The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

goodfielder wrote:

.... As for our lot here in Oz. Give me a break. This Lightfoot story is just another example of how bereft our Government - and dare I say it - our federal Parliament - is of decency. I am close to despair at their behaviour. They are a threat to democracy because if democracy gives us clowns like this we should be looking for an alternative.

Yes!
True!
Absolutely agree!
You're right!
Correct!

But we all knew that well before the last election!

The people have voted & they, apparently, approve!: A record majority. Control of both houses of parliament. Sad

.... & now, here we are, AGAIN! And the Libs are getting even more careless, outrageous & dishonest! (And why shouldn't they? Rolling Eyes

)

How long do we have to live with this? Sad

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But maybe this huge majority is beginning to work against Howard? Backbenchers going public with their own tax agendas, for example. And remember the backbench opposition to Abbott's abortion "debate"? I like the idea of a revolting backbench with a bit of a conscience & a mind of it's own! Very Happy

So now, this apparently backbench-driven iniative by Howard:

Howard set to free 120 detainees
By Michelle Grattan
March 20, 2005/the AGE

Australia's longest-term detainees may soon be released into the community under a major change in Government policy being spearheaded by John Howard.

Cabinet is considering releasing, on some form of temporary visa, failed asylum seekers who have been detained more than three years and cannot practically be repatriated. About 120 people, who came to Australia in boats, are in this category, although the cases of about 30 of them are already under review.

Mr Howard is responding to backbench pressure and increasing community disquiet. The detainees' plight was highlighted by the case of Cornelia Rau, an Australian resident mistakenly locked up at Baxter.

Government sources said cabinet was seeking a way to release the long-term detainees without sending a wrong signal to people smugglers.

Cabinet discussed the issue on Monday, including whether there should be a new form of temporary visa, and what power the Immigration Minister had to issue a conditional visa. The aim would still be to have these people leave Australia eventually if possible. Officials' work will come back to cabinet within weeks, possibly as early as Tuesday.

Some long-term detainees have appeals under way. There are problems getting travel documents for some; a few are stateless. The longest serving detainee, Peter Qasim, a Kashmiri, is in his seventh year, with India refusing to accept him.

Victorian Liberal backbencher Petro Georgiou, a strong advocate for the detainees, said last night: "It's very important that the regime of indefinite detention be terminated. People who are not a threat to Australian security should be let out of detention."

He said the Government should also give permanent visas to the several thousand refugees on temporary protection visas, but Government sources said the temporary protection visa issue was not before cabinet.

Liberal backbencher Bruce Baird, from NSW, who with Mr Georgiou and Judi Moylan (WA) met Mr Howard recently to plead for a change of policy, told Lateline on Friday that Mr Howard was "sympathetic in listening to our story". National party whip John Forrest said yesterday: "I'm hopeful of a shift in policy on long-term detainees."

David Manne, co-ordinator of the Refugee and Immigration Legal Centre in Melbourne, said the indefinite detention policy needed "wholesale reversal".

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A majority of just ONE in the Senate! Now this Lightfoot business is getting very interesting!

PM fears losing Lightfoot: Labor
March 20, 2005 - 5:39PM/the AGE

The Prime Minister was refusing to support an independent inquiry into claims Liberal Senator Ross Lightfoot smuggled money into Iraq because it could cost him control of the Senate, Labor said today.

The Opposition has continued to pressure John Howard to back an inquiry into allegations Senator Lightfoot smuggled money into Kurdistan, and carried a concealed weapon during a taxpayer-funded trip to Iraq in January.

Deputy Opposition leader Jenny Macklin today accused Mr Howard of protecting the West Australian senator to safeguard the Coalition's majority in the Senate come July.

''John Howard has a very significant reason to protect Senator Lightfoot from an independent inquiry. John Howard wants to protect his majority in the Senate,'' she told the Nine Network today.

The Coalition will have an absolute majority of one seat when new Senators take their places in July .... <cont>

<complete article>
http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/PM-fears-losing-Lightfoot-Labor/2005/03/20/1111253868212.html

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http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/03/20/wbCARTOONpetty_gallery__550x410,0.jpg

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http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2005/03/20/edcartoon_gallery__550x325,0.jpg

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http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/03/21/wbCARTOONpetty_gallery__550x390,0.jpg

Bastards!

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http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,429044,00.jpg

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Abbott-wants-media-games-to-end/2005/03/23/1111525216657.html

Tony Abbott now wants an end to the "media circus" surrounding the biological parentage of the young man, who now, is apparently not his biological son? (More incredible than Days of Our Lives, this story! Surprised

) Interesting. When the "story" suited his own political (Right to Life)purposes, Abbott went for it! Now it's turned into a can of worms, he's asking the media to respect the privacy of his long ago girlfriend & the young man she gave up for adoption. The only one I feel sorry for poor old Daniel. Bet he wished Abbott had stayed right out of his life!

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If I was Daniel I'd be incredibly relieved not to be related to the ferret.

The soap opera aspects are interesting - surely Kathy Donnelly had some idea that it was possible someone else was the father. Hope you keep an eye on it Olga - I won't read Murdoch papers and there's nothing else here on the pointy bit.

I just had a birthday and I got two books: John Pilgers 'Tell Me No Lies'

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0099474492/qid=1111579721/sr=8-11/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i6_xgl14/002-5260163-2935250?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

and Margo Kingston's 'Not Happy John'.

