‘With TV providing a ceaseless backdrop of the country's failings - a crippled and tone-deaf president, a negligent government, corruption, military atrocities, soaring debt, racial conflict, poverty, bloated bodies in floodwater, people dying on camera for want of food, water and medicine - it seemed things were falling apart in the land where happiness is promoted in the constitution.’ 

Is This The Death Of America?

The Howard government’s response to the gross maladministration within DIMIA stands in stark contrast to its lack of response to an older & significantly more sinister scandal involving the ADF, that now dates back 6 years. 

Whilst the government moved quickly to set-up independent inquiries into the events surrounding the appalling DIMIA scandal, its leader in the Senate, Defence Minister Robert Hill, & the ADF have sought to maintain a veil of secrecy over unspecified allegations of torture & possible execution of ADF prisoners in East Timor, way back in 1999. 

May the tragic earthquake that has beset Pakistan be only seen as an unfortunate event of our natural little planet

may those who died, died in peace without sufferance

May the injured and the survivors be cared for.

In the wake of the Palmer & Comrie Reports, dealing with DIMIA’s appalling treatment of Vivian Alvarez, there have been loud & repeated calls for the Minister, Amanda Vanstone, to resign.

Prime Minister, John Howard, has refused to back these calls & has defended Vanstone, arguing that no Minister can be expected to resign every time something goes wrong in their department. 

Whilst many Australians, including myself, oppose the government’s draconian mandatory detention policies for refugees, I think we need to recognize that formulating government policy & the effective administration of government departments are very different issues. 

‘Had the church not abdicated its moral responsibility of enacting the philosophy of Christ, the history of America would be very different & our place in the world would also be changed. If the church believed in & taught the factual doctrines of Christ it would be a very radical institution, a far cry from the bastion of conservatism that we see today.

It would actively organize against war. It would fill the streets with passionate people who demonstrate against the evils of war. It would take a strong stand against overt aggression, materialism, obscene wealth, imperialism, corporate crime, colonialism & the unequal distribution of wealth. It would minister its massive resources to end poverty. It would denounce presidents who espouse Christian values; but who act like the anti-Christ.

There are growing fears that the federal government is preparing to relax Australia’s beef import regulations, overturning its ban on beef imports from BSE affected countries like the US & Canada. 

The federal government has confirmed that cabinet is currently considering relaxing Australia’s import regulations, to bring them into line with international rules promulgated by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), an arm of the World Trade Organization (WTO).