Webdiary - Founded and Inspired by Margo Kingston

"We cannot afford to fail in Afghanistan. Recent history has given us graphic evidence of what would happen if we do. But any solution in Afghanistan depends on eliminating its opium.": Antonio Maria Costa, Executive Director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime

"‘The DVD that disgusted a city’ was one of the news headlines in the shocking case of a DVD produced and sold in Melbourne’s outer west by the self-styled "teenage kings of Werribee". What at first looked like a Jackass-style prank posted on YouTube, police are now investigating as sexual assault involving up to 12 youths. Sadly, amid the media storm, the trauma goes beyond that of the victim. Students from one of the district schools named by the media have had passers-by spit at them in the street. This degree of public hate contains an irony we shall examine. ": Stephen Smith

"Magistrate Kerry McGuiness finally handed down her decision regarding my charges of obstructing police today after two months deliberation." Jim Dowling

"Whereas Europeans, with crime rates well below American rates for the past half-century, could long afford to be relatively “soft” on most crimes, they have seen their crime rates increase sharply during the past twenty years. By contrast, American rates have fallen, in part because of greater use of punishment." Gary S Becker

"Don’t panic. The questions will be tough, but your Prime Minister set up this inquiry, he set the terms of reference, so you haven’t got too much to worry about. The commissioner in charge can’t prosecute you. All he can do is allow you to be questioned for a few hours by a team of kick-arse lawyers and QCs." Daryl Mason

"Mr Howard has said in a media conference this morning that he will appear personally before the Cole Inquiry if requested to do so. His trade and foreign ministers are due to appear today and tomorrow, to discuss the timeframes of transmission of information from their offices to that of the PM's." Richard Tonkin

"A criminal lawyer friend tells me it is not uncommon for police statements to have the same punctuation mistakes. Everyone is supposed to turn a blind eye to this or perhaps place it with the crop circle mystery again." Jim Dowling

"Downer's level of conversations with the Bush Administration, when the Invasion of Iraq was only thirteen days old, implies not only an amazing feat of meetings scheduling but also a level of co-operation that surely existed before the Coalition crossed the border. To have this situation existing at the same time as the Free Trade Agreement negotiators were calling for the dismantling of the AWB because its monopolistic existance violated US trading ethics must have been extremely galling - moreso when you've done the right thing and subcontracted Ausaid work to Halliburton." Richard Tonkin

"With the sentencing of members of the heroin trafficking conspiracy in Indonesia this week we are seeing a re-run, with variations, on what has become a familiar tune. One that began with Schapelle Corby in early 2005 and became full tragedy with the murder of Van Nguyan in Singapore in December last year. Namely the chorus of commentary around young Australians overseas and drugs." Tony Phillips

"NSW Police are conducting a trial preparatory to the introduction of Tasers by Australian police. Tasers are hand-held stun guns that fire two metal probes attached to copper wires, delivering a 55,000-volt electric shock that lasts for five seconds." Dale Mills

"Some may have tried to blow it off as a political beat up, but that would be a big mistake. This story just gets bigger each day as anyone closely following the Cole inquiry into bad business by sanction busting bribe-payers would know. It is the biggest scandal we've seen for many years." Craig Rowley and Richard Tonkin

"How easily the mighty can fall. One minute you are touted to head the International Atomic Energy Agency, the next you are about to become embroiled in an international bribery scandal!" Richard Tonkin

A former senior police officer who worked as a detective at the Australian Crime Commission is in court next month on 16 charges relating to the theft and supply of drugs. The Australian Crime Commission was set up in 2003 to deal with threats posed by nationally significant crime.

"The Senate inquiry into the administration of the Regional Partnerships Program (RPP) and Sustainable Regions Program (SRP) has concluded and now it is time for the spin." Craig Rowley

"Typically, a pork-barrel involves funding for government programs where the economic or service benefits are concentrated on the patronised constituency but the costs are spread among all taxpayers. When a government rolls out the pork barrel it is funding something that benefits a particular district, whose legislator thereby wins favour with local voters. Hence the great importance placed by political leaders on 'getting credit'." Craig Rowley

"If you’ve ever had much to do with contracts you’ve probably heard of a sunset clause. If you’ve ever negotiated hard for a contract you may have burnt the candle from sundown to sunrise. Upon a successful outcome, you may have basked in the sun and scored the bonus that will pay for some time on the beach. Of course, in all likelihood the contract will never be so exposed to the clear light of day. Commercial-in-confidence. These three words are such an effective shield; they’re as good as sunscreen. Governments these days use these three words often. Too often we are treated like mushrooms rather than citizens, and it stinks." Craig Rowley

"Unlike corruption under other forms of government, from totalitarian state to illiberal democracy, our political officials act in our name with our express consent. Quite honestly, they are our representatives. Ultimately their ethics are our ethics as well. If they are corrupt, and we allow them to be, then we are corrupt, too." Craig Rowley

"Take a mental note for next week: The Committee would like to hear answers to some of these questions from the horse’s mouth. Will they ask Mr Maguire to appear before them? If they do, and he seems like a brave and true fellow, will he appear?" Webdiary's regional rorts reporter Craig Rowley

"I think that the inquiry into Regional Partnerships will shape up into a big and important story that should now be getting a higher profile and sparking much conversation on Webdiary. I have written an article reporting on the first day of the inquiry, setting the scene for a series of pieces by looking more closely at the first day." Craig Rowley, Webdiary's regional rorts reporter