I hope David Hicks is home soon.

It appears John Howard’s wrecking ball (George W. Bush) is about to lay charges.

Bob Ellis’s commentary on Hicks is worth reflecting on, and his book First Abolish the Customer: 202 Arguments Against Economic Rationalism is impossible to put down.

In 2002 Ellis said: “Hicks has committed, it seems, thought crime against the United States and is being detained and tormented by people unaware of his rights. It’s unlikely they know this, and they should be told.”

John Howard, Philip Ruddock and Alexander Downer’s response to Hicks’ predicament has been and continues to be nothing short of pathetic.

This offensive trio has passed the buck and their scandalous behaviour is nothing short of disgraceful.

Downer, in a speech some time ago, said he was “deeply conscious of the honour” of being re-elected. He was also “deeply conscious” of his “very great responsibility”. He said he would be a “tireless advocate” for his constituents. (I guess Mayo is a small electorate in the scheme of things).

If that is the case, then what has he done, or what is he doing today, for David Hicks?

Downer said it was with “regret” that the underlying current of many of the Federal Government’s policies carried flotsam and jetsam with them. We know Hicks is in limbo; it seems Downer regards him as part of this “flotsam and jetsam”.

Downer, who spoke of the negative consequences of embracing sectional interest groups (like those who want to help Hicks), said the challenge now was quite different: it was to provide a climate for sustained and sustainable wealth creation.

Quite clearly, the Foreign Minister is more concerned with economic rationalism than the individual. And Hicks is a victim because of this outrageous stance.

And then, of course, Downer went on to talk about national security.

“The national interest, Australia being buffeted by the waters of pacifism which have flowed across much of Western Europe and the United States” — and so on and so on.

And he spoke about the importance of ANZUS.

But what really beggars belief was his remark that there is an intellectual vacuum in Australia that has been filled by special interest groups.

Yes Minister — each of us has special interests, and one of mine is that I am deeply concerned about the horrific predicament of David Hicks.

Howard, Ruddock and Downer are responsible for where and what Hicks is today; and they have shown scant regard for his human rights these past five years. Perhaps, in this federal election year, they will feel moved (if only in their own interests) to do more to get him home.

The Federal Government’s appalling treatment of Hicks will rank among this country’s most shameful chapters. It is on a par with other callous acts of the Howard Government including SIEV X and “children overboard”.

Our leaders must move to get Hicks home now, or at least before a US court if there are grounds to do so.

Howard, Ruddock and Downer should discuss the David Hicks case further with their US buddies (God Bless America), and apply what pressure they can to end this poor man’s agony.

It is too late for justice to be done (Hicks has already served five years behind bars, much of it in solitary, and no one can give him back that time) but, if they at last brought some pressure to bear on the US, at least it would be an acknowledgement that they have failed in their duty (as elected leaders of our nation) to protect the interests of a fellow citizen and are at last trying to make amends.

Such an action might even win back a few straying wimpy Liberals.

The world is watching you John Howard.

As an eternal optimist, I cling to the belief that Hicks will be home soon.

Campaign here: Amnesy and David Hicks

John Andrewartha

John Howard, Philip Ruddock and Alexander Downer’s response to Hicks’ predicament has been and continues to be nothing short of pathetic. This offensive trio has passed the buck and their scandalous behaviour is nothing short of disgraceful.