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PM told overboard claims false: inquiry
December 9, 2004 - 11:24AM

A parliamentary inquiry has backed claims from a former defence adviser that he told Prime Minister John Howard claims that children were thrown from an asylum seeker boat were false.

The Senate set up an inquiry in August into new revelations by Mike Scrafton, a former senior adviser to former defence minister Peter Reith, that contradicted the government's children overboard claims.

Mr Scrafton said he had told the Prime Minister in November 2001 that a videotape was "at best inconclusive" as to whether there were any children in the water.

He said he had also told Mr Howard he did not support the proposition that the event had occurred, that photographs released in early October 2001 were definitely of the sinking of the refugee boat and not of any children being thrown into the water and that no-one in defence believed that any children were thrown overboard.

The inquiry report, tabled in parliament, said Mr Scrafton's evidence had shed new light on the children overboard affair.

"His evidence also corroborates the (children overboard inquiry) report's findings that the prime minister's office was alerted to the misrepresentation of the photographs before the Prime Minister's Press Club appearance on 8 November (in which had made the children overboard claim)," the report said.

The report said Mr Scrafton's evidence also suggested that Mr Reith, his chief of staff and his media adviser all knew that the photographs were being misrepresented, but decided not to correct the public record.

The inquiry was from a Labor and Democrats dominated Senate committee and included a minority report by coalition senators dismissing the claims.

The asylum seeker issue is considered to be one of the key factors in the government's re-election in 2001.

© 2004 AAP

But, of course, we already knew this. What this government is able to get away with/sweep under the carpet is staggering. Then they get voted back in with a record majority! I think I'm losing faith in the democratic process. Sad

And this business of REWARDING the ministers who do the dirty work! Reith, off in a comfy o/seas position ... Next Alston (after the job he did on the ABC) to become Oz High Commissioner in London! ... Rolling Eyes

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Before the tampa incident took place, Labour were a long way ahead in the polls. After Howard drew a line in the sand with the Tampa, the liberals went to the polls and won convincingly. I think this and the most recent election suggests to us, that what is important to the average australian voter. That is, perceptions of what will affect them. Human rights issues and doing the right thing has importance, but not as much as things that will effect them such as national security, interest rates, taxation,economy etc. I am not making a value judgement on this, just stating it how it is.

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It was the THREAT that these people represented, the deliberate lies told by Reith & co for their own political ends that was so offensive. People believed what turned out to be a blatant lie.

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The majority of Australian's willingness to believe that somehow people would throw their children overboard for no good reason is almost as repulsive as Howard's cynical manipulation of that willingness.

I will never respect that man.

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Govt covered up Medicare stats: official
December 9, 2004 - 11:59AM/the AGE

A Health Department official called for the sacking of the Howard government, saying Health Minister Tony Abbott had ordered certain statistics to be withheld from the public.

Before the federal election, Mr Abbott asked the Department of Health and Ageing to stop publishing quarterly Medicare bulk billing figures until the election was over, Medicare statistics worker Mark Smith told a Senate committee.

"I believe it is unethical for a minister to issue a directive ... to withdraw data from the public domain," Mr Smith told the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee.

"This is a clear corruption of our democratic system.

"Medicare was a critical component of the Howard government's election campaign.

"I request the Governor General to consider dismissing the Howard government for corruption of the Australian democratic process."

Mr Smith acknowledged that it was a minister's right to ask that certain statistics be withheld from the public, but he said he considered the matter to be so important that it warranted drastic action.

"The relationship between the minister and the department is like a black box in which ... everything is contained," he said.

"That's a recipe for having possibly very little accountability.

"Something's got to be done about having to look at the structure of how we do these things."

© 2004 AAP

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What a brave official - I guess they'll wait until they've rammed through their changes to the unfair dismissal laws before they sack him/her....

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I agree with you, that the government took advantage of the situation for political purposes. But, I think in general that the majority of the people don't care. You do because you are compassionate and care about all people in the world. But a large majority of people just worry about things that effects them such as employment, interest rates, the economy. As long as these things are going well, the government can get away with things like this. But a slow down in the economy and it will these things will have an effect.

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hingehead wrote:

What a brave official - I guess they'll wait until they've rammed through their changes to the unfair dismissal laws before they sack him/her....

But first, the character smear ... the usual tactic. Rolling Eyes

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australia wrote:

I agree with you, that the government took advantage of the situation for political purposes. But, I think in general that the majority of the people don't care. You do because you are compassionate and care about all people in the world. But a large majority of people just worry about things that effects them such as employment, interest rates, the economy. As long as these things are going well, the government can get away with things like this. But a slow down in the economy and it will these things will have an effect.

Well, bring on the next slump, then! Twisted Evil

Will that assist us in becoming more compassionate human beings? This "I'm alright, Jack" attitude is extremely disappointing & offensive. Like I said earlier, it's easy to lose faith in the democratic process in circumstances like these.

