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Australia Changes its Position on the Death PenaltyOn 16 February 2003 the Australian PM said in a Sunday dayspring television interview that the Bali bombers should be dealt with in accordance with Indonesian law. and if the goal penalty is what the law of Indonesia provides, well, that is how things should proceed. There wont be any sound off from Australia.1In early March 2003 the PM told US television that he would welcome the death penalty for Osama Bin Laden. I cerebrate everybody would, Mr Howard said.2In response to these comments"Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Australia would non intervene if bin Laden was to be executed. I personsally have never support the death penalty buit int he case of Osama bin Laden, I dont think that too many years would be shed if he was executed, kick in mind all the people hes responsible for killing." 3 These comments mark a significant change in Australias attitude to the death penalty and a further weakening of Australia s commitment to international pitying rights standards.Australias longstanding positionAustralia has traditionally taken a knockout principled stand against capital punishment. In 1986 diplomatic relations with Malaysia were agonistic when Australia protested the execution of two Australians, Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers. The then Australian Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, went so far as to describe the death penalty as barbarian.In October 1990 Australia acceded to the Second Opt...