Australianewsflash

With a resounding 'yes' vote from the recent postal survey by the Federal Government, the latter now needs to translate this vote into legislation that protects those of say certain religions who oppose same sex marriage, while ensuring that the legislation does not even inadvertently result in discrimination being levelled at those it purports to protect. Tricky stuff. May the Force be with our Federal pollies as they grapple with the translation! GD

The federal government is closing down the Manus Island detention centre for people who tried to get into mainland Australia by illegal boat entry.  Several months ago they told the refugees that the centre would be closed and that they would have to move to other accommodation provided out in the wider Manus community.  The refugees refuse to move even though water, power and food are now no longer supplied to the detention centre with the closing date having passed.  The refugees claim that they are not safe in the wider Manus community. The alternative accommodation has been provided but the government seems to have failed to encourage these refugees to move to it over an extended period of time. Part of what the government should have done is to liaise with the Manus authorities to ensure that it was safe for the refugees.  Somewhere, somehow the Australian government seems to have botched the whole thing.  Now the UN is accusing it of breaching its humani...