The NEXT coming Oz election thread!

In case you're interested in the view from "the other side", here's today's editorial from the Australian newspaper. Yesterday the Australian's reporting of the IR rallies was interesting: amongst other things, it reported much smaller numbers of those attending the rallies. (only 60 thousand in Melbourne, for instance.) And today, this:

Editorial: Protest from the past

November 16, 2005/the Australian

Old-fashioned unionism accomplished nothing yesterday

THAT the workers, united, can never be defeated may be true, but you would not know it from yesterday's union action against the Howard Government's workplace relations reforms. Because the vast majority of Australia's workers were not united in protest. They ignored the strike and kept on working. Certainly some hundreds of thousands of people around the country turned out to denounce the changes. Unquestionably the proposed laws are unpopular in the community, due in no small part to the appalling job Workplace Relations Minister Kevin Andrews has done in selling them. But what we heard yesterday was not the voice of the people. Rather, traditional trade unionists from militant areas of the private economy turned out to support a system that suits them. And they were joined by public servants, such as teachers and nurses, some of whom seem to think that they, rather than the communities they serve, are the clients of the health and education systems. This was industrial action by the shock troops of unionism but while they made a great deal of noise, their message did not mean much to the 75 per cent plus Australian workers who are not union members. ... <cont>

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17263382%255E601,00.html

A little bit of insight into the Australian & where it's coming from, politically. :wink:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Australian

~

Now here's the AGE's Editorial. Definitely a more politically "liberal" newspaper, but not exactly pro-worker when it comes to industrial disputes & economic analysis. :wink: :

Coalition put on notice over workplace laws
November 16, 2005/AGE EDITORIAL

Rallies won't change legislation, but a government that defies public concern invites a response at the ballot box.

Reactions to yesterday's rallies against the Howard Government's workplace changes proceeded along familiar lines. Unions hailed the nationwide turnout as proof of the depth of public concern. The Government and employer and industry groups dismissed the rallies as a predictable union tactic and said most of the workforce had ignored the call to join the protests. (The same groups ignored the deterrent effect of heavy penalties under laws that they had pointedly warned could be used against workers who took unauthorised time off work.) Despite the disruption and costs of their day of action, unions will not win this battle by taking to the streets. The Government has said its legislation will pass intact, regardless of the numbers of protesters. Prime Minister John Howard would be no more daunted than was Victorian premier Jeff Kennett by similar rallies in 1992, but the scale of the current changes significantly raises the political stakes.

It would be a mistake to conclude that the unions' morale-boosting exercise is not reflective of broad public concern. Certainly, as the Government says, the public sentiment is based on fears of what might happen in workplaces, but on our reading of the legislation such fears are not baseless. The Age endorses the argument that a flexible, simpler, modern system of workplace law is needed to sustain a productive economy, but doubts this legislation will deliver that. Fairness and job security are the essential foundations of a happy, productive workforce and of consumer confidence; the absence of these qualities is an alarming feature of the legislation. .. <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/editorial/coalition-put-on-notice-over-workplace-laws/2005/11/15/1132016792246.html

... & here's what the (hardly politically radical!) Christian Lobby had to say about it all ... :

Christians attack IR overhaul
November 16, 2005 - 7:47AM/the AGE

The Australian Christian Lobby has hit out at the government's industrial relations overhaul, saying it will force families to spend less time together and the consequences could be dire.

Former commander of Australia's SAS and special forces Brigadier Jim Wallace, who was now the executive chairman of the Australian Christian Lobby, said there was no doubt the government's plan to eliminate penalty rates would hurt family life.

"If you remove from employers the need to pay a premium for employing people on public holidays and on weekends, then public holidays and weekends will inevitably be treated exactly the same way as every other day over time," Mr Wallace told ABC radio.

"If more and more families are going to be working on those days then we're going to distance children from their families more and more. ... <cont>

http://www.theage.com.au/news/business/christians-attack-ir-overhaul/2005/11/16/1132016822621.html?oneclick=true

Ooooooh & look whose coming to Adelaide! :

Adelaide 'lock down' under way for Rumsfeld visit:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1508405.htm

~

Pity we don't put immoral aliens in Baxter.

