Government cleared in AWB probe

The Cole inquiry report has cleared the Federal Government but recommends a joint task force of legal authorities investigate whether charges should be laid against 11 people associated with wheat exporter AWB for breaching United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

                            charity begins at home .....

from Our belittled ABC ….

No need for constitutional convention, PM says

The Prime Minister says there is no need for a constitutional convention in the wake of this week’s High Court case on industrial relations.

Several premiers say yesterday's ruling has changed the basis of the relationship between the Commonwealth and the states and have called for a convention to debate the situation. 

only $1500 a head at an American Club Dinner …..

from the ABC ….

Murdoch urges Australians to stick by US

News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch has warned Australians not to allow anti-American sentiment over the Iraq war to damage the country's relationship with the United States. 

 
more IR changes possible, PM says .....

The Prime Minister says further changes may be made to the Federal Government's new industrial relations (IR) regime.

Today's tweaking of the laws will mean workers can cash in sick leave and businesses will be allowed to stand-down workers when there is no work to due to uncontrollable circumstances.

John Howard says these may not be the last adjustments.

from The new York Times …..

Rumsfeld Resigns and President Bush Pledges to Work With Democrats
White House Moves Quickly to Signal Its Flexibility

By Sheryl Gay Stolberg & Jim Rutenberg

President Bush portrayed the election results as a cumulative "thumping" of
Republicans and conceded that he bore some responsibility ……

 
"There is something heroic in my mind for a country that is suffering all that Iraq is suffering, yet it still strove to conduct the trial, to have an embrace of the rule of law which is so fundamental to the establishment of a democracy."

John Howard