The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

I feel the same way many times msolga (not understanding what I'm getting at I mean).

I was making an oblique reference to the following events:

1. The legal plans by the Howard Government for the anti-terrorism legislation.
2. The protestations by the Premiers/Chief Ministers before their secret briefing.
3. The meekness of the Premiers/Chief Ministers after the secret briefing.
4. The ridiculously restrictive legislation that John Stanhope was good enough to let us all read.
5. The fact that Mercury '05 is running right now.

5 has no connection with 1 - 4 but it's another example of the jammy luck that Howard has.

I hope that makes sense. I think I know what I meant now

... And yes, I agree with you that it was a good read. Michelle Grattan, though a highly respected political journalist, is not exactly what you'd call "radical". However, she is extremely important in political analysis in this country. At times she infuriates me by not exposing the obvious & sitting on the fence! So it was extremely heartening to read her perspective on these weird Howard/Ruddock-driven developments. It put the proposed legislation into some sort of understandable perspective, for me, anyway. She gave legitimacy to Jon Stanhope's actions. Too often in recent times we've seen courageous people putting themselves & their careers on the line, trying as best they can to alert us to draconian government actions, only to suffer character assassinations in the media. Howard has gotten away with this tactic far too often & only because the media has allowed it. Michelle Grattan's response was a breath of fresh air. So, we're going to be allowed to pursue this issue, then? The media is actually encouraging the debate? Something has changed for the better. Well, a little bit, anyway! :wink:

Yes, it does, gf.
Clear as a bell!
Thanks.

Backlash forces watering down of tough anti-terror lawsJohn Kerin, David King
October 17, 2005/the Australian

THE Government's tough new anti-terror laws will be watered down following a community backlash and backbench concerns some elements are too extreme.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock is under pressure from members of the Government's own backbench security committee to soften aspects of the new laws, particularly drawing a line between freedom of speech and inciting hatred or sedition.

Under new offences, anyone inciting violence or racial hatred faces up to seven years in jail. But backbenchers are concerned the legislation has been drawn too broadly and, despite a defence of "good faith", could affect legitimate criticism.

Mr Ruddock conceded yesterday that his backbench committee had already forced some "minor changes" and suggested there could be more. .... <cont>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16940124%255E601,00.html

Last Update: Monday, October 17, 2005. 5:58pm (AEST)

Premiers back counter-terrorism laws

The premiers of New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania have backed the Federal Government's proposed counter-terrorism laws.

Coalition backbenchers have today negotiated changes to the bill amid concerns some aspects were too extreme, but the Prime Minister denies it is a watering down, saying the substance of the bill will remain.

Federal Labor is also pressuring the Government to give a Senate committee more than one day to scrutinise the legislation, but Mr Iemma says it is happening already.

ACT Chief Minister Jon Stanhope has posted a draft of the legislation on his website.

Mr Stanhope has expressed fears the federal bill will be rushed into law without enough debate on its implications for civil liberties and freedom of speech ..... <cont>

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1484206.htm[size=7][/size]

I don't get this from the Premiers. I mean, are they all mindless populists? Now I'm wondering if the Howard/Ruddock legislation was a ploy - an ambit claim as it were. Although I think that they thought they had it in the bag so perhaps I'm wrong on that. I read some of the legislation (I admit I couldn't get through all of it so how they expect the Senate to do so in a day is beyond me) and frankly it was disturbing. Yes there's a need to have extraordinary legislation for extraordinary times but this legislation is well over the top.

Yes, I'm quite perplexed, too.
Steve Bracks (Victoria) seemed to think it was bad form (or something?) for anyone from the premiers' meeting to have revealed the details to the public. Why no concern about things like the very limited timeline for the discussion in parliament? What's the rush?
I would have loved to have been there when the premiers recived that ASIO brief! Whatever they learned seems to have swayed the waverers. I assume Jon Stanhope was at that meeting, too. What makes him different to the others then?

After briefly perusing the above posts I would swear you people were discussing the latest British parlimentary activity.

Do you copy those blokes?

Possibly, Gus. Certainly the attitudes & proposed measures seem very similar on this particular issue. However our fate is very much to follow George W's lead in most things. We want a country just like yours! We want to be a carbon copy! (Or that's what our prime minister wants, anyway.)

In the 1960s ASIOhad 760 personel by 2001 the number had dropped to 584 budget 62.9mill sept 11 changed all that and numbers began to climb Asio now has 980 personell and a budgie of 171.7 mill according to THE AGE numbers will rise to 1860 by 2010 and add another 500 mill to the budget. source THE AGE pge 2, news, mon oct 17. I wonder if that includes ASIS.

True story this;
ASIO has a file on santa clause!? how do I know? I cant tell you that but the santa clause file does exist.

Oh, there might be some interesting job opportunities coming up then, dadpad!
(I wonder if they'll be AWAs? :wink: )

I have the feeling msolga that an out of work mountain cattleman wouldnt quite fit somehow!

I didn't know you were out of work, dadpad, so that terrific job suggestion wasn't directed at you, in particular. Commiserations, though ... I've been there/done that & it's not much fun, I know.

Anyone else feeling like this?:

Apt msolga - I'm starting to think I'm living in Airstrip One.

Actually it's all cheesing me off immensely. Crumbs driving to work I have three or four near misses (and that's just in my driveway - just kidding ), I nearly got cleaned up by a big semi the other day....but what do I do - stay home?

I like the attitude of the Brits - getting on with it and not jumping at shadows. But I suppose they've had years of practice (referencing IRA operations on the "mainland")

Whaaaaaat? Please tell me this isn't true!:

Diggers to open new terror front
John Kerin
October 19, 2005/the Australian

AUSTRALIA is opening a third front in the war on terror as the Howard Government prepares to send troops, patrol boats and surveillance aircraft to The Philippines.

Defence Minister Robert Hill said last night he was negotiating a "status of forces" agreement with Manila, which would pave the way for Australia to conduct joint counter-terrorism exercises on Philippine soil.

The US is the only other country with a status of forces agreement in place.

Senator Hill told The Australian the negotiations could lead to the two countries being involved in joint ground-troop operations. ... <cont>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16966605%255E601,00.html

Please excuse me, I feel the need to repeat this one. I now feel even more so! Goodfielder, you thought you felt bad this morning? Stick around, it's going to get worse!:

not a problem msolga the post was more about governments taking real jobs from rural australia and replacing them with with city based jobs, then claiming they have "created jobs". First they reduced government sevices such as sec offices and rail services, next to go was the timber industry then when we had a thriving tourist industry built on the hertige of those who went before (trail rides) the (public liability) insurance industry cut that down now we are being banned from our leases completly. what they dont seem to understand is that every single job that goes has an exponential effect on rural communities

My "pluck is still undaunted and courage firey hot" (with apologies to Banjo)

msolga - Deputy Sheriff Howard is at it again..

dadpad - you blokes are getting a rough trot up there (sorry for the pun) - I did hear (radio) something about what was being done to you but I wasn't sure if it was the feds or the state govt.