Interesting. I listen to probably five hours of news a day. Seven days a week. Ever since Mr Bush's troubles started to pile up in the past few weeks (falling approval ratings, Iraq, indictments, rising fuel prices, failed Supreme Court nominee etc). several of the lightening rods have disappeared from view. I can't prove a negative, but I swear I have not heard the name Rumsfeld for weeks. He is keeping a very low profile here...but he has to appear to being doing something. Fly him off to Oz.

Reminds me of a bumper sticker: "Jesus is coming. Look busy."

Yeah, American mass murderer visits Adelaide.

Secret service has been turning the place upside down.


There's a rally at Parliament House this afternoon. I will stop by on the way home....not that it changes anything, but a girl has her self respect.


They initially banned the rally, but overturned the ban.....hmmmmmm....


The prick's hotel is just a few yards down the road from Parliament house. They've blocked off half of North Terrace, qnd there's police and such everywhere.


Frankly I blame Rumsfeld more than Bush. Been interesting reading about what he's been up to at the Pentagon.....basically getting rid of anyone who didn't toe his lying line, cutting off middle east experts who cautiioned against the war, isolating or getting rid of the people saying the military plan for Iraq wouldn't work etc.


I think he is close to pure evil, this thing.



Man, if the state labor pollies I know are having to make nice to him, they are gonna be sick.


Some will likely love hobnobbing with power though....yecccch.


Not that I think it behoves officials to be rude to him...but if I was a polly here, and supposed to turn up and make nice, I'd develop a serious illness.


Downer will likely fawn on him.........ewwww.

What's that degrees of separation thing? He apparently played squash with Chris Dittmar today. I used to work with Chris' brother many years ago. Does the length of time make a difference in this degrees of separation game?

But at least there wasn't any aggro at the demo.

I wonder how many folk knew who he is?

It was interesting as the bus got diverted and such today....comments like who the hell is he, and why would they think we would want to hurt him and so on.

Lots of young folk there this afternoon...but small.

Mind you, I got there an hour late.

Did you really think there would be aggro?

I could do it in one, now......

I had no reason one way or the other to think so, I was just hopeful there wouldn't be. I'm glad there hasn't been (and I'm hoping it stays that way of course).

So, what's the story on this meeting then? What's actually being discussed, or hatched? Has Alexander received the blueprint on the next phase of US external policy? Anyone new we now have to invade? This isn't getting much coverage here at all.

When dreams reach fever pitch:
http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/11/17/1132016928573.html?from=top5

AUSMIN talks:

"Rumsfeld meets with government ministers in
PM - Thursday, 17 November , 2005 18:46:00
Reporter: Nance Haxton
MARK BANNERMAN: Adelaide is firmly in lockdown mode for the visit of the United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Many city streets have been cordoned off and a three metre high concrete and steel wire fence stands outside the normally luxurious entrance to the Hyatt Hotel, where Mr Rumsfeld is believed to be staying.

He's in town for AUSMIN the annual meeting of Australian and US Defence and Foreign Ministers that will take place at Adelaide Town Hall tomorrow.

It's the 20th annual meeting since the then Defence Minister Kim Beazley first organised the talks. Key issue on the agenda include Iraq and Afghanistan.

Nance Haxton reports from Adelaide.

NANCE HAXTON: The sight of helicopters overhead convoys of government cars means it's never hard to find Donald Rumsfeld, despite the secrecy regarding his itinerary.

It's a level of security that Adelaide has never experienced before, even for Royal visits.

35 vehicles escorted Mr Rumsfeld from the tarmac after his Air Force 3 plane landed at Adelaide airport this morning, with 500 police officers deployed in a special operation for his visit.

Mr Rumsfeld and Deputy US Secretary of State Robert Zoellick have both travelled to Adelaide for the AUSMIN talks to be held at Adelaide Town Hall tomorrow.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer says counter-terrorism in South East Asia will be at the top of the agenda.

ALEXANDER DOWNER: We'll be talking, of course, about the Philippines and Southern Thailand and the concerns we have there still with terrorism, and we'll be talking about Afghanistan and the proposal for Australia to send a provincial reconstruction team to Afghanistan.