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I think you can say that it is dissappointing but not offensive. It is human nature. Most people put their own needs first. It has been like this since the dawn of time and will continue to be like it. But i admire you for your compassionate thought and think that will good fortune will bestow you in some time.

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It's a matter of degrees, from where I sit. At some point I think living in endless (credit-funded) consumer heaven has to be balanced with a bit of concern for the plight of others ... It's the lack of concern for people in desperate situations that I find offensive.

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We have a nature but we also have brains. It doesn't much brain to see where massive inequality and injustice will lead to. The first people agains the wall come the revolution are the f*ck you jack, I'm alrighters.

I think the term used is enlightened self interest.

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I can understand your point of view msolga. Maybe people are compassionate and turn on the television sets and see what happens to the margaret hassans of this world, and they get a clear focus on priorities. I mean, she has a heart of gold with good intentions and look what happens to her. It is wonderful to feel compassionate for people in less fortunate circumstances than ourselves, but it is unfortunate that a minority can take advantage and expolit our kindness.

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hingehead wrote:

We have a nature but we also have brains. It doesn't much brain to see where massive inequality and injustice will lead to. The first people agains the wall come the revolution are the f*ck you jack, I'm alrighters.

I think the term used is enlightened self interest.

We also are supplied with hearts ... A pity that some will only discover this when their own particular situation worsens. Margaret Thatcher would be proud!

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A heart is a pumping ugly muscle Olga, but I know what you mean - unfortunately I think empathy and a conscience are learned attributes, not innate ones, and are current bunch of elected role models aren't teaching anyone anything good.

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Yes.
EVERYONE- the media, advertisers, our politicians, are telling us 24 hours a day to consume avidly, indulge ourselves to the nth degree, put yourself first!/you deserve the best! .... Don't even give other bloke a second thought! No wonder we have such cynical governments. This is what we've been trained for.

Those ugly pumping muscles you talk of, hinge, are irrelevant in Howard's Australia. That's why I found Michael Long's walk so inspiring. Not the cleverest, best planned action, but the sincerity shone through. He meant it! That is so unusual these days.

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That is an inspiring paragraph. I will aim to have a bit more compassion into my thinking.

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Our POLITICIANS are telling us to consume?

They are? Where?

I thought we were almost being told to "stop it or we'll go blind" - cos of the balance of trade figures - but I take your point on consumerism.

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msolga wrote:

PM told overboard claims false: inquiry
December 9, 2004 - 11:24AM

A parliamentary inquiry has backed claims from a former defence adviser that he told Prime Minister John Howard claims that children were thrown from an asylum seeker boat were false.

The Senate set up an inquiry in August into new revelations by Mike Scrafton, a former senior adviser to former defence minister Peter Reith, that contradicted the government's children overboard claims.

Mr Scrafton said he had told the Prime Minister in November 2001 that a videotape was "at best inconclusive" as to whether there were any children in the water.

He said he had also told Mr Howard he did not support the proposition that the event had occurred, that photographs released in early October 2001 were definitely of the sinking of the refugee boat and not of any children being thrown into the water and that no-one in defence believed that any children were thrown overboard.

The inquiry report, tabled in parliament, said Mr Scrafton's evidence had shed new light on the children overboard affair.

"His evidence also corroborates the (children overboard inquiry) report's findings that the prime minister's office was alerted to the misrepresentation of the photographs before the Prime Minister's Press Club appearance on 8 November (in which had made the children overboard claim)," the report said.

The report said Mr Scrafton's evidence also suggested that Mr Reith, his chief of staff and his media adviser all knew that the photographs were being misrepresented, but decided not to correct the public record.

The inquiry was from a Labor and Democrats dominated Senate committee and included a minority report by coalition senators dismissing the claims.

The asylum seeker issue is considered to be one of the key factors in the government's re-election in 2001.

© 2004 AAP

But, of course, we already knew this. What this government is able to get away with/sweep under the carpet is staggering. Then they get voted back in with a record majority! I think I'm losing faith in the democratic process.

And this business of REWARDING the ministers who do the dirty work! Reith, off in a comfy o/seas position ... Next Alston (after the job he did on the ABC) to become Oz High Commissioner in London! ...

Bastard should resign - he MISLED PARLIAMENT!!!!

As well as being outrageously immoral, BTW.

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dlowan wrote:

Our POLITICIANS are telling us to consume?

They are? Where?

I thought we were almost being told to "stop it or we'll go blind" - cos of the balance of trade figures - but I take your point on consumerism.

Prior to the election we were told that the economy was ultra sound, super healthy, a source of great optimism, etc, etc ... It is only relatively recently that we've been informed (by Costello) that things are not as hunky dory as they'd indicated. Certainly, prior to the election a balance of payments problem (which was obviously there!) was not acknowledged. Isn't that the acknowledged reason for the Libs' success: sound economic management?

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