Tuesday, August 31, 2004
David Hicks suffered two separate 10-hour beatings by his American captors, according to his father.
Terry Hicks said his son told him about the beatings when they were reunited at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
"He had two lots of 10-hour beatings in Afghanistan," Mr Hicks senior told ABC radio.
"I asked him if he knew who it was and he said yes."
"They were Americans, they were speaking with American accents, and I asked him if he was sure of that, he said most definitely."
(Source: The Age)
Terry Hicks said his son told him about the beatings when they were reunited at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.
"He had two lots of 10-hour beatings in Afghanistan," Mr Hicks senior told ABC radio.
"I asked him if he knew who it was and he said yes."
"They were Americans, they were speaking with American accents, and I asked him if he was sure of that, he said most definitely."
(Source: The Age)
A senior Liberal Party figure has defended the detention of refugees by comparing it with the quarantine rules to test for disease in animals.
Parliamentry Secretary for Health Trish Worth, addressing a forum on asylum seekers in Adelaide, mentioned dogs and cats being imported from some countries before she was shouted down. Ms Worth then said certain tests and health checks needed to be carried out.
(Source: The Age)
Parliamentry Secretary for Health Trish Worth, addressing a forum on asylum seekers in Adelaide, mentioned dogs and cats being imported from some countries before she was shouted down. Ms Worth then said certain tests and health checks needed to be carried out.
(Source: The Age)
Saturday, August 28, 2004
Two Labor Party leaders were guests of honour at a $1000-a-plate fundraiser organised by pharmaceutical multinationals, despite the Labor Party attacking the Liberal Party for their links to the same companies.
Labor health spokeswoman Julia Gillard and her partner, industrial relations spokesman Craig Emerson, attended a function, which benefited ALP candidates, on June 30 at the American Club in Sydney. It was organised by Medicines Australia, a lobby group which represents major multinational pharmaceutical companies.
On August 18 Ms Gillard said in a television interview that "in the interests of disclosure to the Australian people, I think they do need to understand that the Government, the Liberal Party, has raised a lot of money from drug company donations."
(Source: The Australian)
Labor health spokeswoman Julia Gillard and her partner, industrial relations spokesman Craig Emerson, attended a function, which benefited ALP candidates, on June 30 at the American Club in Sydney. It was organised by Medicines Australia, a lobby group which represents major multinational pharmaceutical companies.
On August 18 Ms Gillard said in a television interview that "in the interests of disclosure to the Australian people, I think they do need to understand that the Government, the Liberal Party, has raised a lot of money from drug company donations."
(Source: The Australian)
Two senior military officers and a former government advisor have backed Michael Scrafton's account of the 'children overboard' affair, that John Howard knew that no children had been thrown overboard, but claimed that they had in the leadup to the 2001 election.
Major-General Roger Powell, who conducted the original military enquiry into the affair, said he recalled Mr Scrafton saying in December 2001 that he had made it clear in several phone conversations with Mr Howard that no children had been thrown overboard.
In an interview last week, Major-General Powell is on record as having "deduced that the Prime Minister should have been in no doubt that the claims had no basis".
His then assistant, Commander Mike Noonan, had the same recollection of events.
Mr Howard has released statements by four of his then senior advisors, who were with him during the calls from Mr Scrafton.
Three of the statements confirm Mr Howard's version of events. However former secretary to Cabinet Paul McClintock's statement said that "Mr Howard advised us that Mr Scrafton did not believe that the video showed children being thrown overboard".
(Source: The Australian)
Major-General Roger Powell, who conducted the original military enquiry into the affair, said he recalled Mr Scrafton saying in December 2001 that he had made it clear in several phone conversations with Mr Howard that no children had been thrown overboard.
In an interview last week, Major-General Powell is on record as having "deduced that the Prime Minister should have been in no doubt that the claims had no basis".
His then assistant, Commander Mike Noonan, had the same recollection of events.
Mr Howard has released statements by four of his then senior advisors, who were with him during the calls from Mr Scrafton.
