Copyright © 2007, Maurie Gee

US Ambassador to Australia Robert McCallum found himself addressing 100 future leaders of the Howardland at the Young Liberal Convention in Melbourne. Following in the footsteps of his predecessor, who found no problem in directly interfering in Australia's politics, McCallum also saw nothing unusual in speaking to the right wing extremist Young Liberals. He told the golden-haired youths that "any move by a Labor government to withdraw troops from Iraq would create tension between the two allies."

Ain't democracy grand.

But get a load of what the Young Liberals had to say when it was their chance: Quoted here from Reid Sexton and Jason Dowling in The Age:

Meanwhile, the Young Liberals likened Aboriginal culture to rubbish and said 40,000 years of Aboriginal history could be "taught in one lesson".

The comments were made in opposition to a motion from Tasmanian Young Liberals that called for a special Aboriginal studies unit at the secondary school level.

The motion was carried, although several Victorian Young Liberals, including president Alexander Lew, vigorously opposed it.

Mr Lew said it was one of the most "politically correct motions" to come out of a Liberal convention.

"Aboriginal history is important and should be taught at our schools, but you can squeeze 40,000 years into one lesson," he said.

Another Victorian Young Liberal, Miranda Airey-Branson, asked why it was necessary to learn more about Aboriginal history and culture, saying some Aboriginal historical sites were little more than refuse disposed of years ago.

"You go to Rome you see the Colosseum . . . if you come to Australia, we have got really old rubbish," she said.

The convention unanimously supported a "no school - no welfare" motion to withhold welfare payments from parents whose children were not regularly attending school.

A motion rejecting the teaching of intelligent design in science classes was also passed.

Other motions called for an "end to government legislation prohibiting tobacco advertising" and for the Young Liberal Movement to recognise "the lack of scientific consensus regarding both the existence and impact of man-made global warming".

The Young Liberal Movement of Australia is considered the breeding ground for future leaders. Its alumni include Federal Treasurer Peter Costello, former defence minister Peter Reith, one-time Liberal leader Andrew Peacock and the deputy Liberal leader in Victoria, Louise Asher.

At least they rejected teaching Intelligent Design, but hell, their predecessors in the Hitler Youth might have thrown that one out too.

-- Olney Garkle