“The Labor Party I know would have fought tooth and nail against
Australians’ involvement in Iraq without UN sanctions. They would have
protected Australia from terrorism by simply not being party to an
illegal war. Their voices would have been loud and would have clearly
defined what they stood for. The Labor Party I know would have
countered Howard’s fear agenda with one of peace. This climate of fear
is Howard’s creation and instead of counteracting it with an
alternative, forceful, intelligent debate, the Labor Party blindly
accepts it and helps promote it.”

– from former Family Court chief justice Alastair Nicholson’s op-ed piece (taken from a speech) in The Age today.

“The
Labor Party I know would have fought tooth and nail against
Australians’ involvement in Iraq without UN sanctions. They would have
protected Australia from terrorism by simply not being party to an
illegal war. Their voices would have been loud and would have clearly
defined what they stood for. The Labor Party I know would have
countered Howard’s fear agenda with one of peace. This climate of fear
is Howard’s creation and instead of counteracting it with an
alternative, forceful, intelligent debate, the Labor Party blindly
accepts it and helps promote it.”

– from former Victorian state parliamentarian Denise Allen’s op-ed piece in The Age, October 4th 2005.