Three of the statements confirm Mr Howard's version of events. However former secretary to Cabinet Paul McClintock's statement said that "Mr Howard advised us that Mr Scrafton did not believe that the video showed children being thrown overboard".
(Source: The Australian)
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Only 41 percent of Australian workers feel that their employers generally show appreciation for their efforts, according to an online poll.
25 percent of respondents said that their employers were indifferent to them, and a further 17 percent that their employers generally didn't show any appreciation at all.
Only 6 percent of the more than 3000 respondents said they were passionate about work.
(Source: Business Express magazine)
25 percent of respondents said that their employers were indifferent to them, and a further 17 percent that their employers generally didn't show any appreciation at all.
Only 6 percent of the more than 3000 respondents said they were passionate about work.
(Source: Business Express magazine)
Monday, August 23, 2004
The Federal Government was warned repeatedly by intelligence analysts before the Iraq war that the conflict would harm the war on terrorism by fanning Islamic extremism and spurring terrorist recruiting.
"They were very, very aware of our views," one former intelligence analyst said. "We believed it would inflame extremism and increase terrorist recruitment."
The source said these views were relayed in written reports and in verbal briefings to Mr Howard and his ministers in the months and weeks leading up to the conflict.
Another intelligence analyst said that "we were sure, in the longer term, there would be a lot of anger towards the West...we would see there was a risk here that this is going to provoke more support for terrorism and violent responses."
"A lot of our terrorism reporting predicted what is going on at the moment," one of the sources said, referring to increased anti-Western sentiment and terrorist recruitment in the Arab world.
The sources also said the Government was told there was no operational link between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein, and the Iraq war could not be seen as part of the broader global war on terrorism.
It was revealed last year that Britain's joint intelligence committee said one month before the war that "al-Qaeda and associated groups continued to represent by far the greatest terrorist threat to Western interests, and that threat would he heightened by military action against Iraq".
In a televised address to the nation on the eve of the war, Mr Howard said that "far from our action in Iraq increasing the terrorist threat, it will, by stopping the spread of chemical and biological weapons, make it less likely that a terrorist attack will be carried out against Australia."
Mr Howard attacked the Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, when he observed in March that the war had made participants, including Australia, bigger terrorist targets.
An inquiry into the intelligence services commissioned by the Government never mentioned the warnings about an increased terrorist threat.
(Source: Sydney Morning Herald)
"They were very, very aware of our views," one former intelligence analyst said. "We believed it would inflame extremism and increase terrorist recruitment."
The source said these views were relayed in written reports and in verbal briefings to Mr Howard and his ministers in the months and weeks leading up to the conflict.
Another intelligence analyst said that "we were sure, in the longer term, there would be a lot of anger towards the West...we would see there was a risk here that this is going to provoke more support for terrorism and violent responses."
"A lot of our terrorism reporting predicted what is going on at the moment," one of the sources said, referring to increased anti-Western sentiment and terrorist recruitment in the Arab world.
The sources also said the Government was told there was no operational link between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein, and the Iraq war could not be seen as part of the broader global war on terrorism.
It was revealed last year that Britain's joint intelligence committee said one month before the war that "al-Qaeda and associated groups continued to represent by far the greatest terrorist threat to Western interests, and that threat would he heightened by military action against Iraq".
In a televised address to the nation on the eve of the war, Mr Howard said that "far from our action in Iraq increasing the terrorist threat, it will, by stopping the spread of chemical and biological weapons, make it less likely that a terrorist attack will be carried out against Australia."
Mr Howard attacked the Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, when he observed in March that the war had made participants, including Australia, bigger terrorist targets.
An inquiry into the intelligence services commissioned by the Government never mentioned the warnings about an increased terrorist threat.
(Source: Sydney Morning Herald)
At least 40 Iraqis were killed on Saturday in fighting near the southern city of Najaf, where Shiite militias are involved in a stand-off with US-led forces.
