tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post4302417191565934423..comments2023-12-06T00:23:28.790+11:00Comments on Press gallery reform: Andrew Elderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-84962903213757305612009-08-31T16:00:24.517+10:002009-08-31T16:00:24.517+10:00My criticism of Macklin is that she raised hopes f...My criticism of Macklin is that she raised hopes for better, which Downer never did. Perhaps these people expect nothing (I'd question that), but I think Aborigines were entitled to expect more than words.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-52000942809563972692009-08-31T11:35:18.673+10:002009-08-31T11:35:18.673+10:00While I agree with your opening sentence, I cannot...While I agree with your opening sentence, I cannot view the intervention as anything but a cynical attempt at concocting votes after ignoring the issue for 10 long years. Alexander Downer acknowledged it himself saying he thought there would be more votes in it. It was never going to work, and it hasn't.<br /><br />The right seems to argue that apologies are just so much symbolism that achieve nothing, and then complains that because they haven't fixed the problem, apologies are worthless. <br /><br />It's true that apologies don't materially change things on the ground, but they are valuable to those who have been denied the decency of acknowledgement for past wrongs. That is all they do.<br /><br />Your criticism of Macklin is the same criticism of every government for the past 30 years, and perhaps longer. Apologies don't fix things. They're only better than denial.<br /><br />KymbosAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-35697826227875204652009-08-31T09:23:48.144+10:002009-08-31T09:23:48.144+10:00That's true, but the incompetence of (and vacu...That's true, but the incompetence of (and vacuum at the heart of) the government is the greater issue.Andrew Elderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04705844456819481896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22534369.post-1578881820784779662009-08-30T23:54:01.961+10:002009-08-30T23:54:01.961+10:00first time poster, long time reader.. Here's...first time poster, long time reader.. Here's another case where the coalition shows it can't even challenge Rudds weakest ministers. A half decent opposition would have Maklins's and Conroy's scalps by now.Davemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09387910533519309349noreply@blogger.com