Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

Under pressure over the huge bonuses paid to executives of failing companies, the Government has finally announced it will take action. Mounting community outrage at huge payments to departing executives has led the Federal Government to announce an inquiry into the issue — but first it will pass law to give shareholders more power over payments.

Shouldn’t we be using the anti terror laws to control these thugs? We should make their clubs illegal and destroy the club houses. Anyone known to belong to an outlaw bikie gang should face the same penalties as those belonging to terrorist organisations. There is no difference – both use violence and terror to intimidate the rest of the population.

Peter Faris QC, also writing in today's Australian, asserts that the combination of the Haneef incident and this one demonstrates that the AFP are not capable of overseeing Australian counterterrorism procedures.  His worries about the exposure of Sydney airport as an easy terrorist target are worth contemplating. (Updated)