An official of the new 'independent' Iraqi government said US troops had fought battles in the nearby town of Kufa, one of a number of cities where Shiite militias have risen up this month. The official said the dead included civilians.
North of Baghdad, a suicide car bomb blew up near a convoy carrying Iraqi officials near the town of Baquba, killing two people and wounding eight.
(Source: The Age)
An official of the new 'independent' Iraqi government said US troops had fought battles in the nearby town of Kufa, one of a number of cities where Shiite militias have risen up this month. The official said the dead included civilians.
North of Baghdad, a suicide car bomb blew up near a convoy carrying Iraqi officials near the town of Baquba, killing two people and wounding eight.
(Source: The Age)
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Quote of the Moment:
"The fact remains that if state governments wanted to fix pay equity in a single stroke by paying teachers and nurses more - all government employees - they would fix half of that gap...it would be substantially improved overnight if the public sector pulled its weight."
(Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward, commenting on the fact that on the 20th anniversary of the Sex Discrimination Act, average ordinary time earnings for females are still only 84.7 cents in the dollar compared to men)
"The fact remains that if state governments wanted to fix pay equity in a single stroke by paying teachers and nurses more - all government employees - they would fix half of that gap...it would be substantially improved overnight if the public sector pulled its weight."
(Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner Pru Goward, commenting on the fact that on the 20th anniversary of the Sex Discrimination Act, average ordinary time earnings for females are still only 84.7 cents in the dollar compared to men)
A former federal official has backed Mike Scrafton's story that he told John Howard three days before the 2001 election that the 'children overboard' story was wrong.
Jenny McKenry, then head of the Defence Department's public affairs section, said Mr Scrafton had told her on November 8 (two days before the election), that he had informed Mr Howard that "there was no evidence to support the children overboard story".
Mr Scrafton passed a lie detector test on his allegations. Mr Howard, who denies Mr Scrafton's version of events, has ruled out taking a similar test.
(Source: The Age)
Jenny McKenry, then head of the Defence Department's public affairs section, said Mr Scrafton had told her on November 8 (two days before the election), that he had informed Mr Howard that "there was no evidence to support the children overboard story".
Mr Scrafton passed a lie detector test on his allegations. Mr Howard, who denies Mr Scrafton's version of events, has ruled out taking a similar test.
(Source: The Age)
The AFL has pressured the Western Bulldogs into dropping a symbolic gesture against sexual assault.
Bulldogs players asked if they could wear purple armbands in thier home game against Port Adelaide, after being contacted by Football Fans Against Sexual Assault. However the AFL denied the request.
Marg D'arcy from Melbourne's Centre Against Sexual Assault said she was surprised that the AFL would intervene in this way, but did not respond to Sam Newman's comments about women lying about sexual assault.
(Source: The Age)
Bulldogs players asked if they could wear purple armbands in thier home game against Port Adelaide, after being contacted by Football Fans Against Sexual Assault. However the AFL denied the request.
Marg D'arcy from Melbourne's Centre Against Sexual Assault said she was surprised that the AFL would intervene in this way, but did not respond to Sam Newman's comments about women lying about sexual assault.
(Source: The Age)
Quote of the Moment:
"[American anarchist] Noam Chomsky talks about Manufactured Consent. In a few words here's how it goes; Noam reckons the American democratic system is a farce, the choice is no choice, power stays with the powerful, the plebs are placated by the illusion that they've had a say. Years ago, before I saw the light, I was a money-grubbing corporate type. We called it 'team building', but it was pure MC. The workers got to decide the cover of their overalls, then when some corporate ridiculousness came tumbling down from above we would tell those downtrodden souls they'd been part of the decision making".
(Paula Hunt in the Melbourne Times)
"[American anarchist] Noam Chomsky talks about Manufactured Consent. In a few words here's how it goes; Noam reckons the American democratic system is a farce, the choice is no choice, power stays with the powerful, the plebs are placated by the illusion that they've had a say. Years ago, before I saw the light, I was a money-grubbing corporate type. We called it 'team building', but it was pure MC. The workers got to decide the cover of their overalls, then when some corporate ridiculousness came tumbling down from above we would tell those downtrodden souls they'd been part of the decision making".
