Media Release
Tuesday January 23, 2007 10:30am WST
For Immediate Release
No Embargoes

"The dumping of Immigration Minister is a loss of intelligence for the Prime Minister's front bench, but not surprising, since her 'Yes Minister'-attitude was often wavering and not always present beyond question, because she's too opinionated and too intelligent and independent for John Howard's liking", WA Rights group Project SafeCom said this morning, "but it's a win for the rebels in the backbenches, because it may well be only a matter of time before she will start taking stock for her demotion and starts becoming the independent thinker she really is under the veneer of her agreement with Howard's radical right-wing policies."

"The dumping of Vanstone is merely a confirmation of the Prime Minister's long-term strategy where most of the intellect and independent thinkers are punished and neutered for having an intelligent opinion or too much heart and conscience on the backbenches. As with several backbenchers, they form a block that's too threatening for John Howard, who needs to keep acting with complete control, and who consequently seeks out weaklings who at all times will revert to the "Yes Minister" line, rather than to go deeply into the issues even if this spells conflict with the Prime Minister's policies."

"The danger of Vanstone getting in a position of rebellion is also the reason Howard has already offered her the option of a diplomatic posting: he faces a real danger of building a backbench revolt with his xenophobic policies around Immigration and Citizenship," spokesman Jack H Smit concluded.

For more information:

Jack H Smit
Project SafeCom Inc.
[phone number posted]