{"id":547,"date":"2013-01-22T11:09:27","date_gmt":"2013-01-22T11:09:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/australiansforhonestpolitics.wordpress.com\/?p=547"},"modified":"2019-04-13T23:24:24","modified_gmt":"2019-04-13T13:24:24","slug":"ashby-inquiry-proposal-for-discussion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.nofibs.com.au\/ashby-inquiry-proposal-for-discussion\/","title":{"rendered":"Ashby Inquiry Proposal for Discussion"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Margo Kingston<\/a>
\n22 January 2013<\/p>\n

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Two days ago Paula Matthewson, who tweets and blogs as\u00a0@Dragonista, posted an open letter to the #AshbyInquiryNow\u00a0campaign<\/a> people challenging them on their strategy and aims. A stimulating discussion ensued in comments to her piece which showed that engaged citizens on the right, centre and left agreed that it was essential that the truth behind this matter be exposed and its perpetrators brought to account. But how?<\/p>\n

After the discussion, I tweeted my idea for a judicial inquiry, endorsed by Paula, to three federal politicians I follow and who follow me – Craig Emerson (ALP), Rob Oakeshott (Independent) and Richard DiNatale (Greens). I had no expectation any would reply. Perhaps due to the refusal of the mainstream media to explore the smoking gun handed to them by Justice Rares in the Ashby judgement, \u00a0all expressed interest. As you’ll see, Rob has concerns at how terms of reference could be drafted, and promised to listen to people’s ideas.<\/p>\n

The Geek and I feel Twitter has a special opportunity to constructively contribute to getting the truth behind the Ashby court case, a goal worthy of bipartisan support. No matter what your politics, under current law and practice we all are in danger of wealthy, unscrupulous people who want to destroy our lives abusing the legal system to do so. In politics, the use of this weapon could even destroy a Liberal or Labor government.<\/p>\n

So AFHP would like to host a conversation on the form and terms of reference of an inquiry into the #Ashby matter, and hopes that lawyers and others with expertise in the area will participate in comments to this post or anywhere else they fancy.<\/p>\n

If you are interested, the following conversations and tweets will explain the background.<\/p>\n