(Paula Hunt in the Melbourne Times)
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Both major parties are systematically violating electoral laws by selling information about voters, according to a former ministerial staffer and academic.
The Liberal Party has been accused of offering discounts to its candidates to buy the Feedback database, which contains personal information about constituents based on Australian Electoral Roll electronic data. Candidates are said to be charged about $1000, with a $1000 balance to be paid if they were elected.
The Labor Party has an almost identical database known as Electrac.
An Australian Electoral Commission spokesman said the law prohibited the use of protected electoral roll data being used for "commercial purposes", but that definition would need to be tested by a court.
Former ministerial staffer Peter Van Onselen said information collected by Liberal MPs and through phone polls about individual constituents had been collected and funnelled to a secret central database to identify swinging voters and analyse political issues. Dr Van Onselen is now a political lecturer at Perth's Edith Cowan University and has done a PhD on the use and impact of the databases.
The Liberal Party practice of selling its database was long-established and part of the "institutionalised violation of commonwealth electorate laws" by both parties, Dr Van Onselen said.
(Source: Herald Sun)
The Liberal Party has been accused of offering discounts to its candidates to buy the Feedback database, which contains personal information about constituents based on Australian Electoral Roll electronic data. Candidates are said to be charged about $1000, with a $1000 balance to be paid if they were elected.
The Labor Party has an almost identical database known as Electrac.
An Australian Electoral Commission spokesman said the law prohibited the use of protected electoral roll data being used for "commercial purposes", but that definition would need to be tested by a court.
Former ministerial staffer Peter Van Onselen said information collected by Liberal MPs and through phone polls about individual constituents had been collected and funnelled to a secret central database to identify swinging voters and analyse political issues. Dr Van Onselen is now a political lecturer at Perth's Edith Cowan University and has done a PhD on the use and impact of the databases.
The Liberal Party practice of selling its database was long-established and part of the "institutionalised violation of commonwealth electorate laws" by both parties, Dr Van Onselen said.
(Source: Herald Sun)
Quote of the Moment:
"It was a summer's day. The respondent wife was young. She wore a light summer dress with a deep decolletage. She was splendidly endowed".
"As she ascended the steps of the witness box, his honour's eyes could not pull themselves away from that endowment.
"She took the oath. I do not think his honour was watching the Bible as she did so.
"She spoke of her husband's wickedness. She was visibly distressed. In her distress that splendid bosom heaved. I defy any advocate to compete with that."
(Justice Thomas Neesham puts to rest any idea that the judiciary are sexist in his retirement speech)
"It was a summer's day. The respondent wife was young. She wore a light summer dress with a deep decolletage. She was splendidly endowed".
"As she ascended the steps of the witness box, his honour's eyes could not pull themselves away from that endowment.
"She took the oath. I do not think his honour was watching the Bible as she did so.
"She spoke of her husband's wickedness. She was visibly distressed. In her distress that splendid bosom heaved. I defy any advocate to compete with that."
(Justice Thomas Neesham puts to rest any idea that the judiciary are sexist in his retirement speech)
A central figure in the 'children overboard' affair says he had three conversations with John Howard and told him that the evidence did not show that a boatload of refugees threw their children overboard.
Mike Scrafton, at the time senior advisor to then Defence Minister Peter Reith, had three phone conversations with Mr Howard on November 7, 2001.
Mr Howard continued to claim that the refugees had thrown their children overboard up until the November 10 election.
The claim was a major factor in the election, which Labor was tipped to win, since it increased anger against refugees and divided Labor over 'border protection'.
A 2002 Senate enquiry found conclusively that the alleged incident did not happen. Mr Scrafton was prevented by the government from giving evidence at that enquiry.
Mr Howard has subsequently claimed that he was passing on inaccurate advice in good faith.
