The Scott Parkin Case 

Last week an American non-violent activist, Scott Parkin, was arrested and removed from Australia, after having his visa revoked. The Federal Attorney-General, Ruddock, said that the Minister for Immigration, Vanstone, revoked Parkin's visa based on an ASIO Security assessment. "I understand the decision was based upon a security assessment, and security assessments are not something about which I can comment in any detail." SourceWatch has a detailed account.

According to a radio piece on the ABC's The Deep End on Thursday 15th (which you can listen to) Parkin uses street theatre and puppetry. For instance, his group does an act called Hallibacon, which features a large inflatable pig, and protestors wearing snouts and pig masks being fed cash from a trough of public money by Cheney.

Such protests have for a long time been regarded as freedom of speech here. In the absence of other reasons, we have to be worried that is being curtailed. On the other hand, there is speculation that our government was doing someone else's bidding. Crikey outlines the scenario. On the ABC's The National Interest on Sept 18th, Terry Lane claims that Kellogg Brown Root, subsidiary of Halliburton, donated $50,000 to both major political parties here, suggesting both a question mark over the opposition's acquiescence, and a possible avenue for foreign corporations to exercise power. The Law Report, broadcast Tuesday 19th, will talk to Parkin's lawyer about the case.