James M Miller | Author

James M Miller

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24.01.2022 I have just learned that a former and much beloved colleague of mine at the University of Newcastle, Professor Frank Bates, passed away today. Frank was one of the best people that I have met: a truly great legal scholar; a gentleman; a mentor; and friend in the true sense My sincere condolences go to Franks family, friends and the legion of colleagues privileged by Franks company, counsel and academic leadership through his peerless example.... Rest In Peace, Professor.

22.01.2022 So privileged to witness, in person, the work of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, sitting in Newcastle, today. This Royal Commission merits our deepest thanks for the work so far carried out and our best wishes for all that that remains to be completed. I sense this Royal Commission will produce a defining moment in our social history, with the rights of children and young Australians elevated to the place of protection and high regard ...that all of us, as right thinking people, instinctively require. Although I may not have agreed with everything that our first female Prime Minister, the Right Honorable Julia Gillard did while in office, establishing this Royal Commission was, without any doubt, a brave, wise and proper exercise of executive power. It will, without question, stand the test of time as a fine and deserving legacy for Prime Minister Gillard.

22.01.2022 My book, The Priests, going head-to-head with Tom Clancy, Dymocks at Charlestown near Newcastle. Go, Little Book!

20.01.2022 Thank you, The Australian newspaper, for publishing my letter about Section 18C in last weekends Australian. We have to assert our right to freedom of speech, and affirm our respect for Aboriginal Australians; there is no contradiction between those two very important things.

20.01.2022 Thanks to the Newcastle Herald for publishing my article about the Royal Commission, in last weekends newspaper and still available online in the Opinion section of the Newcastle Herald. I really appreciate it! http://www.theherald.com.au//man-on-a-mission-to-learn-th/

19.01.2022 A tall ship passing under a certain bridge on Sunday 20 November, at the end of our 19km urban walk from Wolli Creek train station to Circular Quay, and a tasty beer to finish the day! Sydney was glorious!

18.01.2022 So grateful to receive, yesterday, a telephone call from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offering congratulations for writing "The Priests", and wishing me well for the future. Thank you, Malcolm. Your kindness and concern is very much appreciated. James.

16.01.2022 Sydney Airport viewed from the Cooks River, with my walking group on Sunday 11 December, during our 28 km walk from Wolli Creek to Cronulla. Another beautiful day in glorious Sydney!

16.01.2022 The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has published my submission on why, unless mandatory celibacy is not abolished, the Catholic Church should be removed form running schools. Here is the link: http://www.childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au//issues-paper- Go have a read and if you agree with my submission, why not try and convince two other people and ask them to do the same? In my opinion, this reform is essential for the better protection ...of the 760,000 children in Catholic run schools. Anyway, Pope Francis thinks celibacy is a bad idea (well, I think he does!) so lets help him get rid of it! Issues Papers & Submissions, Child Abuse Royal Commission The Royal Commission releases issues papers on relevant topics to allow third parties an opportunity to respond with their opinions and expertise. childabuseroyalcommission.gov.au

14.01.2022 Here is the link to my interview with Cassie McCullagh on ABC Radio Nation "Life Matters" show this morning: https://radio.abc.net.au/programitem/pgXKGDpKDG?play=true Thank you Cassie for asking so many great questions and thanks ABC Radio National for the opportunity to speak about my experience and the lessons which I believe arise from it.

14.01.2022 My new book, The Priests, on the shelf at K Mart Kotara with Muhammad Ali (mentioned in the book) right below and 1 kilometer from the Kotara Presbytery - also mentioned in the book. Its a small world ...

13.01.2022 Had a great interview on 26 July with David Barr on Tuesday Drive - 89.7 Eastside FM. Thanks David! Heres the link: http://eastsidefm.org/tuesdaydrive/

12.01.2022 In todays Newcastle Herald, Joanne McCarthy sets out the raw figures about the sexual abuse scandal in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese. The numbers for my old school, St Pius X high school, leave me feeling a bit numb, I have to say. It was an awful place. On two occasions the NSW District Court has found that the school principal was an organized sex criminal. Im glad hes dead. Thanks again, Jo. http://www.theherald.com.au//royal-commission-reveals-mo/