Mr Scrafton has offered to take a lie detector test over the issue. Mr Howard told ABC Radio that he would not.
(Source: The Australian, The Age)
Mike Scrafton, at the time senior advisor to then Defence Minister Peter Reith, had three phone conversations with Mr Howard on November 7, 2001.
Mr Howard continued to claim that the refugees had thrown their children overboard up until the November 10 election.
The claim was a major factor in the election, which Labor was tipped to win, since it increased anger against refugees and divided Labor over 'border protection'.
A 2002 Senate enquiry found conclusively that the alleged incident did not happen. Mr Scrafton was prevented by the government from giving evidence at that enquiry.
Mr Howard has subsequently claimed that he was passing on inaccurate advice in good faith.
Mr Scrafton has offered to take a lie detector test over the issue. Mr Howard told ABC Radio that he would not.
(Source: The Australian, The Age)
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
A judge has suggested that the training of SAS soldiers might cause some of them to commit crimes after they leave.
District Court Chief Judge Antoinette Kelly noted that a number of SAS soldiers had been in trouble, and suggested that the Army might want to look at the training it gives soldiers.
Grant Rushby, a former SAS corporal who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and East Timor, was involved in a plan to assault a woman who was carrying the baby of another SAS soldier, in the hope that she would miscarry.
(Source: ABC News website)
District Court Chief Judge Antoinette Kelly noted that a number of SAS soldiers had been in trouble, and suggested that the Army might want to look at the training it gives soldiers.
Grant Rushby, a former SAS corporal who served in Afghanistan, Iraq, and East Timor, was involved in a plan to assault a woman who was carrying the baby of another SAS soldier, in the hope that she would miscarry.
(Source: ABC News website)
The Victorian government has refused to issue a report on the decision to appoint someone with ALP connections to a lucrative position, after she resigned from her previous position due to conflict of interest problems.
Former senior public servant Kerrie Cross has been made Victoria's Advocate for Responsible Gambling.
Ms Cross resigned from her $198,000 role as chair of the Women's and Children's Health Network Board after allegations of a conflict of interest involving her husband, the former chief of staff to Deputy Premier John Thwaite.
The report on Ms Cross' appointment was prepared by a recruitment firm which donates to the ALP.
The government refused a Freedom of Information request by the Age newspaper, on the grounds that it was not in the public interest and would cause "unnecessary debate".
Ms Cross will be paid $100,000 a year for the four day a week position.
(Source: The Age)
Former senior public servant Kerrie Cross has been made Victoria's Advocate for Responsible Gambling.
Ms Cross resigned from her $198,000 role as chair of the Women's and Children's Health Network Board after allegations of a conflict of interest involving her husband, the former chief of staff to Deputy Premier John Thwaite.
The report on Ms Cross' appointment was prepared by a recruitment firm which donates to the ALP.
The government refused a Freedom of Information request by the Age newspaper, on the grounds that it was not in the public interest and would cause "unnecessary debate".
Ms Cross will be paid $100,000 a year for the four day a week position.
(Source: The Age)
A Liberal Party candidate has reportedly told a meeting that the decision to invade Iraq was an "unadulterated error."
Malcolm Turnbull reportedly made the remark to a meeting in the wealthy Sydney suburb of Bondi.
Mr Turnbull issued a clarifying statement, claiming he had been misheard. He added that "it may well be that history will judge George Bush's decision to invade Iraq as an error. Only time will tell."
Mr Turnbull said that the government's decision to support Mr Bush was correct, but added that the correctness of that determination "does not depend on the wisdom of Bush's decision".
43 former Australian diplomats and senior military figures recently issued a joint statement saying Mr Howard had joined the Iraq war on the basis of false assumptions and deceptions about weapons of mass destruction.
(Source: The Australian, The Age)
Malcolm Turnbull reportedly made the remark to a meeting in the wealthy Sydney suburb of Bondi.
