Accepting that the Victorian institutions involved in getting Pell need reforming, this two part essay explores the uncanny parallels between the Pell case here and similar cases in the UK, and draws lessons from these in charting a course towards reform.

Accepting that the Victorian institutions involved in getting Pell need reforming, this two part essay explores the uncanny parallels between the Pell case here and similar cases in the UK, and draws lessons from these in charting a course towards reform.

While many are delighted by the High Court's decision in the Pell case, unease and questions remain, especially about the operations of the justice system in Victoria.  One core question is - why weren't these questions asked by Australia's media?

Has the world finally, conclusively gone mad?  What on earth has happened to “perspective”?  Why have we the people allowed the Deep State to just get a whole lot deeper, and broader?  Now the State controls the elderly, churches, clubs, small businesses, large businesses, community groups.  In short, it totally controls us all. 

Whatever the outcome of the upcoming High Court appeal by Cardinal Pell against his conviction on sex abuse charges, and despite the continuing social media tirades against the man and the undying hatred expressed by Pell haters against his small band of public defenders, there has been a recent, ever-so-subtle turn in elite opinion towards the possibility of an Alfred Dreyfus/Lindy Chamberlain scenario here.  That the man may have been wrongly convicted.  This is evidenced by some support for Pell’s innocence from unlikely quarters, and suggests hope against hope for justice.

When the dissing of a stalwart figure of good governance and sensible policy like the late Roger Scruton can lead to his reputation being shredded, and have that shredding rubber stamped by a “Conservative” Government and its standard bearing ministers committed to, above all else, “public relations”, we need to stop and think about what drives our modern governments. 

Donald Trump famously opined in the lead up to his memorable victory in 2016 that America had been led by “stupid people”. It seemed to resonate, because true. I wonder what Trump would make of today’s political, corporate and community leadership in Australia.

Much has been made of our current  Prime Minister’s absence from Australia during the ongoing and tragic bushfire crisis.  And now of his less than heroic performance since his conscience/political nous got the better of him and he decided to come back and face the fire.  Of course, he has been merely one of a number of politicians missing in action during the fires.  Much has been made of the NSW Emergency Services Minister being in London during, well, an emergency.  And not just any emergency.  Now the NSW Opposition leader has tiptoed OS to escape the furnace.  Are these people serious?