12.01.2022 Thanks the The Australian newspaper for publishing my letter, today, on Section 18C. It is pay walled, so here is the text: Section 18C ensures many worthy books die at inception because experienced authors know publishers will reject them outright and, so, the manuscripts are just never created. I can think of many deserving points that may be legitimately made with genuine intention to advance the interests and welfare of Aboriginal people. But given a climate in which so m...any take umbrage at so little, many such points would certainly "offend or insult" some Aboriginal person. That there may be an available defence under Section 18D is, in the real world, entirely irrelevant. For as soon as a publisher sniffs a potential to breach 18C its pretty much game over. Publishers are not interested in feeding lawyers to defend words that apparently breach a substantive rule of law. And who can blame them? The result is that serious debate about Aboriginal Australia is neutered, to the cost of all. As regards Mr. Leaks cartoon, that there could have been any sort of kerfuffle which invokes the power of the state through the Human Rights Commission and the Federal Court is just depressing - not to mention embarrassing.

11.01.2022 Scenes from our 22km Manly Ferry Wharf to Taronga Zoo Ferry Wharf walk on Saturday 3 December. Another glorious day in Sydney! Cheers, everyone!

10.01.2022 Thanks to the The Australian for publishing my letter as the lead letter in this mornings paper. Offend and insult must be removed form section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, otherwise I am fine with it. People who seek to intimidate, vilify or humiliate other people because of their racial/ethnic identity are pigs and deserve the full weight of the law on their stupid heads. My letter of this morning is behind a paywall, so here is the text: "Its not the states rol...e to legislate for respectfulness" Legislating for a respectful culture is anathema to free society. The Federal Circuit Court judgement dismissing claims brought against three students of Queensland University of Technology under section 18C of the Racial Discrimination Act, is encouraging. Offence or insult must be profound or serious, and measured against the characteristics of a hypothetical member of a free society. Nevertheless, the bar is still set too low. Well intentioned people pushed for the inclusion of offend and insult in section 18C. This was seen as a means of shutting down precursor behaviour that could normalise a disrespectful public discourse that may become a breeding ground for the intimidation, humiliation and vilification of targeted groups. The intention is good but the bow is drawn too long. It is not the role of the state in a free society to legislate for a respectful culture. This is wrong in principle and, as the QUT case illustrates, gives rise to complications of enforcement which far outweigh any likely social good. An oddity about the QUT case and your report on remarks of Australian Human Rights Commission president Gillian Triggs, regarding a swift end to the kerfuffle over Bill Leaks 4/8 cartoon, is that Section 46PH of the Racial Discrimination Act empowers Triggs to terminate claims under section 18C, at any time, if they lack substance. The apparent reluctance to utilise that option in both cases is an unexplained mystery.

10.01.2022 Off to Newcastle tomorrow to attend the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Assault. I am keen to witness the work of this historic inquiry.

09.01.2022 Took my walking group through the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, on Saturday. It was 28 km of absolute perfection with some very close-up whale action! Its Spring Time! Get out there and enjoy it, everyone!

09.01.2022 Just had a nice chat on 2HD Newcastle Radio with Pete Davis about The Priests. Thanks Pete and 2HD!

08.01.2022 David Brearly has written a generous review of "The Priests". Thank you David, and The Australian newspaper. http://www.theaustralian.com.au//9fa0d4114ce58c7550a1219ab

07.01.2022 My new book, The Priests, will be available on the Australian East Coast from 25 July 2016.

06.01.2022 Diamond Bay and Sydney Harbour, on Sunday 18 December with 32 Sydney Explorer members on our 20km walk from Watsons Bay to Maroubra. The tasty beer at the end of the day tasted just great!

04.01.2022 Copies of my new book, The Priests, lurking about on a shelf at Dymocks, George Street Sydney! Nice to see!

03.01.2022 Off to be photographed by the eminent photo-journalist, Kate Geraghty, tomorrow morning for feature articles in the Fairfax Press about The Priests. Very excited to meet Kate; her body of work is quite incredible!

03.01.2022 A stack of The Priests, which will be in book stores from Monday 25 July. So nice to have received my copies! Great job, Finch Publishing Sydney!

01.01.2022 Many thanks to ABC Radio National Life Matters for posting this wonderful feature article about my story and new book, The Priests. You guys at the ABC are so professional and understanding. See it here:http://www.abc.net.au//james-miller-on-overcoming-/7670138