Mr Turnbull issued a clarifying statement, claiming he had been misheard. He added that "it may well be that history will judge George Bush's decision to invade Iraq as an error. Only time will tell."
Mr Turnbull said that the government's decision to support Mr Bush was correct, but added that the correctness of that determination "does not depend on the wisdom of Bush's decision".
43 former Australian diplomats and senior military figures recently issued a joint statement saying Mr Howard had joined the Iraq war on the basis of false assumptions and deceptions about weapons of mass destruction.
(Source: The Australian, The Age)
Quote of the Moment:
"He made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of his adopted state".
(Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon describes Richard Butler's decision to resign as Governor of Tasmania. Mr Lennon offered Mr Butler a $650,000 payout, as well as help with his moving expenses, "even though it is true that technically he may not be entitled to a termination payment", on top of the $308,000 he was paid during his 10 months in office).
"He made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of his adopted state".
(Tasmanian Premier Paul Lennon describes Richard Butler's decision to resign as Governor of Tasmania. Mr Lennon offered Mr Butler a $650,000 payout, as well as help with his moving expenses, "even though it is true that technically he may not be entitled to a termination payment", on top of the $308,000 he was paid during his 10 months in office).
Monday, August 09, 2004
The Labor Party has announced it will support John Howard's bill to ban gay marriage.
Shadow Attorney General Nicola Roxon told a forum organised by the National Marriage Coalition, which included Christian fundamentalist churches as well as the Australian Family Association, that Labor would support the Marriage Amendment Bill if it was reintroduced to the Senate.
Other speakers at the forum described gay couples as "shameful", "vile" and "moral terrorists".
Mr Howard said last week that he will reintroduce the bill.
(Source: MCV newspaper, The Age)
Shadow Attorney General Nicola Roxon told a forum organised by the National Marriage Coalition, which included Christian fundamentalist churches as well as the Australian Family Association, that Labor would support the Marriage Amendment Bill if it was reintroduced to the Senate.
Other speakers at the forum described gay couples as "shameful", "vile" and "moral terrorists".
Mr Howard said last week that he will reintroduce the bill.
(Source: MCV newspaper, The Age)
Tuesday, August 03, 2004
The Labor Party will support a free trade agreement with the United States.
The three Labor members of the Senate enquiry into the deal proposed minor changes to the agreement, to deal with negative effects on the software industry, manufacturing, local television productions and the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. However the government immediately rejected all their proposals.
George Brandis, a Liberal Senator who took part in the enquiry, congratulated his Labor colleage Senator Stephen Conroy for his "significant victory over the Left of his own party".
(Source: The Age)
The three Labor members of the Senate enquiry into the deal proposed minor changes to the agreement, to deal with negative effects on the software industry, manufacturing, local television productions and the pharmaceutical benefits scheme. However the government immediately rejected all their proposals.
George Brandis, a Liberal Senator who took part in the enquiry, congratulated his Labor colleage Senator Stephen Conroy for his "significant victory over the Left of his own party".
(Source: The Age)
Monday, August 02, 2004
About 120 miners were imprisoned by their employer in a remote mine as part of an industrial dispute.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union said that miners had been prevented from leaving the Yandi mine, until they rang police to report they were being held against their will.
(Source: MX)
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union said that miners had been prevented from leaving the Yandi mine, until they rang police to report they were being held against their will.
(Source: MX)
A senior police officer responsible for the force's budget spent $6000 of public money on a mahogany desk for his office.
Assistant Commissioner Dick Adams is said to have stormed out of his office after being spoken to by superiors. Adams then paid for the desk himself.
(Source: MX)
Assistant Commissioner Dick Adams is said to have stormed out of his office after being spoken to by superiors. Adams then paid for the desk himself.
(Source: MX)
About 100,000 people in Australia are homeless on any given night, according to Mission Australia.
The charity also said that about a quarter of those without permanent housing were aged between 12 and 18.
(Source: MX)
The charity also said that about a quarter of those without permanent housing were aged between 12 and 18.
(Source: MX)