NANCE HAXTON: Of far greater political concern, however, is the commitment of Australian troops in Iraq.

Mr Downer says both countries are wary of pulling out before the country is stable.

ALEXANDER DOWNER: The Japanese are indicating… having been indicating in the last couple of days both to us and to the Americans that they're proposing to extend their stay beyond the end of this year, so we would expect them to say until around the middle of next year.

When we approach that time we'll work out on the basis of the environment in Iraq at the time what would be the appropriate thing for us to do. So we've made no decisions about that.

NANCE HAXTON: There's being increasing pressure from the US Senate, though, to set a time frame for withdrawal from Iraq. Will that be on the discussion table as well?

ALEXANDER DOWNER: There is no point in withdrawing and allowing the insurgents and terrorists to seize control of the country and destroy democracy and re-establish tyranny. That would be foolhardy in the extreme and no one wants us to do that.

NANCE HAXTON: The latest developments in the David Hicks case will also be discussed, with his military commission trial now postponed until next year.

Mr Downer says Mr Hicks's lawyers are to blame for the delay, and the Australian Government will not review its position.

ALEXANDER DOWNER: Due process here in the Hicks case does involve the various appeals that Hicks and his lawyers want to make to the American civilian courts. They are entitled to do that.

I mean, it's not really for us to be commentators on that as long as they have access to the judicial system that is established within American jurisdiction, and he has lawyers who represent him. I mean, he has to face justice, just like anyone else does.

NANCE HAXTON: Defence Minister Robert Hill says it's inevitable the Hicks case will come up, particularly as he is originally from Adelaide.

ROBERT HILL: Because he came from Adelaide I have no doubt that the issue will be raised, and we would say what we have been saying and that is, we would like to see the trial to progressed as quickly as possible.

NANCE HAXTON: This is the 20th year of the AUSMIN talks, and the first time Adelaide has played host.

University of Adelaide Defence Analyst John Bruni says the AUSMIN talks continue to be a vital forum for the two countries to plan and talk about issues, such as long-term military projects, in significant detail.

JOHN BRUNI: Privately, there maybe some prickly issues. I think that the issue of Iraq is going to be the hardest one to deal with.

There will be pressure placed on Australia to maintain its current commitment in Iraq for the foreseeable future because the situation is actually not as good as the Americans would like to see it.

But then again, having said that, there is also a lot of domestic political pressure in the United States for some sort of exit strategy as well. So it's going to be a very prickly issue for both parties to actually to come to some sort of agreement with.

MARK BANNERMAN: Defence Analyst John Bruni ends that report from Nance Haxton in Adelaide."




AUSMIN:

http://canberra.usembassy.gov/irc/ausminusoz.html

.. & Tandberg's comment on the proposed Telstra sackings. Thanks heaps, JH! What the story on "the bush" & improved services now, hey? :

.... I wonder if Barnaby is feeling a trifle foolish right now?

Uhoh!

Last Update: Friday, November 18, 2005. 7:02am (AEDT)

Troops may be asked to leave Iraq
By Middle East correspondent Matt Brown

The spokesman for the Prime Minister of Iraq says Australian troops stationed in the south of the country are not required in the area.

Dr Leith Kubba, the spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al Jaafari, says he has been to Samawah, the capital of al Muthanna province where the Australians are based.

He says it is one of the safest in Iraq and there is no need for the Australians to be there.

Four hundred and fifty Australian troops are training the local Iraqi military in the province and providing a secure environment for a contingent of Japanese military engineers.

But Dr Kubba says, after elections due in Iraq in mid December, the new national assembly may ask all foreign troops to leave al Muthanna province.

Rumsfeld meeting

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Robert Hill says there has been no request from the United States to send more Australian troops to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Senator Hill will hold official talks with the US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in Adelaide today.

The 20th annual Australia-United States ministerial conference gets down to official business today after Mr Rumsfeld arrived in Adelaide yesterday.

The talks at the Adelaide Town Hall are set to be dominated by the joint military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Senator Hill says he does not expect any special requests from Mr Rumsfeld today. ... <cont>

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1509490.htm