Judge Slammed Over 9/11 Remarks

Treasurer Says Australians Are ``Aggrieved’’

Australian High Court judge Michael Kirby, who told a court the United States was "obsessed" with the September 11 attacks, has been sharply criticised by Federal Treasurer Peter Costello.
Kirby – a proven maverick - shocked not only his courtroom but the entire nation when he said, ``The Americans, with all respects, have become obsessed with September 11," during a High Court appeal against the control order imposed on Melbourne man Jack Thomas, the first person convicted under Australia's new anti-terror laws.
But the number two man in the Howard Government responded strongly to the ill-advised comments. Kirby’s comment provoked sharp reaction from Costello, who told Melbourne radio station 3AW that the entire country was ``aggrieved’’ by the judge’s words. ``If you are going to work, minding your own business in New York working peacefully in a tower, and you are killed by a terrorist, then I think you deserve every sympathy,’’ Costello said on air.
Ten Australians died in the September 11 attacks, which killed more than 2900 people.
This morning, the online edition of The Herald Sun the biggest-selling daily newspaper in the country , carried the headline ``Terror victims hit back at judge.’’
The opening paragraph of the report by Mark Dunn, Ben Packham and Stefanie Balogh says, ``The families of victims killed in the World Trade Centre attacks have slammed a High Court judge over his comment that the US is obsessed with September 11.’’
The website of the national daily The Australian has the headline `` Kirby lacks sympathy on 9/11, says Costello’’.
The first paragraph of the report, by Mark Dodd, says, ``The victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York and Washington deserve "every sympathy" and it is wrong to make light of the catastrophic event, Peter Costello says.’’

FOOTNOTE: Michael Kirby’s words do not reflect the sentiment of everyday Australians.