Violence is now normal in Australia

Australian politicians have lost the plot – if they ever knew what was happening around them! Violence in this country is at an all time high, probably because our system has encouraged a lack of respect in the community. People don't respect each other, people don't respect police and this reflects the antics of our politicians. Anyone listening to a broadcast of Parliamentary question time could be forgiven for thinking it was a prize fight in a brothel. The aggression and disrespect which is displayed demonstrates that aggression is applauded by our so-called leaders. No wonder then, that passers-by are assaulted in the street, rape and murder are common and that our courts and prisons are clogged. The only response seen from politicians is to compartmentalise the issue – divide it up into real violence and domestic violence. So the progression is to send the message that domestic (or family) violence is a lesser form of the problem and is therefore seen as more acceptable. In the same way, the introduction of “one punch laws” for thugs who kill is a complete nonsense. Surely a defence for an accused would be “But I hit him 10 times your honour so I'm not guilty.” Our military leaders also have let us down. They have allowed navy personnel (and some other branches of the armed services) to behave worse than animals. Our politicians don't live in the real world. There are more homicides here every year than before the gun laws were tightened as a knee-jerk reaction by John Howard.