Prime Minister Helen Clark has been asked to intervene after an Australian court decided not to grant extradition for two Catholic clergymen to face charges of sexual abuse in New Zealand.

At the risk of poetic extravagance I have to ask Will Miss Clark, waste our capital?

Australian Justice Madgwick, said it would be “unjust or oppressive” to send the clergymen back to face trial given the differences between the two countries’ legal systems and the delay in bringing the allegations.

Ken Clearwater, manager of the Male Survivors of Sexual Abuse Trust, which has supported many of the alleged victims, has contacted Miss Clark to ask the Government to get involved, but a spokesman for Miss Clark told Christchurch’s Press newspaper Mr Clearwater’s submission had not yet been received.

While the New Zealand police are still to decide whether to appeal against the judge’s decision, the real test of credibility lies with Miss Clark.

The Australian Judiciary has treated us with the contempt we deserve, so we must look to the person whom through her own behaviour and political interference has brought the New Zealand justice system into disrepute.

If she crosses the Tasman on this one I can’t see her getting any more respect from their judiciary than she does from their airport staff.

We need to come to grips with the implications of the indictment issued against our country.

It effectively reduces us from a democracy to a regime.