AS NIGHT FOLLOWS DAY

Former Federal Opposition leader Andrew Peacock’s favourite expression on the election campaign was this: As night follows day.

And you can apply that to a lot of situations even away from a federal election. As night follows day. Some story pops up on the news about the sexual mores of teenagers, or a new sexy movie, or even speed dating, or dating by colours.

And, I tell you, as night follows day, there’ll be quote from one Bill Muehlenberg. He’s variously described as spokesman or Vice President of the Australian Family Association.

I have interviewed him in the past several times and, as night follows day, I have never been able to find out exactly what the Australian Family Association is, what the AFA actually does, or who the President is – if old Bill is the VP.

He won’t even tell me how many members his association has. I keep asking: How many members have you go this week Bill.

And he won’t confirm or deny that the Australian Family Association is some splinter group associated with the Catholic Church. For all I know Bill may be the only member.

I thought of Muehlenberg-type knee-jerk reaction when I heard reports that Victoria Police plan random weapons searches in parts of Melbourne starting tomorrow.

The Police safety operation will involve frisking people in places like Southbank on the Yarra and in Bourke and Elizabeth and Bourke streets in the CBD.

Presumably the coppers will be targeting roaming gangs of youths. Apparently, in the past five years, criminal offences involving knives have risen from less than a thousand to nearly three thousand. Robberies involving knives have increased from less than 300 to nearly 1200.

I heard those figures and the random frisking plan and thought – as night follows day – we’ll hear an instant bleating from the civil liberties group Liberty Victoria and Mr. Instant Quote, Jamie Gardiner.

And yep, there he is in the paper this morning: “It is a fundamental principle that people’s liberty not be interfered with when there is no good reason”. An epidemic of knives and stabbings in Melbourne is a pretty good reason, in my opinion.

And explain, Mr. Gardiner, what is the difference between being randomly breath-tested for alcohol and randomly checked for weapons.

Only the crims, and the Jamie Gardiners of this world would object.

Incidentally, how many members DO you have this week. Bill?

Thursday, February 26, 2004

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2004