7 August 2005:
I was watching our Prime Minister on ABC TV "The Insiders" today 7 August, talking about terrorism and what policies we should be looking at to keep it out of Australia. He said some civilised and moderate things...

Submission on SIEV X and DIMIA-AFP people smuggling disruption program has been accepted by Senate inquiry into migration – media release of 28 July 2005 by Tony Kevin (with additional text, 1 August)
If there is a potential whistleblower from ADF, AFP or a Commonwealth Public Service department or agency reading this … now is the time to come forward and tell this Senate Committee what you know. There will never be a better time than this.

The Senate Inquiry into Migration Issues last week accepted and published on their website (as submission no 38) a submission from me. It is now a public document under the protection of Senate privilege. It can be accessed (and reported) at either of the following Senate website addresses: (and for convenience, the full text is reproduced below)

http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/legcon_ctte/migration/
submissions/sublist.htm

Hannie Rayson’s "Two Brothers" – the play, and the reviewing history – "Webdiary" review essay by Tony Kevin, 27 July 2005

http://webdiary.smh.com.au/archives/margo_kingston/001334.html

( TK Note: There is commentary on Webdiary arising out of this essay, with notable contributions by Marg Hutton and Craig Rowley)

"Boy Overboard" – A play review, Australian Young People’s Theatre, Riverside Theatre, Parramatta, 19-31 July 2005 – review by Tony Kevin, 22 July 2005

"Iraq in the mirror of Fallujah" – commentary by Paul Rogers, in www.opendemocracy.net , 21 July 2005

"A whistleblower at Bundaberg Base Hospital" - commentary by Tony Kevin on New Matilda website, Wednesday 29 June 2005 TK -

Since I wrote this piece for New Matilda 12 days ago, there have been dramatic further developments in the Royal Commission of enquiry set up by Queensland Premier Peter Beattie ..... Getting to the truth in such complex matters of public accountability is messy and painful – but it is better than trying to cover things up. What is happening around the Bundaberg Hospital scandal gives a foretaste of what it will be like when the truth about who knew what and when about the sinking of SIEV X starts to break. It won’t be pretty. But it will be necessary, if we are to cleanse our justice-based society of the guilt of complicity in what may have been a case of state-instigated terrorism ....

"Like Water on Rock" – Editorial comment, Eureka Street, July-August 2005

Eureka Street is delighted to extend our congratulations to Tony Kevin, author of A Certain Maritime Incident: the Sinking of SIEV X (see review p47). Tony was awarded the Community Relations Award in the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards at the recent Sydney Writers’ Festival ...

"Disturbing Questions" – A book review of A Certain Maritime Incident: the sinking of SIEV X, by Tony Kevin - by Louise Crowe, in Eureka Street, July-August 2005.

The "Rainbow Warrior" and the sinking of SIEV X
- Media release by Tony Kevin, author of A Certain Maritime Incident: the sinking of SIEV X (Scribe Publishing, Melbourne 2004), Canberra 9 July 2005 The story of the Rainbow Warrior reminds us that the truth about state crimes does not remain hidden. Sooner or later, it floats to the surface. The truth about SIEV X will, too ....

"The day Howard bowed to winds of change" – opinion essay by Tony Kevin, The Age, 20 June , 2005

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Opinion/The-day-Howard-bowed-to-winds-of-change/2005/06/19/1119119722714.html

TK – I wrote the piece below over the weekend, reflecting on the differing evaluations of the Howard concessions last Friday to the Georgiou and Moylan-led dissident group, that are appearing in the refugee support movement and in the media. In considering the question of the real value of what the dissidents achieved, we must also honour their courage and political savvy which got us all to this new point. My piece below focusses on the iron nerve they needed to carry their initiative through - and suggests some measuring sticks we can apply from now on in testing the value of the outcome. We should be very alert now for new illegal entry boat stunts! ...

"Fresh call for SIEV-X inquiry" – Tony Kevin, The Australian, 9 June 2005

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15558472-29277,00.html

FORMER Australian diplomat Tony Kevin today repeated his call for a full judicial inquiry into the tragedy of the overloaded people smuggler boat SIEV-X.

Mr Kevin, the former ambassador to Cambodia who has long campaigned about the SIEV-X case, said the boat had been left to sink as a deterrent ....

