John Howard - Silencing Dissent

The Australian Federal Election is just around the corner and it got me thinking about just how many people really, I mean REALLY REALLY know what John Howard has done to our once free Nation?

I have read two brilliant books for which a link to both is included just there on the right under the heading BOOKS. They were fantastic eye openers and I guess very alarming for me personally because I voted for John Howard at each of the election thus far. This will not be the case at the coming Federal Election for the very reason that both of these books show.

Did you know, just to mention two from the book, Silencing Dissent:

1. The Howard Government has exclusive power to determine how much time will be allowed for debate and has used that power for very important Bills that John Howard wanted passed through VERY QUICKLY! Here is one example; from 1 January 2004 to 30 June 2005 there were no gag motions and only one guillotine; from 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2006 there was 16 and 5 respectively. The times allotted to major Bills were far less than those for Bills of comparable importance in the past. (i) The Anti Terrorism Bill was give a mere 6 hours, (ii) the highly contentious Welfare to Work Legislation was give only 7 hours, and (iii) the Radioactive Waste Management Bill was given 3 hours! Yes just 3 hours! By way on contrast, the Native Title Bill 1993 was considered for 50 hours.
2. The Howard Government, before the 2004 election, showed a strong interest in gaining control of the Senate by other means, either by changing the electoral system to ensure a government majority, or by changing the Constitution to allow legislation to bypass the Senate. It was very clear that the Howard Government was keen on controlling the Upper House, and it was highly unlikely that the purpose of that control would be to enhance accountability.

I'll add other snippets from Silencing Dissent and Not Happy! John, leading up to the Federal Election.