JAMES CROTTY
My initial post was to draw attention to the need I see to review the position of the Governor here in Tasmania. A modest ambition, readily achieveable given some political resolve. It is presently too ambitious to attempt anything nationally after the failures of past republican campaigns.
Some of the responses attempt to link the judiciary with controversial prosecutions and and perceived failures in our system of government. Just let me put those matters to bed.
First, to William, in the trials you mention the Judge played no role in the prosecution or outcome. The DPP is laudably independent in bringing a prosecution. The jury made or failed to make a decision on guilt in both cases. The role of the Judge was limited to ensuring the trial went according to law.
Second, to Peter, although I do not agree with what you say your post does cause me to consider a problem we have in Tasmania, broadly put as, “where does one complain about alleged judicial, magisterial, prosecutorial or police wrong doing”.
The present answer in relation to all of those bodies is the police. Present and past experience demonstrates that public confidence in such a system may not be warranted. Better that the public be confident all personages are equal in being the subject of competent and unbiased investigation. For that purpose we need something akin to an independent investigative body. The nature of the body is beyond the scope of this post. But I suspect the notion would allay the expressed concerns of William and Peter, and a considerable number of thinking Tasmanians. Read more, Comment here