Expect an increased amount of outrage from my contributions.

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Yep, Poor Daniel. When the dust finally settles he'll definitely be relieved! :wink:

We are receiving so much media rubbish on this story, you wouldn't believe. Rolling Eyes

Do you listen to AM? They've done quite a run on it.

Happy birthday, hinge!

(A very discerning gift-giver you've got there! Very Happy

)

(pssst ... I'll let you into a little secret: I've been secretly in lurve with JP for years! My hero! <sigh> Laughing

)

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Rarely listen to AM because I'm not driving as much (no job, no commuting!). The story seems so intrinsically unnewsworthy. Who gives a rats? How does this affect our country? Journalism is an ill profession.

(psst...me too! JP and Noam Chomsky rule - at least I wish they did)

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hingehead wrote:

Rarely listen to AM because I'm not driving as much (no job, no commuting!). The story seems so intrinsically unnewsworthy. Who gives a rats? How does this affect our country? Journalism is an ill profession.

But a bit of egg on face is kinda nice, admit it! And well deserved! Twisted Evil

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hingehead wrote:

...(psst...me too! JP and Noam Chomsky rule - at least I wish they did)

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post deleted

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http://network.news.com.au/image/0,10114,429152,00.jpg

http://www.theage.com.au/news/Immigration/Freedom-for-some--then-deportation/2005/03/23/1111525222463.html

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Unions vow to take on workplace reforms
By Paul Robinson
Workplace editor/the AGE
March 24, 2005

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/03/23/pt_HAWKE_ent-lead__200x187.jpg

Bob Hawke
Photo: Andrew De La Rue

The ACTU wants June 30 to be a national day of protest against changes to the industrial system.

Up to 100,000 workers across Victoria will stop work in June for the first of what is expected to be a series of industrial showdowns to protest against radical workplace changes proposed by the Federal Government.

State and regional labour councils across Australia are expected to join the day of action on June 30, which is being cast as a massive national rally of workers, the largest in Victoria since the 1998 waterfront protests.

Skeleton staffing arrangements will be negotiated for hospitals, power stations and public transport so that the first half-day stopwork and rally can go ahead in Melbourne. Schools are on holidays at the end of June but will be affected by protests planned for August or September.

ACTU secretary Greg Combet told a meeting at Dallas Brooks Hall yesterday that the proposed laws, expected to be introduced in August after the Government gains control of the Senate, would undermine wages, conditions and Australia's tradition of workplace fairness.

Former prime minister Bob Hawke warned the faithful that Prime Minister John Howard had underestimated the labour movement.

The former ACTU president told up to 2000 union delegates that Australians believed in an industrial system judged by an independent umpire balancing interests of capital and labour. The proposed changes would give unequal power to management and were against the national interest, he said.

"There has been no other institution in the community that has made such a significant contribution to the quality of the life of this country than the trade union movement," he said.

"Not one person employed in this community does not reflect the previous work of trade unions... It has been down to the hard work of trade unions either through direct bargaining, national campaigns, taking cases to the arbitration commission or arguing for more equitable federal and state legislation."

Trades Hall Council secretary-elect Brian Boyd said the campaign committee would meet next week to urge all other state and regional labour councils to adopt June 30 as a national day of protest.

He said the changes were "being proposed by a government which wants to cut wages and conditions and destroy collective bargaining - the strength of organised labour - in favour of giving even more power to employers".

Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews condemned the strike program, saying it was disruptive and unnecessary.

"It is extremely unfortunate this strike action is being planned when the unions don't know what is contained in the Government's progressive industrial relations reforms," he said.

"He (Brian Boyd) should look at the increasing numbers of people who are leaving the union movement to see how this sort of action figures in the minds of Australians."

In a speech to the Sydney Institute last night, he said: "These are not radical measures but the logical next steps in the evolution of the workplace relations system."

Anglican Bishop Phillip Huggins told the Melbourne meeting that unions, like a free press, the judicial and education systems and religious freedom, were crucial to democracy.

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I will be there.

Goddamn - that can't be Hawkey?

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I will most definitely stop work in support of the ACTU - if I'm working in June!

Yep, Deb, it's the ol' silver budgie! Out of mothballs! Surprised

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I was there at parly in 1996 - my then girlf was pushed through a broken window and the CFMEU was the main pusher. Times have changed. CFMEU endorsed Howard at the last election (living up to their BLF corrupted-morals background). Those protests led to nothing. I'll be there but they still won't add to diddly squat, just like the sorry day marches et al.

Do you guys know what a ministerial is? Write to your member, your senator, any elected bastard and annoy the bejeebus out of them.

Torn between idealism and apathy. Olga and Deb I admire your stamina. To much wine on a good thursday.

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I don't know about idealism, hinge. It feels a bit more like desperation to me. I don't fancy life without an Arbitration Commission.

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Political trivia section:

OMG! The Abbott /paternity soap opera continues! Now the media has outed the REAL dad! Shocked

Who lives just near Tony Abbott! Good grief, poor Daniel O'Connor! I'll bet he wishes he'd never attempted to find his biological parents!

http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/Real-dad-lives-near-Abbott/2005/03/24/1111525257756.html

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/03/23/cartoon_2403_gallery__550x389.jpg

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The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

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