"Leaking like a SIEV", by crikey.com political correspondent Christian Kerr, on 17 June 2005

TK - The influential and independent news analysis group www.crikey.com has paid attention lately to the re-emerging SIEV X news story in its subscriber-only newsletter. Here are the four recently published Crikey pieces about SIEV X, helpfully collated by Crikey on their open-access website:

"Leaking like a SIEV", by Christian Kerr, Crikey’s political correspondent, 17 June 2005
http://www.crikey.com.au/articles/2005/06/17-1601-3380.html

"SIEV-X Conviction - an interview with Tony Kevin on ABC Radio National "Breakfast", presented by Fran Kelly, 7:47am, Thursday 9 June 2005 http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/brkfast/stories/s1388160.htm
(Transcribed from ABC audiotape at above URL by Tony Kevin)

"SIEV X people smuggling trial now in its third week" - commentary by Tony Kevin, New Matilda, Issue No 40, 1 June 2005
http://www.newmatilda.com/home/articledetailmagazine.asp?
ArticleID=679&HomepageID=83
"The trial continues in Brisbane of Mr Khaleed Daoed, alleged assistant to convicted people smuggler Abu Quassey (now serving a five year sentence in Egypt for accidental homicide and people smuggling) ...

"Even after this trial delivers its verdict, the truth about the sinking of SIEV X may still prove elusive. In Bishop Tom Frame's words: 'I am afraid that in the case of SIEV X, we might be confronted with the unknown and burdened with the unknowable.' ...

"Crucial questions about how SIEV X sank will remain unanswered, until such time as there is a full powers independent judicial inquiry into the sinking of SIEV X and the Australian Government's people smuggling disruption program in Indonesia. Something the Senate has three times demanded over the past three years. ...

"As I understand it, Labor, Democrats and Greens parties remain committed to the pursuit of this inquiry - neither they nor I accept Frame's view that the truth about the sinking of SIEV X may be unknowable. One day, under a different kind of Australian government, a SIEV X judicial inquiry will be held."

"Only One Path to the Truth" - Commentary by Tony Kevin, Opinion Page, Canberra Times, 1 June 2005

A discussion of the relative merits of internal administrative inquiries, Senate Select Committees, and Royal Commissions/judicial inquiries, in cases of alleged serious government malfeasance like the sinking of SIEV X, or the Cornelia Rau and Vivian Solon cases:

"The Prime Minister's preferred instrument in cases where the integrity of his governance may be called into question is the internal administrative inquiry. Here, he chooses the person to conduct the inquiry; sets the scope and terms of reference, and publishes only as much of these as he wishes to; receives the report himself; and decides how much of that report will be made public. It is a very controlled process, whose credibility depends entirely on a public presumption that the Prime Minister is acting in good faith as the custodian of the integrity of federal governance. That presumption has been sorely tested in recent years ....

"Internal administrative inquiries risk polluting the evidentiary stream. When official witnesses can - as in internal inquiries or Senate committees - be economical with the truth, tailor their evidence, prevaricate or misrepresent without sanction, the outcome of such flawed processes risks of itself contaminating any future Royal Commission or judicial inquiry. This is because witnesses will then have an interest in defending the claimed integrity of their earlier testimony, delivered under inadequate legal obligations and protections. ...

"Where Cornelia Rau and Vivian Solon went, there but for the grace of God go we. We need as citizens to have assurance that our senior public service, our defence force, and our police forces are incorruptible. Royal Commissions or judicial inquiries are finally, in such serious cases, the only way we can have that assurance .... "

A Certain Maritime Incident wins the 2005 Community Relations Commission Award, in the 2005 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, part of Sydney Writers’ Festival 2005

and Two upcoming SIEV X events at Sydney Writers Festival on 26 and 29 May 2005

The announcement on 23 May 2005 of the Community Relations Commission Award to my book A Certain Maritime Incident: the Sinking of SIEV X (Scribe Publishing, Melbourne 2004) was warmly received by the 400-strong invited audience of literary folk at a presentation dinner at Parliament House, Sydney.

See below for my unofficial transcript of what Premier Carr and I each said about the book during the ceremony. (I include this for archival record purposes) .....

The SIEV X –related events in the Sydney Writers’ Festival - do try to come - are: