Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

Revelations that Prime Minister John Howard has been using official residences, Kirribilli House and The Lodge, to host Liberal Party events has sparked controversy. The Australian Electoral Commission has ruled that the rent-free use of Kirribilli House by the Liberal Party did not constitute a 'gift' that should have been disclosed under electoral rules.

As the Sydney APEC meeting draws closer and and the city closed to its citizens, it is becoming alarmingly clear that Australians are giving away the rights that they have fought for and subsequently taken for granted. So when I received this from my friends in the exiled Burmese trade union movement, I was taken aback. It reminded me that we are not much different from all those in the world who awake and find their lives monitored, their phones tapped, their movements and travel restricted.

Two years after South Australia and Victoria "competed" to win the job of constructing Australia's (and perhaps other country's) contribution to the Bush Administration's Missile Shield, we finally know what we're going to be building. Surprisingly, its a Spanish ship instead of an American one.  Victoria has also had a win, with the same company helping out Tenix in building two amphibious ships.